Iftikhar Ahmed, 52, and his wife Farzana, 49, were told at Chester Crown Court in Cheshire, north-west England, that they would serve a minimum of 25 years each after suffocating their 17-year-old daughter Shafilea in 2003.
In a high-profile case, Shafilea's sister Alesha had told the jury that her mother had said, "Just finish it here," as they forced a plastic bag into Shafilea's mouth in front of their other children.
Prosecutors said the Ahmeds, who lived in the town of Warrington, near Chester, killed their daughter because they felt her "western" habits such as wearing make-up and talking to boys brought shame on the family.
Passing sentence, judge Roderick Evans told the pair: "Your concern about being shamed in your community was greater than the love of your child.
"Shafilea was a determined, able and ambitious girl who wanted to live a life which was normal in the country and in the town in which you had chosen to live," he said.
"You could not tolerate the life that Shafilea wanted to live. You wanted your family to live in Pakistan in Warrington.
"She was being squeezed between two cultures - the culture and way of life that she saw around her and wanted to embrace, and the culture and way of life you wanted to impose on her."
Iftikhar Ahmed stood impassively as the sentence was passed, while his wife sobbed.
The jury had unanimously found them guilty earlier on Friday after 11 hours of deliberation.
Shafilea had disappeared in September 2003, and her body was found five months later on a riverbank in Cumbria, north-west England.
The court heard that she had been drugged and taken to Pakistan in February 2003 to be forced into a marriage with a much older man.
She was so terrified of the marriage that she drank bleach, and was taken back to Britain where she spent eight weeks in hospital.
Shortly before she was taken to Pakistan, she had run away from home and asked the local authority to provide her with emergency accommodation, the court heard.
In her letter to the authorities, she said she had suffered from regular domestic violence since she was 15.
"One parent would hold me whilst the other hit me," she wrote. "I was prevented from attending college and my part-time job."
Her main reason for running away was that her parents "were going to send me to Pakistan and get me married to someone," she added.
Her parents were arrested in December 2003, three months after the killing, on suspicion of kidnapping Shafilea but they were released without charge after prosecutors found there was insufficient evidence against them.
They were re-arrested in 2010 after Alesha, Shafilea's younger sister, was caught organising an armed robbery at the family's own home, and told police she had witnessed her sister's murder.
Iftikhar Ahmed, a taxi driver, denied the murder and said Shafilea had run away. His wife also denied the killing, but told the jury she saw her husband beating Shafilea and believed that he killed her.
Another of their daughters, Mevish, supported their defence.
But in a remarkable twist after the trial began, one of Mevish's friends produced writings by her that appeared to corroborate Alesha's story.
Mevish Ahmed insisted the writings were a piece of drug-induced "fiction" that Alesha had used to base her story on.
Prosecutor Paul Whittaker paid tribute to Alesha Ahmed for having the courage to give evidence against her parents, and urged victims of honour-based violence to come forward.
"The word 'shame' has been heard many times during the course of this trial, but the shame is not on Shafilea, it is on her parents," he said.
COMMENTS (64)
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Before attacking Pakistan or making Islam and Pakistan accountable for every bad act ,these things arent limited to Muslims but much more widespread among the White families of UK example is here http://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/-/world/14485850/parents-jailed-for-beating-daughter-over-black-boyfriend/
Let us remain objective. Her death , this beautiful young girl with a future ,is not the fault of the parents alone, but by the whole family. The urge for a good name starts individually or as a couple. By the group and urge support of the entire family, the parents had no choice. We see them as murderers, but in Pakistan and other country's are their heroes! Incredible! The final goal is concerned not about power but to capture a new soul. A lost soul stay a lost soul and is not able to save . Happiness, prosperity, welfare is no longer relevant. The main role of every Muslim in this new world. No emigrant will succeed, even after being elected to the government because the protocol prevents them penetrating into the roots of a Nation. We hope that their elder generations will soon disappear and the new future for their youth, adjusted to world peace . We accept any religion ,give them all what they want , let them profit of our social system....they don't and thats wrong. Subjective they hate us , I want to know why ???
