Italian Court Sentences Parents to Life in Jail for 'Honour Killing' of Daughter

An Italian court has sentenced a Pakistani couple to life in prison for the "honour killing" of their 18-year-old daughter, Saman Abbas, who refused an arranged marriage. Saman's body was found 18 months after her disappearance at a farmhouse in northern Italy. Her father, Shabbar Abbas, was arrested in Pakistan and extradited for trial, while her mother, Nazia Shaheen, remains in hiding. The court also sentenced Saman's uncle to 14 years in jail for involvement in the murder. The case shocked Italy, prompting a fatwa against forced marriages. Honour killings, rooted in tribal customs, are prevalent in Pakistan, with hundreds of women killed each year for reasons such as refusing arranged marriages or perceived disobedience.