Woman Killed for Honor After Police Refused to Help Her

(London, England) A 20-year-old Iraqi Kurd woman, Banaz Mahmod, fled her family to avoid a marriage arranged by her father, 52-year-old Mahmod Mahmod. She ultimately met and fell in love with Iranian Kurd Rahmat Sulemani.

After seeing a photograph of Banaz kissing Sulemani on a London street, her father, Mahmod, became enraged and issued an order for Banaz to be raped and killed. Mahmod had previously called her a "whore" for wearing makeup.

In January 2006, Banaz was abducted and disappeared. Three months later, her dead body was found stuffed in a suitcase and buried in a Birmingham garden.

Her father and 50-year-old Ari Mahmod, her uncle, were found guilty of ordering and directing the barbaric honor killing and sentenced by Judge Brian Barker to life in prison. The actual rapist and killer, 30-year-old Mohammed Hama, was also sentenced to life.

In court last week, testimony described the gang-rape Banaz was subjected to and her murder.

She was strangled for five minutes, but it took her half an hour to die as her killer stamped repeatedly on her neck to "let her soul out."

According to the prosecutor Victor Temple, Hama confessed to a friend that Banaz's final moments lasted two torturous hours and included many sexual acts. Sadly, Banaz had suspicions that she would be killed but couldn't get help to prevent it.

Earlier it had emerged that terrified Banaz had asked police for help four times, but was not taken seriously. She even gave officers a list of five people she suspected would harm her.

After she had been taken to hospital following an earlier attempt on her life, Mr Sulemani recorded her fears on his mobile phone. The film was played in court and helped convict her killers from beyond the grave. Five officers could now face disciplinary charges.

Obviously, British police officials need to rethink their policy regarding threats and suspicions of potential honor killings. Even so, it's not clear how much police are capable of doing prior to an actual crime being committed. Usually by the time a crime becomes known, the honor killing is already a done deal.

To resolve the dilemma, it seems that what's needed is a witness-protection-type program for women targeted for honor killings. If the women can't be located, they can't be killed.