@Truth bites: Where do you get all this nonsense from. Yes diana was dating a muslim but was killed in a fast car accident while being chased by the paparazzi (stalking photographers). The driver was drunk and lost control.
She had already separated from Prince Charles for quite a few years by then. What a joke. Typical pakistani. Always just point fingers at others. 100 people are killed in police firing and the typical pakistan answer will be that police in the west kill people too but there is no outcry for that. Its not a competition of who is the worst.
@Hassan: A girl was murdered by her parents. How messed up does one have to be to kill your own child. If your daughter supposedly is following the wrong path then it is you as parents who have failed. Not that I think Shafilea did anything wrong. Its normal for girls to talk to boys and boys to girls or even have relationships with them in the west. People have the freedom of choice. Women dont have to wait till they are old enough to be married and their parents can then ship them off to marry a man whose family they think supposedly has good values, more importantly money etc. I had a huge argument with a Pakistani taxi driver about this in London once while coming home. His standard answer was your parents know best and you should follow tradition/family values. Its just a lack of moral values that are hidden behind so called tradition.
Traditions/values are like respecting elders (giving your seat in a bus if a lady or someone older has to stand), always believing in fairness even if you get less as a result, holding the door open when someone is after you, not cuting a line etc. Not some warped sense of religious based ideology where what the parents say the children follow like parrots. We would still be in the dark ages if people thought like that. I guess Pakistan (and quite a few more majority muslim countries) at a societal level still are in the dark ages.
@Thomas: I've never heard of Pakistani teenagers in the US being afraid of that and I've lived here since birth. UK, different story apparently as I've heard from a variety of sources about how British Pakistani kids clash with their parents.
Talk about double standards ! He was already married to Danish woman and had a child with her, when he returned to Pakistan to marry his cousin ! He abondened them too ! That really speaks volume as to Honour ! Addtionally he is not a child of so called UK citizen father, as DNA has been done on him to establish that, so technically he was an illegal already in Europe ! Here is the link to the police interviews, that were publish in Telegraph of both these people, that really shows their arrogance that they will get away with this terrible crime !
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9449770/Iftikhar-and-Farzana-Ahmed-the-police-interviews.html
Lady Dianna was also case of honor killing because royalty felt shame that princess was dating a muslim. When that justice will be delivered. Hypocrite western society
The family drama of the Ahmeds was a personal tragedy but it reflects the psyche of a population, which is deeply rooted in tradition and religion.
its like we are back in zamana e jahaliyaat, which is prevalent before islam, kill your daughters, height of ignorance!
@ Mr X from Bombay...
Its funny you're saying Muslims (especially from Pakistan) are more involved in honor killings, when in India (mainly Hindu) millions of new born girls were killed and being killed today , for just being girls...
You talk about how we dont let our girls 'integrate' and treat them inhumanely, What happened in England in this case is largely isolated case as millions of Pakistanis live in the west where such cases are DEFINITELY NOT the norm. Yet in India, millions of girls weren't even given a chance to live from the start, let alone allowed grow up and get westernized.. Do we say its a predominantly hundi problem? I wont, because i'd see those girls as humans first.!
I fully support the court decision in England. Justice served. Simple as that. Dont prejudice.
Think about it.
she should be left on her own fate if she was adopting western culture. One first place who said these two killers to shift to UK if they couldn't handle their kids. We are really retarded nation of this world who are always ahead in defaming our religion and its right teachings..
@ Iqbal
I have seen in Germany and Belgium this thing happening. Many Muslims from Pakistan put up boards calling themselves- Indian restaurants. They can always call themselves Pakistani restaurants. Pakistani cuisine is also very tasty and well known. They do it to bring in better customers. No body in west would dare enter an Pakistani restaurant.
