Banaz Mahmod, a 20-year old woman who had been living in London with her family, was killed in early 2006 when she chose to end her abusive arranged marriage and to engage in a relationship with an Iranian Kurd. Banaz Mahmod had been warned by her family that her behavior would have consequences. These threats resulted in Mohamod’s repeated attempts to seek help from local authorities; unfortunately, police failed to take her accusations seriously and ultimately offered her no protection. The result was that her father, Mahmod Mahmod, ordered the death of his daughter. Banaz was strangled to death using a boot lace. Her body was then concealed in a suitcase and buried. Three months later, when her body was discovered, authorities began investigating and ultimately brought charges against the men involved.
Mahmod Mahmod was found guilty on 11 June 2007 of murdering his daughter. Two other men have pled guilty to the crime and await sentencing. Currently, Britain has over 100 homicide cases that are being investigated as honor killings.
Compiled from: Father in 'Honor Killing' Found Guilty of Murder, MSNBC, Associated Press, 11 June 2007; Daughter Slain in 'Honor Killing', CNN, Reuters, 11 June 2007.