Muslim jailed for "honour killing" his daughter (she was dating a Christian)

Reuters (UK) ^ | 9-29-03

[veronica]

A Muslim immigrant has been jailed for life by a court for slitting his daughter's throat in an "honour killing" after she embraced Western culture and began dating a Christian.

A judge at London's Old Bailey court heard how Abdullah Yones, an Iraqi Kurd who has lived in Britain for 10 years, stabbed his 16-year-old daughter Heshu repeatedly in a furious row at their flat in west London in October.

After killing her by slitting her throat, Yones, 47, cut his own throat and then hurled himself from the balcony of the family's third-floor flat in a suicide bid.

He survived and made a full recovery in hospital before being brought to trial and found guilty of murder.

The court heard how Yones was incensed that his daughter was having a "Romeo and Juliet" style relationship with Samanizam Elkouri, an 18-year-old Lebanese Christian she met at college.

She embraced Western culture and starting missing lessons to be with him, the court heard.

"This is a tragic story of irreconcilable cultural differences between a father who had a traditional Kurdish upbringing, values and background and a daughter who was a thoroughly Westernised woman," Yones' defence lawyer said.

He said his client "was like a fish out of water" in Britain, and could not speak English.

Speaking to reporters after the trial, police detective inspector Brent Hyatt said honour killings involving immigrants to Britain were on the increase.

"We have identified a number of other cases of so-called honour killings," he said. "We are probing how we can help girls like Heshu."

[Bikers4Bush]

Aaaaaah, the religion of peace strikes again.

[freedomson]

Muslims of true faith are demon possessed and it ain't pretty.

[TonyRo76]

He said his client "was like a fish out of water" in Britain, and could not speak English.

So GO the h××× BACK where you're from! If you want to enjoy the fruits of a Western democracy and the blessings of freedom it affords, you've got to give a little. Assimilate a little. “Melt” a little!

My patience has run totally dry with these yahoos who immigrate here (or to Britain or anywhere else in the Anglosphere) and then complain that our Western culture doesn't fit them. The answer's simple: Leave!

[af_vet_1981]

A Muslim immigrant has been jailed for life by a court for slitting his daughter's throat in an "honour killing" after she embraced Western culture and began dating a Christian.

The story is ambiguous. Was she embracing modern Western culture or Christianity ?

Either way, they should respect the wishes of the father and finish his bungled execution.

[AppyPappy]

Same article posted within 3 minutes. Great minds must think alike

[Cicero]

It would have been a lot cheaper to let him realize his wish to die.

He goes to the emergency room at government expense, while many Britons with cancer and other serious illnesses have to wait years to get into a hospital for treatment. Now they'll put him up at taxpayers' expense in a comfortable jail. Why is he in England in the first place?

[Fighter@heart]

If this is how, in their hate filled mind, they treat their
own flesh & blood, then I think it is safe to surmise that Christians & western culture folks should expect at the least the same treatment as his daughter got. The "all inclusive religion of peace," once again surfaces its UGLY
Head to demonstrate that all you need to know about Islam was demonstrated 9-11-01. Nuke "mecca" each & every "pilgrimage" until there is no-one showing up!!

[Bikers4Bush]

Do not me misled, it is not radical islam that fosters these actions. It is the true islam and if we don't continue to point it out they will be doing the same and worse to our offspring in the future.

[Natural Law]

Although I don't disagree with your take on Islam, this type of killing is cultural not religious.

[RonF]

Truth be told, this kind of behavior well pre-dates Islam.

[RonF]

This concept of "honor" and the kind of behavior that it engenders pre-dates Islam by centuries.

[Psycho_Bunny]

This is a tragic story of irreconcilable cultural differences

No, it's not "tragic".  It is evil.

There's a difference.

[Bikers4Bush]

I have to disagree, the father was clear that it was because of the families religious beliefs that she was killed.

[Bikers4Bush]

Agreed, however I believe islam is the only mainstream religion that still practices this sort of garbage.

[Aquinasfan]

"This is a tragic story of irreconcilable cultural differences

Good! Now run with this thought...

[kevao]

Another victim falls to the Religion of Peace.

[Psycho_Bunny]

Yes, it does pre-date Islam.

But, notice how Islam doesn't stop it?

However, in all fairness, it's taken Hinduism a long, long time to deal with "honor" murders in India.....and it still happens now and again in more remote regions of the country.

Still, (not to lessen the horridness of the act) "honor" murders are more a thorn in the side of Hinduism but par for the course under Islam.