Time and again, I have of these horrible Honor Killings, which are so senseless. And each time I question the Islamic Religion, honestly is that the teachings????
Thanks to the BBC documentary: "Ottomans versus Christians." Islam started 622 years after Christianity. The conquest of Istanbul was the beginning. The intention was to conquer the whole West. A very big mistake. View Arabia and you understand why. Poverty, oppression of the sheer population, poor education, obligatory reading of the Koran (1 +1 = 2), etc. All is permitted anything goes in the name of ... In every sentence spoken, each written document will always refer to one or another prophet. The fear is the new generation and trying to emigrate. No mosques in Europe, no new emigrants, zerotoleration! Let the government take care of their population so there is no poverty (70% young people unemployed). European ports are closed, emigrants will be returned. The reason is: Emigrants doesn't adapting their , some leaders seek to destroy other religions. Should we emigrate to Arabia? This will not work I think. Muslims, stay in your own country and do not abuse our laws.
If the western world is that “BAD” why you (Shafila’s Parents) were there at first place. Being an overseas Pakistani I do understand that when any Pakistani leaves Pakistan, they leave for betterment of their future. All we think only about financial future to secure and when we become a family and come across parental, social, ethical and moral challenges, we fall vertically like Shafila’s Parents. Our beautiful children do not deserve to die by so called “Honor Killing”. It’s not ‘Us’ to decide their destiny. Moral, ethical and above all our parental responsibilities tells us to bridge the gap between East & West while we live in western world. Teach our children the best of East & West and leave the rest how they grow up. Nature of water is run with the flow so as our children. They just need directions not isolation.
Wouldn't it be nice if the major political, military, and religious leaders got together and universally condemned this atrocious killing? It's unfortunate but I suspect not one prominent leader in Pakistan will condemn this act.
@Hassan: Go home , go back to your country man !! Nobody deserve to die ! We don't want people like you in the Western culture . We live in the 21 century ,not in the 16 ° .
@Iqbal:
How do you get away introducing yourself as Hindu, with a name like yours?
@ Hassan
Please, Please join the Ahmeds in jail. We don't need people like you in a country where we are trying so hard to prosper and failing because of ignoramuses
The root of every social evil in Pakistan goes back to the society's narrow (and wrong) view about religion.
@Iqbal: I hate to say this but what you are claiming that you have to introduce yourself as hindu to get a job is a total lie and baseless,I ve been living in the west for over 30 years and I know if have talent and skills no one will deny you a job,if someone is discriminating you and you have to pretend as a hindu then you have the right to go to the court and courts will help but please don't say something which is not true.
A brutal and shameful act which has created a bad image for Pakistanis living in the western countries.
May Al-Mighty Allah rest her soul in peace. Aameen.
Our people living here are the most vocal in cricizing the western way of life ad culture. And these are the people who would rather stay and live here than go back. This is typical of our double standard society.
hum... this was the reason of killing Shafilea. How justice is done? No justice is done. This is just blind justice. Anyhow, it was a truth. Just think that she had become the part of that society. Everyone is innocent and simple but the environment make the people good or bad. Either it was the big mistake of her parents; why they did not monitor her activities in start? They took the step after the spilt milk. The got the punishment of their slackness. Hamartia goes to the part of their parents. They would have tried to pull her back from that habits. Rather, their parent not tried to stop her in the initial stage and when the water was over the heads, they put her to death. They would have repatriated to their country back. Anyhow, long speeches can not bring her back to life but had left many lesson for the people who's food of the brain is thinking. Just try to keep your dear ones from the bad culture / society / environment, otherwise irreparable loss could be seen like the parents of Shafilea.
pakistanis who choose to live in west want to have double enjoyment in one ticket.they want to enjoy all the facilities of west and also want at same time that their children should live according to culture of pakistan.this is not possible and children get confuse.and result is not good.
