Men jailed for 'honour killing'

Jahangir and Mahmood admitted conspiracy to murder

A man was strangled in a so-called "honour killing" after fleeing with his lover who was betrothed to another man.

Zafar Iqbal, 22, was killed in Bradford where he had gone with Rizwana Arif, who police had helped flee her family.

Tariq Mahmood, 40, of Waterloo Street, and Mohammed Jahangir, 24, of Brompton Street - both Oldham - admitted conspiracy to murder.

They were jailed for 19-and-a-half years and 15 years respectively at Bradford Crown Court.

The court heard Mahmood's brother was betrothed to Ms Arif, but she had been kept prisoner at her family home in Brompton Street, Oldham, after telling them she wanted to marry Mr Iqbal.

Zafir Iqbal had married Rizwana Arif before he was killed

Police eventually helped her escape and she subsequently fled with her lover to Bradford.

But, 10 days later, Mr Iqbal was strangled after going out for some cigarettes in the early hours of the morning.

His body was discovered in January 2004 by a lorry driver in a car park off Raymond Street, West Bowling.

Although he was previously married, he had obtained a religious divorce and married Ms Arif at a mosque in Manchester a few weeks before he was killed.

It also emerged in court that she had had an abortion after becoming pregnant with his child during their relationship.

'Cold-blooded'

Judge Stephen Gullick, the honorary recorder of Bradford, told Mahmood: "As has been demonstrated in this case you were prepared to go to any lengths to ensure that the relationship ceased.

"It is said that the offence was committed because by the conduct of Rizwana and Zafar the honour of your family had been tarnished, besmirched or destroyed and you were prepared to exact the ultimate price in order that such honour could be reinstated or restored regardless of the consequences.

"Cold-blooded, deliberate murder cannot be tolerated in any civilised society and long prison sentences will be imposed upon those won are minded to act in such a way."

He recommended that Mahmood, who only came to the UK in 1999 and speaks little English, should be deported on his release.