Mahmod honour killing: Reaction

Responding to the convictions today of two men - cousins Mohammed Saleh Ali and Omar Hussain - found guilty of the murder of Banaz Mahmod, a young Iraqi Kurdish woman from Mitcham in south London, Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen said:

“This has been a truly shocking case and it’s been extremely important that justice has been seen to be done over the appalling murder of Banaz Mahmod.

“Today’s conviction sends out the key message that so-called ‘honour’ killings will not be tolerated either in Britain or in countries like Iraq.

“Our research in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq shows that despite the recent efforts of the authorities to clamp down on ‘honour’ killings, Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights and girls are still being murdered by relatives in their dozens, sometimes with the tacit approval of the wider community.

“Nothing can bring Banaz back to life but at least her tormentors have been properly punished and the message sent out that ‘honour’ crimes will never, ever be tolerated.”