Most honor killers get away with murders in Pakistan as the society and police have a soft corner for them. However, it is the West where everybody is equal and would be tried on merit. No ifs and buts, no excuses, the murderers deserve a long sentence and large fines so their other daughters can live a normal life without the threat of being murdered. The way the blood money law has been used and abused in Pakistan is: A rich man (father or brother) kills a girl in honor killing and goes to jail. The family of the victim (usually mother or father) accept blood money and then forgive the murderer. The money stays at same home and the murderer roams free.
@Iqbal: You are not the only Muslim to introduce yourself as a Hindu to get jobs and interviews. It has been done by many Muslims for years. I hope you have had some success.
A large majority of the so called Indian restaurants in UK are actually run by Muslim Pakistanis/ Bangladeshis. As long as there is some money to be made, many Muslims are willing to forget their nationality!
@Hassan's statements show that people like him and Mr. Iftikhar Ahmed still live in this world.
@Hassan: I think you and your comments are defaming Pakistan.
For Shefilea Ahmed and many such victims out there ...... my sincere wish that world becomes a bit open minded and tolerant then what it is today.
@Prasad Babu: I agree, there are quite some incidents where Indians are involved. And I agree even if one Indian is involved in honor killing we do not have any moral stance to preach others. Nevertheless the ratio between muslims doing such act compare to any non muslims involved in such act is just appalling. Unfortunately my comment might be seen as muslim bashing however unbiased I would be towards any religion. But if the problem is so chronic to a community then should I be just lying or twisting my words so as not to point the exact problem ? I condemn any honor killing or infact any killing in whatever manner in whichever community. The incident here is not just about honor killing but also how muslims generally do not intigrate with non muslims in a non muslim country where they have willfiully accepted residency to enjoy their benefits. I am not preaching banning veil and wearing mini skirts here. But western countries believe in individual's freedom and thats why on first place we choose to move there. And people like these they move and want to change the system of host country according to their needs. Are they sensitive to the culture and traditions of their host ? If they really were concerned about preserving their cultural and traditional ethics they should have stayed back and not move to country just to enjoy material comfort.
@Hassan: `her parents had a right on her life´,but only when it comes to save her life,not otherwise.Here in Germany,till recently, such incidents were not unknown, mostly turkish parents and/or brothers.And what´s still worse are the comments from the neighbours who take sides with the parents but stop short of execution.
It is a testimonial to the integrity of the legal system in Britain that the jury deliberated for 11 hours to reach a verdict. Those that decry the West for various reasons should ponder that.
@Hassan: How could you say such an insane and nutty thing? "wanna be and deserved to die" . Are you in your right senses? Did the parent's have the right to murder their daughter?. Hell no.
@Hassan: I really hope you aren't serious. Under no circumstances do you EVER have the right to kill another human being. God is love and acceptance, nothing more, nothing less.
If Pakistani parents are not willing to accept the culture that their kids are growing in, why do they move? They should stay in Pakistan if they are conservative to this extent. I have lived in the United States as an exchange student for a year and I find that in many Pakistani families. Some desi families don't let their kids hang out much with other Americans and think they're doing a good "tarbiyat" as they call it.
The way they put it "Hamaray bachay tho bohat naik aur sharif ha, bas ghar ma he rehtay ha , bahar kisi goray waghera sa baat bhi nae kartay, bilkul bhi nahi "BIGRHAY" hamaray bachay" .wow.
One of the reasons of misconceptions about Muslims in the west is that they move there and don't interact with locals.
I live in UK and I am embarrased to see this kind of medieval practice being adopted by muslims in a western society. The good thing is that the courts have convicted the parents and will probably die in prison. If this had happened in Pakistan the mullahs would have put pressure on the courts not to convict them because it is within sharia. I am not surprised that Islam is looked down in the West. We have ourselves to blame (although in our culture we tend to blame others for "conspiracies") and the situation is getting worse. Due to prejudice in the West towards muslims I have to introduce myself as a hindu to get jobs and interviews. That is the reality I have to face.
