Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Historic Verdict on Family Honor Killing in Denmark

*** UPDATED***

Thanks to Rune for the corrections.


Honor killing in DenmarkDymphna wrote earlier this month about the honor killing of Ghazala Khan in Denmark. In a precendent-setting move, the Danish authorities put nine family members on trial, and not just the actual killer.

Now the verdict is in: Guilty. Reader kepiblanc, translating from Danish sources, has kindly provided the following summary:

The trial of an entire family of nine for the September “honor” execution of Ghazala Khan (18) ended today…

The trial marks a turning point in Danish judicial history. It sets a precedent and there will be no turning back. Until now contemporary jurisprudence would imply that the killer (executioner) is the one to blame and accordingly face punishment. But as from today not only the man who actually pulls the trigger, but his family and friends as well are held responsible and must face the consequences of their barbaric deeds.

The jury deliberated for about 20 hours and the verdict was very clear: All defendants were found guilty of premeditated murder as charged. They will face anything from 3 years to life in prison. Sentences can be appealed to the Supreme Court, but the verdict stands.

Deportations will likely be enforced.

The trial was unusual in more than one respect, even in these “honor killing” cases. Members of the jury were threatened, witnesses openly feared acts of violence from the Muslim community and thus were reluctant to testify. Several times during the proceedings the judge had to warn the Muslim audience that he would not tolerate intimidation. Seemingly unaware of the Islamic tradition of lying through one’s teeth whenever it suits one’s purpose, he had to warn several witnesses of severe punishment if they continued to do so.

The verdict sends ripples of shock across the Muslim community in Denmark…

Those convicted are as follows:

Ghulam Abbas: 57 years old
(father) Convicted for urging the murder of his daughter and her husband
Aktar Abbas: 30 years old
(brother) Convicted for the murder of his sister and for attempted murder of her husband.
Perveen Khan: 40 years old
(aunt) Married to the brother of the mother of the murdered girl. Convicted for setting up the trap that led to the murder of the girl.
Walayat Khan: 46 years old
(mother’s brother) Helped setting the trap for the girl, by way of a trick “reconciliation meeting”.
Anser Iqbal: 45 years old
(father’s brother) Convicted for participating in the hunt on the girl.
Asghar Ali: 42 years old
(the elder) 
Naweed Sharif: 30 years old
(friend of the family) Taxi-driver; helped in the hunt for the girl.
Asghar Ali: 31 years old
(the younger; brother of aunt) Helped in the attempts to track down the girl.
Ghulam Ahmed: 36 years old
(friend of the family) Taxi-driver; helped in the hunt for the girl.

I had originally thought those were sentence lengths, and not the ages of the convicted perpetrators. Sentences have not yet been handed down.

I don’t know how early a parole the Danish system will allow, but in many European countries 15 years is what the average murderer will serve.

This does indeed seem to mark a turning-point in European jurisprudence dealing with Islamic honor killings. It will be interesting to see if other countries follow suit.


Note: I had Rune’s help in the translation of the lsit of conspirators and their relationships to the victim. There was some discrepancy between Rune’s version and the original Jyllands-Posten list. Further corrections from our Danish readers will be welcomed; I’ll amend the list and update the post if changes come in.

17 comments:

Jason Pappas said...

Important news! The Danes take an vital step forward.

Anonymous said...

They will probably receive long sentences by danish standards, but not by american standards.

However there has been voices in danish politics calling for harsher punishment for violent crimes and I think it will happen over the following years.

goesh said...

- they'll be made to undergo 40 sessions of spiritual counseling by a court appointed imam - that's Europe's get tough approach to the menace of fundamental islam. Seriously, do really expect any jail time for anyone except the murderer?

Jason Pappas said...

OK, it's not as great a step as I had thought but it is still a significant step in the right direction. The glass is more than half full. It may be riddled with holes and leaky but one step at a time.

People in Europe are waking up to the problem. Encouragement is in order.

Exile said...

Anyone interested in the Copenhagen Post's article go here.

