Pakistani couple sentenced to life in prison for daughter’s murder over refusal of arranged marriage
An Italian court has sentenced a Pakistani couple to life imprisonment for the murder of their 18-year-old daughter, Saman Abbas, who refused an arranged marriage.
Saman’s body was discovered at a farmhouse in northern Italy in November 2022, a year and a half after she vanished.
While her father, Shabbar Abbas, was arrested in Pakistan and extradited for trial, her mother, Nazia Shaheen, remains in hiding in Pakistan after being convicted in absentia.
During the trial, Shabbar Abbas vehemently denied any involvement in his daughter’s murder, stating, “never in my life did I think of killing my daughter.”
Saman’s uncle, Danish Hasnain, received a 14-year jail term for his role in the murder, but two cousins were acquitted.
Saman Abbas’s killing by her family in April 2021 shocked Italy, prompting Italy’s union of Islamic communities to issue a fatwa against forced marriages.
Saman had moved to Novellara, Italy, from Pakistan in 2016 with her family. Her relationship with a young man of Pakistani origin drew her parents’ ire, leading to their insistence on an arranged marriage, which Saman opposed.
Prosecutors revealed that Saman had briefly sought refuge under social services’ protection but returned home after her family’s persuasion in April 2021, only to vanish.
Surveillance footage showed family members carrying tools and a bag near the time of her disappearance. Saman’s body was found buried close to their residence after her uncle disclosed the burial site.
Forensic examination indicated she may have been strangled, and her parents had fled to Pakistan immediately after her disappearance.
The concept of “honour killings” stems from tribal customs, where allegations against a woman dishonor her family.
These acts often occur when women refuse arranged marriages or are subjected to sexual assault. In Pakistan, several women fall victim to such killings each year, with reasons ranging from perceived disobedience to seemingly trivial issues.
Recently, an 18-year-old woman was killed in Kohistan over a doctored photo showing her with a man, illustrating the extreme consequences of tribal customs and societal perceptions.
Source-BBC
