Last week (8th April) at Leeds Crown Court, Wahib Albaradan, 37, was jailed for 19 years and six months for the murder of his wife Salam Alshara, 27, in November 2023.
During the trial the court heard how Albaradan tried to decapitate the mum-of-four in a “prolonged, persistent and frenzied” attack, using two knives and a razor, following an argument during which Salam may have told Albaradan she was going to leave.
The court heard how he had been an “angry and jealous” husband, and leading up to the murder had become paranoid that Salam was talking to other men. He did not approve of her using apps like WhatsApp on her phone, and was convinced she was “dishonouring” him by using them to have an affair.
Savera UK CEO and Founder, Afrah Qassim, said: “Salam was a young woman who came to the UK to start a life with her children in 2021. She was liked and respected by people in her new community and loved by her family. Her life was filled with opportunity but her husband took this away from her, and took her away from her children and family.
“Nineteen years is not enough for this crime. He was controlling towards Salam, violating her human rights by taking her mobile phone from her, trying to make her wear a niqab covering her face, when this was not something that the women in her family do.
“Since the murder he also told a psychiatrist he believed she was talking to men on social media and would have killed her if they were in Syria, saying ‘That’s our law’ and that nothing would have happened to him because it ‘would have been an honour crime’.
“There is no ‘honour’ in abuse or murder, here or anywhere in the world. ‘Honour’ is not an excuse for abuse or murder. While we welcome Albaradan’s life sentence, we also call for a statutory definition for ‘honour’-based abuse that will lead to more effective policing, prosecution, and better support for survivors, those at risk and those experiencing HBA.
“We call for statutory services and frontline professionals to work with specialist agencies, like ourselves and our sector peers, and undertake training that will equip them to better recognise and respond to cases of ‘honour’, so more lives can be saved.
“Our thoughts remain with Salam’s family and friends who loved her and should not be facing a life without her. We will remember Salam and we will continue to work to end HBA and harmful practices, so no more lives are lost or harmed.”
