Afghanistan's top criminal investigator has found that the woman beaten to death last week for burning pages from a Quran was wrongly accused, The Associated Press reports. Thirteen people, including eight police officers, have been arrested in connection with her death.

"Last night I went through all documents and evidence once again, but I couldn't find any evidence to say Farkhunda burnt the holy Quran," General Mohammad Zahir said at the 27-year-old woman's funeral on Sunday. "Farkhunda was totally innocent."

The woman's brother Najibullah said that his sister had been a teacher of Islamic studies. (He is changing his second name to Farkhunda in her memory.) According to Reuters, he also denied reports that she had been suffering from a mental illness.

"My father was frightened and made the false statement to calm people down," Najibullah said.

At the funeral Sunday, Farkhunda's coffin was carried by women's rights campaigners, Reuters reports. The services were attended by hundreds of people, some chanting, "we want justice."

A Ministry of Interior spokesman, Sediq Sediqqi, told The Los Angeles Times that 13 police officials have been suspended in connection with the killing. Officials said that the mullah of the shrine where Farkhunda was killed has also been taken into custody.


Image via AP. Contact the author of this post: brendan.oconnor@gawker.com.