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"Honour crimes" and forced marriage

What is a so-called 'honour' crime?

So-called 'honour based violence' is a crime or incident, which has or may have been committed to protect or defend the honour of the family and/or community.

'So-called Honour Crime' is a fundamental abuse of Human Rights.

There is no honour in the commission of murder, rape, kidnap and the many other acts, behaviour and conduct which make up 'violence in the name of so-called honour'.

The simplicity of the above definition is not intended in any way to minimise the levels of violence, harm and hurt caused by such acts.

(definition used by the Metropolitan Police Working Group on honour based violence)

What is a forced marriage?

In a forced marriage you are coerced into marrying someone against your will. You may be physically threatened or emotionally blackmailed to do so. It is an abuse of human rights and cannot be justified on any religious or cultural basis.

It’s not the same as an arranged marriage where you have a choice as to whether to accept the arrangement or not. The tradition of arranged marriages has operated successfully within many communities and countries for a very long time.

(Definition from the Foreign and Commonwealth office)

Both 'honour crimes' and forced marriage are forms of domestic violence.

Forced Marriage (civil protection) Act 2007 came into force on 25th November 2008

Recommendations on future work on forced marriage and so-called 'honour' crime

CPS pilot on forced marriage and so-called ‘honour’ crime – findings

Policy for prosecuting domestic violence

Home » News Centre » Press Releases » CPS statement: Murder of Samaira Nazir

CPS statement: Murder of Samaira Nazir

14/07/2006

Today at the Central Criminal Court, Azhar Nazir was sentenced, together with a youth who cannot be named, for the murder of his sister Samaira in Southall, west London on the 23rd of April 2005.

Nazir Afzal OBE, Director CPS London West said: "Samaira was murdered because she loved the wrong person in her family's eyes. In that sense it was an 'honour killing' to protect the perceived status of the family, to mark their disapproval of Samaira's intention to marry someone her family considered 'an unsuitable boy'.

"Honour crimes affect the health of the whole family and, in fact, the whole community. This case illustrates the determination of the police and Crown Prosecution Service to bring all perpetrators to justice, not just those who wield the knife. We hope that Samaira's death and the investigation and prosecution that followed will deter others who may wish to harm their own family members because of practices that are as tragic as they are outdated."

Media enquiries to CPS headquarters press office on 020 7710 6088.