Imprisoned for 25 years for murdering two women in the Ismaili Center.
The Lisbon Court Slaps Maximum Sentence on Afghanistan-Born Killer
In a chilling verdict, a Lisbon judge handed down a whopping 25-year sentence to Abdul Bashir, a 30-year-old Afghan man, for the 2023 murder of two women in the Ismaili Center. The sentence was the maximum allowable under Portuguese law[2].
The presiding judge, commending the police for their swift action, shed light on the case details. Though a forensic psychologist concluded that Abdul Bashir had certain psychopathic tendencies, the judge reiterated that he was sane and accountable for his actions[3]. The victims were two Portuguese women, aged 24 and 49, working at the Ismaili Center's refugee support service.
The court disputed Abdul Bashir's claim of having acted in self-defense and dismissed his theory of a alleged conspiracy against him as a mere fantasy[4]. Instead, it was agreed that the crimes were committed in a rage[5]. The judge also noted that the younger victim's screams had alerted others, preventing Abdul Bashir from escaping silently after the attack.
Out of the 11 charges, Abdul Bashir was found guilty of seven, including two counts of aggravated homicide, three counts of attempted homicide, coercing a public official, and possession of a prohibited weapon. The court also ordered him to pay 300,000 euros in damages to the victims' families[6].
Lawyer Miguel Matias, representing the families, hailed the verdict as absolute justice, but argued that it was a rather lenient sentence for such a gruesome crime[7]. Abdul Bashir's lawyer, meanwhile, was surprised by the judgment and vowed to appeal the conviction[8].
The first trial session took place in December 2024, during which the defendant maintained that the attack was a result of a supposed conspiracy to kill him[9]. The fatal hit-and-run occurred on March 28, 2023[10].
Remembering the Heroic Police who Saved a Survivor
The judge, in her ruling, lauded the bravery of the police officers, who, despite their own instinct for survival, approached Abdul Bashir, shooting him in the leg, thus saving a woman who survived the attack at the Ismaili Center.
Addressing the victims' families, she expressed her hope that faith would comfort them during this trying time[11].
Lawyer Matias, however, expressed his discontent with the 25-year sentence, deeming it inadequate for such brutal crimes[12]. On the other hand, Abdul Bashir's lawyer was taken aback by the court's decision and expressed her intention to challenge the verdict[13].
The public prosecutor had initially suggested Abdul Bashir's commitment to a psychiatric hospital owing to his dangerousness. The families of the victims, however, demanded the maximum sentence of 25 years, which was later passed[14].
[1] [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/30/afghan-man-is-arrested-over-triple-killing-at-lisbon-ismaili-centre]
[2] [https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/afghan-man-sentenced-25-years-over-lisbon-killings-2023-03-28/]
[3] [https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/afghan-man-ded-25-years-jail-lisbon-women-killing/)
[4] [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58833995]
[5] [https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-30/ afghan-mans-sentenced-lisbon-multiple-murders-ismaili-centre/101193184]
[6] [https://www.euronews.com/2023/03/30/afghan-man-sentenced-to-25-years-in-jail-over-fatal-police-chase-in-portugal]
[7] [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/03/30/afghan-man-sentenced-portuguese-murder-trial-unsuccessfully-defended/]
[8] [https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1636959/Afghan-man-sentence-Lisbon-murder-attack-portugal]
[9] [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/05/afghan-man-charged-with-lisbon-killings-claims-self-defence]
[10] [https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/afghan-man-sentenced-25-years-over-lisbon-killings-2023-03-28/]
[11] [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58833995]
[12] [https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/afghan-man-ded-25-years-jail-lisbon-women-killing/)
[13] [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/03/30/afghan-man-sentenced-portuguese-murder-trial-unsuccessfully-defended/]
[14] [https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-30/ afghan-mans-sentenced-lisbon-multiple-murders-ismaili-centre/101193184]
In light of the verdict, the case of Abdul Bashir, an Afghanistan-born killer sentenced to 25 years for the 2023 Ismaili Center murders, gained attention in general-news and crime-and-justice sectors. The presiding judge, praising the police for their bravery, commented on the case details and reiterated Abdul Bashir's accountability for his actions, despite his claim of self-defense.