[joesnuffy]

police detective inspector Brent Hyatt said honour killings involving immigrants to Britain were on the increase.

The moderate muslims must send "Missionaries" to the Middle East...these 'moderates' can convert the radicals to embrace the western culture and renounce violence...they can prove that the moderate view of the Koran ...is in fact the "correct" view and that the mullahs and immams are wrong in their violent interpretations..

[RonF]

Agreed, however I believe islam is the only mainstream religion that still practices this sort of garbage.

Plenty of brides get torched in India when her parents don't come up with more dowry for the groom. Most rural families cook on kerosene stoves, so you end up with "cooking accidents".

[Bikers4Bush]

They can say what they want about the U.S. but at least we don't have that sort of crap happening on a regular basis.

[ChadsDad]

animals.

[Gritty]

It is unbelieveable how twisted somebody could be to do this to his own daughter.

All religions ain't the same.

[TigersEye]

The moderate muslims must send "Missionaries" to the Middle East...these 'moderates' can convert the radicals to embrace the western culture and renounce violence...

Good idea! But, hey, wait! This happened in London.

[RLK]

This is the same type of fanaticism we will face not that the showpiece drubbing of Hussein is over. We have hundreds of millions of Muslims dedicated to honor killing us while our president calls it the religion of peace.

[mhking]

Just damn.

If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[As i mentioned, the B/C & JD! lists are going to float into and out of whack over the forseeable future, while I try to cobble a rig back together for myself. My apologies for any incovenience or misunderstandings in this time frame. New signups/removals may be flaky in this time-frame as well; please bear with me, and keep in mind you may have to FReepmail me more than once for me to get it done. Thanks again!]

[rudypoot]

Hey now, I remember one of my college professors said that all cultures are equal. He knows what he is talking about cause he has a PhD (Piled higher and Deeper). /sarcasm

[cardinal4]

He said his client "was like a fish out of water" in Britain, and could not speak English.

Then why is he there??

[Devil_Anse]

Those Brits just don't understand religious freedom!

[Napoleon Solo]

Eff him and if he is ever released then send him the f back to his homeland...

...or maybe he can learn the language while in prison. "SPEAK UP...WHAT DO YOU WANT?... YOU MAKE NO SENSE...NO SOUP FOR YOU!!

[jjm2111]

This is a tragic story of irreconcilable cultural differences...Morally Reletive Newsie.

No, it's not "tragic". It is evil. There's a difference. - Pyscho Bunny

Bears Repeating

[Blue Scourge]

To deny that this mans religion is not part of his culture is being misled.

[browardchad]

If you want to enjoy the fruits of a Western democracy and the blessings of freedom it affords, you've got to give a little. Assimilate a little.

Assimilation is not the goal, even for those Muslims termed “moderate” by the media. From an interview titled "Moderate Voice of Islam" with Dr Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan’s new ambassador to Britain:

“Her advice to Muslims in this country is: "Stand up and be counted. Be good British citizens -you can integrate without assimilating. You must learn the language, that is vital. You should taste Western foods, try their books, their culture. But you can still preserve your traditional ways and celebrate them."

At least she advocates learning English -- something this unassimilated Afghani didn't bother to do in the ten years he lived in Britain, preserving the more odious of his "traditional ways."

[Chu Gary]

"...this type of killing is cultural not religious."

So what?!

[Chu Gary]

"Truth be told, this kind of behavior well pre-dates Islam."

So what?!

[Chu Gary]

"I have to disagree, the father was clear that it was because of the families religious beliefs that she was killed."

Bravo Sierra, sheikh who-ever you are.

[mtbopfuyn]

Abdullah Yones, an Iraqi Kurd who has lived in Britain for 10 years... said his client "was like a fish out of water" in Britain, and could not speak English.

Typical lawyer-ese. Glad he lived through his suicide attempt so he can ponder his actions for the next 30 years.

[Dionysius]

Before one be allowed to migrate to a civilized country, he should agree to acquit himself by civilized standards. Multi-culturalism be damned! Some cultures are vastly superior to others.

[Van Jenerette]

..thanks. For class reading.

[Natural Law]

I'm really surprised that so many Freepers are not only experts in Islamic theology but experts in cultural anthopology as well.

Granted the two are not completely isolated. Islam is a faith that is largely a fabrication of Arab culture and to a lesser degree Islam has influenced Arab culture. Even where Kurds are involved this applies. Remember that the Old Testament commands similar killings and punishments. It is only our western culture that keeps us civilized.

[Bikers4Bush]

Insult taken accordingly but let me ask you this.