Megan said...

I think instead of complaining that they won't be punished harshly enough, we should be super thrilled that they were convicted at all! I read this story with a light heart full of hope. Perhaps it is not yet too late for Europe???

It sickens me to think of family members and friends doing this to a relation. It's so twisted and sick.

Always On Watch said...

The follow-up information will say a lot about the state of European law.

But at least there has been a trial and not just a head-in-the-sand, cultural-relativism reaction so far.

Exile said...

The important thing is, that the precedent has been set now. The benchmark has been established. Whatever comes next will be dealt with.
We cannot right all the wrongs at once, nor can we eradicate the threat of this ever happening again. But it is a decisive moment and one must take comfort in the fact that, finally, the law is being upheld and these people have now been found guilty.
One battle won will not win the war, but it will weaken the enemy.
Take solace in that. This is good news. We should be celebrating.

Zerosumgame said...

Well, the Danes got one right.

Anyone want to take bets when the Islamofascist bombs start going off in Copenhagen?

Eleanor © said...

The judgment against the whole family is only right. Even if this were not a Muslim-inspired honor killing, all would be guilty of conspiracy to commit murder, or complicit before or after the fact, guilty of aiding and abetting in some manner. It happens all the time.

Moshe David Tokayer said...

Zerosumgame said, "Anyone want to take bets when the Islamofascist bombs start going off in Copenhagen?"

This was actually my own first reaction. Ok, the Danes have taken a bold, correct step -- but I feel we are now waiting for the other shoe to drop, whether it is bombs, or a replay of the world rioting over the last Danish/Muslim dispute, the Cartoons.

I urge the Danes to increase vigilence both at home and for Danish interests abroad, while we non-Danes must show immediate, direct support by a concerted campain to "buy Danish."

Zerosumgame said...

d'n said I urge the Danes to increase vigilence both at home and for Danish interests abroad, while we non-Danes must show immediate, direct support by a concerted campain to "buy Danish."

The problem is that too much of Europe has already capitulated to terrorism. Spain surrendered militarily after 3/11. Britain has surrendered culturally after 7/7. Again, the Danes are buffeted by the same forces as these nations --a far-left, multiculturalist propganda news media; a dysfunctional, anti-American and anti-Semitic intelligentsia, and an anti-Democratic EU bureaucracy set to impose such PC idiocy over the Danes whether they want it or not.

It is thus hard to believe that the Danes are so idiosyncratic that they will manage to reject all these forces (which have been acting upon them for decades), and manage to hold fast when the first bus is blown up.

Personally, I think these murderers are free and on their way back to the Islamic world as heroes within 48 hours of such a blast.

Anonymous said...

God bless the Danes, the only hope for the Western world today.

Zerosumgame said...

Adventuress Said:

God bless the Danes, the only hope for the Western world today.

The only hope for Europe, maybe. The only hope for the world?

Americans and Australians would seriously argue that.

Nilk said...

We Aussies most definitely would, zerosumgame. Mind you, we love a good argument any day, so that's not saying too much!

Great news from Denmark. Next time I have a drink, I'll be raising my glass to you.

We've had the trial of the men arrested last year as terrorist suspects hit a stumbling block because their lawyers are refusing to undergo security clearance checks.

Of course, the lawyer doing the most bleating about the new regulations requiring security checks is none other than Adam Houda, so that comes as no surprise.

I just hope that the courts won't let this get in the way of a proper trial.

kepiblanc said...

Sentences :

Father : Life
Brother : 16 years
Uncle 1 : 16 years
Uncle 2 : 16 years
Aunt : 14 years + deportation
Cousin : 14 years + deportation
Friend 1 : 10 years
Friend 2 : 10 years
Friend 3 : 8 years

Captain USpace said...

These barbaric murderous monkeys should be given life in prison at least, they deserve death. Will this cultural garbage wake up the multicultural elites? I fear not yet.

absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
fathers may kill their daughters

if they feel dishonored
when she leaves dirtball husband
.