The Day of Memory is an awareness day that marks Shafilea Ahmed’s birthday on the 14th July each year. Shafilea was murdered in an ‘honour’ killing in Warrington in 2003 by her parents. The Day of Memory is used nationally to remember all those who lost their lives to ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA).

An estimated 5,000 people per year globally are murdered as a result of ‘honour’ killings. While in the UK there are an estimated 12 to 15 ‘honour’ killings each year. However, we believe this is only the tip of the iceberg. Many will not be reported due to the  lack of awareness and failure to recognise HBA and under-reporting means that these numbers are likely to be much higher. It is vital for us as an organisation to celebrate and remember those who are murdered in ‘honour’ killings and make sure that no one else loses their life this way. Our commitment and mission is to end HBA and harmful practices for good.

On Monday 15th July with other colleagues and partners, we joined the University of Salford’s and Karma Nirvana, as they led the Day of Memory event, remembering and celebrating those killed in ‘honour’ killings. At the event we planted a memorial tree, heard victim stories and held a minute’s silence, while reaffirming our commitment to working collaboratively to end HBA and harmful practices.

We remember and celebrate and will never forget those lost to ‘honour’

 

Samia Shahid

Samia was in an arranged marriage when she fell in love with Syed Kazim. 

She divorced her husband and started a new life with Kazim in Dubai, but her family did not approve. 

She was lured back to her home country under false pretences that her father was critically ill. 

Her family told her husband she died of ‘natural causes’ however, he persisted and it was revealed she was killed in an ‘honour’ killing.

 

 

Arash Ghorbani-Zarin

Arash was a 19-year-old student at Oxford Brookes University. 

After a year of dating 20-year-old Manna Begum, she fell pregnant. 

The couple were excited to start a family, however, Manna’s father had wanted to force his daughter to marry another man.

He and his two sons ambushed Arash in his car, killing him to protect their ‘honour’.

 

Banaz Mahmod

After two years in an abusive forced marriage, Banaz fell in love with Rahmat Suleimani, against her family’s wishes. 

Banaz’s uncle devised a plan to kill them both which she overheard. Multiple threats of death and violence were made to both Banaz and Rahmat and one occasion left her in hospital stating ‘her father tried to kill her’. 

Two days after a kidnap attempt of Rahmat, Banaz was murdered in an ‘honour’ killing.

 

Laura Wilson

16 year old Laura Wilson was in a secret relationship with Ashtiaq Ashgar who knew his family wouldn’t approve. 

When Laura found out he was seeing other girls, she had a fling with Ashgar’s friend and fell pregnant. 

After the birth of the baby, Laura told the families of both Ashgar and his friend about the relationships. 

Ashgar then lured her to a canal where she was killed to protect his ‘honour’.

 

Heshu Jones

Heshu was a 16-year-old girl from Fulham. 

She lived a double life, putting on make-up after leaving the house and lying to her parents about having a boyfriend. 

Heshu’s father found out from their “community” about Heshu’s boyfriend. 

After months of physical abuse, he killed her in their home in an ‘honour’ killing.

 

Thank you to Karma Nirvana and the University of Salford for hosting such an important event. 

Follow our social media channels @SaveraUK to learn more about HBA and harmful practices, hear survivor stories and find out how you can help us to end ‘honour’-based abuse and harmful practices for good.