An appeals court in Afghanistan has overturned the death sentences given to four men in the mob killing of a woman falsely accused of burning a copy of the Holy Qur’an.

Local media reports said on Thursday that the Wednesday appeals court hearing in Kabul was held behind closed doors.

Judge Nasir Murid, the head of the Kabul appeals court, confirmed that death sentences given to four men in May have been commuted.

The appeals court decided to "reduce the sentence -- three of them got 20 years in prison and one 10 years," media outlets quoted the senior judge as saying.

Reacting to the court decision, the victim’s brother, Mujibullah, known by a single name, said that the family had not been told of the court's decision or invited to the session. He said the family "just heard through media" that the court annulled the sentences "in a secret session."

"They didn't inform us. Whatever the decision is we will not accept it."

A number of activists reacted angrily to the court's decision and vowed to protest against the verdict.

"We are planning massive protest against the court ruling on Farkhunda. Lack of justice and transparency is just unacceptable," Ramin Anwari, a prominent rights activist wrote on Twitter.

Dozens of suspects are alleged to have played a role in the March 19 killing of the 27-year-old woman identified only as Farkhunda.

A court sentenced four men to death after a three-day trial broadcast live on national Afghan television in May. At least eight others were handed 16-year jail terms.

More than ten Afghan policemen were also sentenced to one year in prison for failing to protect the woman against the angry mob.

Human Rights Watch had expressed concern over the lack of a fair trial and the hasty judicial process in the case.

The woman was savagely beaten and her body was set ablaze in broad daylight on the banks of the Kabul River.

Farkhunda’s killing, caught on cellphone cameras and circulated on social media, triggered protests around the country and drew global attention to the treatment of Afghan women.

Afghan prosecutors contend that the victim was beaten to death in a frantic attack triggered by the phony claim that she had burned a copy of Qur'an.

JR/HSN/HMV