Honor Killing: Pak Parents Were More Concerned About Shame in Community Than Kids

A UK judge has ruled that a Pakistani couple in Britain killed their daughter because they were worried about shame in their community

A UK judge has ruled that a Pakistani couple in Britain killed their daughter because they were more worried about shame in their community than about their children.

Iftikar and Farzana Ahmed, who suffocated the 17 year-old in front of their four other children, were jailed for life after being found guilty of the 2003 honour killing of their 'westernised' daughter Shafilea.

Depression - Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment
Depression is one of the most common mental disorders affecting approximately 340 million people in the world. No one is immune from depression - it occurs in people of all social classes, all countries and all cultural settings.

They were told they would serve at least 25 years for killing their "determined" and "ambitious" daughter at their home in Warrington, Cheshire after she rejected a forced marriage in Pakistan.

While announcing the sentence Justice Roderick Evans, at Chester Crown Court, said the couple imposed their 'cultural attitudes of rural Pakistan upon their children'.

"Although you lived in Warrington, your social and cultural attitudes were those of rural Pakistan and it was those you imposed upon your children, " The Telegraph quoted the judge, as saying.

Adolescent Depression - Causes - Affects - Depressed Teens - Treatment - FAQs
Adolescent depression is an ailment that occurs during the teenage characterized by persistent melancholy, disappointment and loss of self-esteem.

"She [Shafilea] 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 upon her," the judge said.

"Your concern about being shamed in your community was greater than your love of your child," he added.

Depression � A Holistic Approach-Signs, Symptoms and Treatment
Depression is a common disorder and many worldwide suffer from depression. Early recognition of symptoms and signs of depression can help in taking a holistic approach to the management of depression.

According to the paper, the couple were arrested in December 2003, but when detectives held a public appeal for information, the Ahmeds gatecrashed and protested their innocence.

Finally, in August 2010, police arrested Shafilea's younger sister Alesha on suspicion of organising a robbery at the family home.

Alesha, who is now 21, told officers that she had seen her mother and father kill Shafilea.

Source-ANI