The Afghan Martyrs — Page 74
Sahibzada Abdul Lateef, the tutor of the King, a great spiritual leader of Afghanistan, the paramount Chief of Khost, was to be stoned to death. From the previous evening, by the beating of a drum it had been proclaimed that the following afternoon, on the 14th of July, people should assemble in large numbers opposite the Royal Palace. The proclamation directed that each individual should carry his own stones or brick bats with him, as because of his apostasy, the famous religious divine who was the Imam of the Royal Mosque, was to be stoned to death having been found guilty of 'kufr'. It was announced that the condemned Abdul Lateef was to be taken to the graveyard in a procession. As a further temptation they were advised that Sardar Nasrulla Khan and the King of Afghanistan, Ameer Habeebulla Khan, were to lead the march along with Mullah Abdur Razzaque and other distinguished scholars. March to the Place of Execution At the appointed hour the Sahibzada was taken out of the prison and the edict by the Mullahs was hung round his neck. In accordance with the command of Ameer Habeebulla Khan a hole had been punched through his nose and a string had been threaded through it with which this innocent soul was being dragged towards the place of his execution. The Royal command had been fully complied with. Then, holding the string, ridiculing, abusing and cursing, the sadistic crowd took him through the crowded bazaars. Women, children and the aged were not permitted to join the march. Spectators had amassed at vantage points on the roofs of the buildings on either side of the streets. This abhorrent spectacle, a gross insult to humanity and civilization was such a torm ent to one's spirit that a shadow of apprehension seemed to 74