According to Frdiay Times report: An Italian appeals court has upheld life sentences for a Pakistani couple found guilty of murdering their 18-year-old daughter, Saman Abbas, in a so-called honor killing. The couple, Shabbir Abbas and Nazia Shaheen, were convicted for killing their daughter after she refused an arranged marriage in Pakistan.
Saman Abbas disappeared in May 2021 from the town of Novellara in northern Italy, where her family had moved. She had embraced a more Western lifestyle and refused to marry a cousin back in Pakistan. Authorities believe her decision to live more freely and date a boy of her choice led to her murder.
The case gained nationwide attention in Italy, highlighting the abuse some immigrant women face when they reject strict family traditions. Saman’s story became a symbol of the fight for women’s rights and protection, especially within immigrant communities.
Surveillance footage showed Saman walking with her parents on April 30, 2021 — the last time she was seen alive. Days later, her parents flew to Pakistan. Her body was found 18 months later, in November 2022, buried near a farmhouse close to the watermelon fields where her father worked.
An autopsy revealed that she had likely been strangled, as one of her neck bones was broken. Italian prosecutors said the murder was planned and carried out by multiple members of her family.
Besides her parents, the court also sentenced two of Saman’s cousins to life in prison. They had previously been cleared by a lower court but were found guilty after further review. Her uncle, Danish Hasnain, who was believed to be one of the key figures in the murder, received a 22-year sentence—an increase from his earlier 14-year term.
Saman’s father was arrested in Pakistan and later extradited to Italy. Her mother was convicted in absentia while on the run but was caught in 2023 after three years of hiding.
The trial, which started in early 2023, became one of Italy’s most high-profile cases related to forced marriage and violence against women. It also led to stronger public awareness and legal support against forced marriages in the country.
Following the tragedy, Italy’s Islamic communities issued a statement condemning forced marriages, calling them un-Islamic and harmful.
This case remains a painful reminder of the need to protect young women from cultural violence and support their freedom to choose their own paths. __ Photo Courtesy X/ Twitter
