Afghan Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Ismaili Center Attack in Lisbon

Abdul Bashir, the man who confessed to killing two women with a knife at the Ismaili Center on March 28, 2023, has been sentenced to the maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. The Lisbon Central Criminal Court ruled that the Afghan citizen was not impaired by severe mental illness at the time of the crimes and was therefore deemed imputable.

During the final arguments, the Public Prosecutor's Office had requested that Abdul Bashir, 30, be declared non-imputable and institutionalized for a minimum of three years, subject to annual review. The defense of the Afghan citizen also argued for his institutionalization. However, the legal representative of the victims' families contended that the man was aware of his actions and should receive the maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.

The court concluded that Abdul Bashir was conscious of his actions and that the number of stab wounds inflicted on the victims—43 in the case of Mariana Jadaugy—indicated a sense of anger rather than self-defense against an alleged conspiracy the defendant claimed to be a target of.

In reading the verdict, the presiding judge emphasized the forensic psychological evaluation by Vasco Curato for the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences (INMLCF). The expert analysis indicated that the case did not involve schizophrenia but rather psychopathy with a sadistic component.

The court found that only this expert analysis was properly supported by the evidence and aligned with the facts reported by witnesses. However, there were discrepancies among the experts. The psychiatrist who had been monitoring the attacker described the crime as occurring within a context associated with schizophrenia, arguing that Abdul Bashir should be considered non-imputable and unaware of his need for treatment.

The judge also noted that the individual displayed arrogance and a sense of superiority, believing he was more important than others and that his matters required urgent attention, as evidenced in his communications with the victims, Mariana Jadaugy, 24, and Farana Sadrudin, 49, who worked in the Ismaili Center's refugee support service. He had a basis for choosing these victims over others, the judge added.

The court recalled that throughout the trial, the man never showed signs of distress or fear, maintaining an attitude of cold detachment. At the end of the session, the judge recommended that he receive ongoing monitoring.

Abdul Bashir was found guilty of seven out of the 11 charges: two counts of aggravated homicide, three counts of attempted aggravated homicide, illegal possession of a weapon, and resisting and coercing an official.

In the first trial session on December 5, 2024, Abdul Bashir admitted to killing the two women but claimed he acted in self-defense after one of the victims stabbed him. He also alleged that several people at the Ismaili Center had plotted to kill him and that he had been carrying a kitchen knife since January 2023 due to perceived threats to his and his family's lives, dating back to 2021.

Absolute justice has been served, emphasized Miguel Matias, the lawyer for one of the plaintiffs, in a brief statement to journalists. The mother of Mariana Jadaugy also acknowledged the court's decision, stating, Some justice has been done, contrary to the final arguments seeking the defendant's non-imputability. Nothing brings my daughter back, but at least some justice has been served.

The defense lawyer expressed surprise at the court's decision and announced plans to appeal, criticizing the court for prioritizing a psychologist's evaluation over a psychiatrist's, arguing that a psychologist cannot diagnose schizophrenia or prescribe medication.