There was one Pakistani British girl who ran away to India and married her hindu lover. This happenned few years back. Thank God, she is spared from honor killing.
Justice prevailed! An innocent girl was tortured to death but at least the perpetrators will spend most of their life behind bars. The tragedy is that many Shafileas get killed in Pakistan every year by family members in the name of honor and there is no justice for those girls. Not even a voice of sympathy from the country at large.
@Hassan: Don't go to western country. No body force you to go there. You don't have any right on a biological accident. your child is born out of your lust to have a sex & biology accident happen. Keep your sick thought to yourself don't spread on net.
This is so shameful. It happens in India occasionally. But Pakistanis do this in the western countries that they have imigrated to. They want all the comfort and freedom of these countries, but want to act as they are in Pakistan. A pakistani friend told me it happens so often in Pakistan that pakistani teenagers in the U.S. don't want to visit pakistan with their parents.
There is no honor in murder, period. They are in jail as they should be. If only Pakistan would do the same.
omg another story which will make pseudo liberals rant about religion.
indeed very shameful!!!!!
Where is the honor now?
may god rest shafilea's sould...May the all mighty give her peace. and may such parents all over the world suffer a harsher punishment.
“Shafilea was a determined, able and ambitious girl who wanted to live a life which was normal in the country and in the town in which you had chosen to live,”
This says it all. Parents live miserable, abnormal lives for the sake of money and expect their children to live like them also. There decisions, childrens' sufferings.
Good, Justice is finally served!
Let this be a message to all those that still have this warped image of izzat. I hope this is shown on Pakistani TV.
AOA,
Terrible news cant beleive parents can kill daughter . I have met many parents who discuss their misery and helplessness in western culture. I even heard one women said she hope her daughter run away with Muslim boy instead of Non-Muslim. Its hard to blame parents they try as much they can but the environment has its effect. people who come over here from subcontinent i am not sure if their 3rd generation would have same religion as their G.Parents or they might not even follow religion because its fashion here calling your self an atheist. I think best parents can do when kids pas age of 15 is DUA .
There you go....this is the reason why westerners and non muslims hate muslims. We do not hate Islam, but somehow followers of Islam are so brainwahsed by their religious leaders and community pressure that they would rather kill their own child to maintain their pride fabricated by misguided teachings of mullahs. Islam may be religion of peace and tolerance. But most (not all ) of it's followers are certainly not peaceful neither tolerant.
so sad. what a beautiful girl.
clash of cultures...!!!!!
SHAME ON YOU! Mr & Mrs Ahmed ! or Akhmed ?
Justice is served...They deserve it ..
Justice done....
That is sad news. Of course, she was a wanna be and deserved to die. Why a 25 year sentence for people who killed who defame Pakistan abroad? And of course, her parents had a right on her life.
Such parents should not get long jail term but should face capital punishment for killing innocent person,its a a murder and the punishment should be capital ,if Pakistanis are stuck in 7th century,stuck with their out of date culture then should not leave their country,if you want to raise your kids in the west then let them do whatever they want to adopt,its not your kids fault that you wanted to leave your country,make money but stuck in 7th century,when you are in a foreign country then do as Romans do and let your children live the life they want to live.Pakistanis and member of ''GHARIAT BRIGADE'' should learn and remember one thing,that they can not get away with their crimes in Western culture,in the West and America there is a value for human life..
“You could not tolerate the life that Shafilea wanted to live. You wanted your family to live in Pakistan in Warrington.
That nails it, I guess.
If the Western world is so bad, then come back to the East. But don't kill your children. Please.
“The word ‘shame’ has been heard many times during the course of this trial, but the shame is not on Shafilea, it is on her parents,” So true
It is a shame that in Pakistan even today the HONOUR prevails the KILLING!!
“The word ‘shame’ has been heard many times during the course of this trial, but the shame is not on Shafilea, it is on her parents,” he said.