If it is not religious in nature then why do they constantly refer to these things (western culture) as un-islamic and therefore punishable according to islam?

[Ready4Freddy]

"The story is ambiguous. Was she embracing modern Western culture or Christianity ? "

To the contrary, the article said "..after she embraced Western culture and began dating a Christian.

Sounds like she was embracing a Christian, too, tho.....

[johnb838]

The moderate muslims must send "Missionaries" to the Middle East...

Tony Snow had that former weapons inspector guy on on Saturday, Bill Tierney. He spent sometime translating at Guantanamo Bay recently. He has this theory that the spies recently arrested there may well have been turned by the detainees into muslim spies. Apparently they use a tactic like "Do you really believe in the True Islam? Then why are you helping the infidel to oppress your own people? Why not help to kill the white devil>?", this kind of crap. So I'm not so sure that sending moderates to the source is such a good idea.

[El Gato]

This concept of "honor" and the kind of behavior that it engenders pre-dates Islam by centuries.

Yes it does. Much of what we think of as Islamic culture is really Arab culture, such as it is, spread over a much larger area by the swords of Allah. Islam is just the method that Arab culture invented in order to metastasize.

[fatidic]

You're full of crap. It's no fun reading such a hodge-podge of illogic. You need to learn how to keep to the subject.

[Natural Law]

I will accept your expertese in crap, but not your conclusions. Every faith is exercised through a significant cultural filter.

[Natural Law]

The practitioners do not recognize the difference between culture and religion.

[Bikers4Bush]

That may be but if they're doing it in the name of a religion or because of a religion doesn't that make it religious?

Please keep in mind that I'm trying to understand where you're going with this because I can't see it as anything other than religious.

I'm truly not trying to be a smartass or anything if that's the way I'm coming across.

[aculeus]

More details


Father jailed for 'honour killing'

A Kurdish Muslim who cut his daughter's throat after learning she was having a relationship with a Christian has been jailed for life.

The Old Bailey heard Abdalla Yones, 48, murdered 16-year-old Heshu at their home, in Acton, west London, on 12 October 2002 because he feared she was becoming westernised.

He pleaded for the court to pass the death sentence on him for his "appalling" crime after he tried to take his own life.

Heshu, who was described as popular and fun-loving, planned to run away from home after starting a relationship with an 18-year-old Lebanese teacher.

In a letter to her parents, apparently showing she planned to run away, Heshu wrote: "Bye Dad, sorry I was so much trouble.

"Me and you will probably never understand each other, but I'm sorry I wasn't what you wanted, but there's some things you can't change.

"Hey, for an older man you have a good strong punch and kick.

"I hope you enjoyed testing your strength on me, it was fun being on the receiving end. Well done."

Yones was a political refugee who fled Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq 10 years ago.

Cut his throat

The court heard that after repeatedly stabbing his daughter and slitting her throat, he cut his own throat and jumped from a third floor balcony.

Scotland Yard described it as a "brutal honour killing" - a reference to the practice of women being killed by male relatives to redeem the family name.

Detective Inspector Brent Hyatt said: "There was nothing, nothing at all 'honourable' about her murder.

"After hacking his daughter to death, Mr Yones has attempted every defence, from psychiatric, and diminished responsibility to extreme provocation, in order to save his own skin."

He added that Yones first claimed al-Qaeda members had broken into the flat, murdered Heshu and then attacked him. He only admitted murdering her last Monday.

Yones's counsel, Icah Peart QC, said his client wanted to be sentenced to death.

Judge Neil Denison said Yones had tried to commit suicide twice but told him he would pass the only sentence he could for murder - life imprisonment.

He added: "This is, on any view, a tragic story arising out of irreconcilable cultural differences between traditional Kurdish values and the values of western society."
But Scotland Yard warned the sentence should be a warning to those who condone or stay silent about the mistreatment of women in their communities.

Commander Andy Baker added: "Violence in the name of culture will not be tolerated. Murder in the name of honour will be punished by the severest penalties available in law."

Scotland Yard believe there were 12 'honour killings' in the UK last year and said they were not restricted to Muslims, but also occurred in Sikh and Christian families.

A specialist police unit is researching the practice but police say only a handful of people believed 'honour killings' were an appropriate cultural response.

Mr Baker said people who had tried to shield Abdalla Yones from police could now be investigated on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.

"We are completely satisfied that some members of the community, or his friends, tried to assist him in that cover-up," he said.

"It's not about one person committing the murder, it's about the few that acknowledge it and support it and are involved in it."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/london/3149030.stm

Published: 2003/09/29 15:35:20 GMT

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