Brussels Journal report on a ground-breaking case in Denmark, where nine members of a family originally from Pakistan have been sentenced for their part in the honour killing of 18-year old Ghazala Khan:
Ghazala had married an Afghan man, 27-year old Emal Khan, against the wishes of her father. An aunt, the youngest sister of Ghazala’s mother, who had told the young couple that she would try to reconcile them with her family, asked them to come to Slagelse train station. Her brother Akhtar shot her dead in front of the station and wounded Emal Khan, who survived the murder attempt.On Wednesday a Danish judge sentenced Akhtar Abbas to 16 years in gaol, and the father, 57-year old Ghulam Abbas, to life imprisonment (which, if one behaves well in gaol, is reduced to 16 years). The aunt and two uncles were given 16 years as well. Other members of the family and friends who had helped to track down Ghazala received sentences of between 8 and 16 years. Two Pakistanis who do not have the Danish nationality will be expelled from Denmark after serving their prison term.
The Danish verdict is historic, not only because the entire clan was punished but also because the head of the family, who ordered the killing, was given a heavier sentence than the actual murderer. Families often choose a family member who is still a minor to carry out an honour assassination because, being a minor, he is likely to get a more lenient sentence under Western law.
"Families often choose a family member who is still a minor to carry out an honour assassination". Allah must be so proud of what is done in his name.
Posted by: dearieme | July 03, 2006 at 11:24 AM
A few more years of this kind of sentences and people will stop with the honor killings.
Posted by: Fabian | July 04, 2006 at 08:21 AM