Abdelrahman
A Dutch court has sentenced four individuals to 25 years in prison for their involvement in the tragic “honor killing” of a woman who was fatally stabbed in broad daylight in front of her three-year-old daughter.
The victim, 28-year-old Roshin, was attacked 28 times by her older brother while walking with her child in Apeldoorn, a city in the eastern Netherlands, back in September 2023. The court described the murder as particularly horrifying, emphasizing the traumatic nature of the event, especially as the young girl witnessed her mother’s brutal death.
The main perpetrator, identified as 36-year-old Peshang A., received the same 25-year sentence as his elder brother, alongside two cousins who were also found guilty in connection with the crime. The court highlighted that the communications between the men revealed a premeditated agreement to kill Roshin, claiming she had tarnished the family’s honor.
Following her divorce, Roshin’s family pressured her to return to live with her parents in The Hague. Despite their demands, she chose to remain in Apeldoorn to raise her daughter and pursue a new relationship. According to the ruling, the four men coordinated their plans to execute the crime while intentionally excluding the wider family from their discussions and intentions.
After the court handed down the sentences, Peshang A. reportedly attempted to flee but was quickly apprehended by law enforcement. Additionally, the court mandated that the four men pay $73,000 in damages to the victim’s daughter.
“Honor killings” reflect a troubling societal issue, particularly in regions like Pakistan, where strict cultural codes dictate women’s lives and choices, often leading to extreme measures against those who violate these unwritten laws. A case earlier this year, which involved a man filming the horrific strangulation of his sister, sparked nationwide outrage in Pakistan. Similarly, authorities arrested four individuals implicated in the murder of an 18-year-old woman over a viral photograph that purportedly threatened family honor. Reports indicate that there were 384 instances of honor killings in Pakistan in 2022 alone, as documented by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.
