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Friday, 20 July 2007, 14:23 GMT 15:23 UK

Life for 'honour killing' father

Mahmod Mahmod (left) and Ari Mahmod A father who ordered the killing of his daughter after finding out she had a boyfriend has been jailed for life.

Banaz Mahmod, 20, was raped and tortured before being strangled and buried in a suitcase in Birmingham.

Her Iraqi Kurd father Mahmod Mahmod, 52, of Mitcham, south London, will serve at least 20 years.

Her uncle Ari Mahmod, 50, who helped arrange the murder, and killer Mohammed Hama, 30, got life terms and will serve at least 23 and 17 years respectively.

Her death had been ordered after her affair with fellow Kurd, Rahmat Sulemani, was discovered.

"This was a barbaric and callous crime"
Judge Brian Barker

Ms Mahmod had asked police for help four times but her claims were said not to have been taken seriously.

Disciplinary action could now be taken in connection with the case.

She even gave officers of list of five people she suspected would harm her but three men named on the list subsequently fled abroad.

The Common Serjeant of London, Judge Brian Barker, said: "This was a barbaric and callous crime.

"You are hard and unswerving men to whom apparently the respect from the community is more important that your own flesh and blood."

Mohamad Marid Hama

Mr Sulemani and Ms Mahmod's sister, Bekhal, 22, made moving statements to the court during which they broke down several times.

They both said they were haunted by nightmares of her death and their lives would never be the same again.

After being taken to hospital following a previous attempt on her life, Mr Sulemani recorded her fears on his mobile phone.

The film was played in court and helped convict her killers.

Ms Mahmod disappeared in January last year, and her body was found 100 miles away three months later buried in a garden.

Victor Temple QC, for the prosecution, said Hama had confessed to a friend that Ms Mahmod's ordeal had lasted two hours during which she was raped and subjected to degrading sexual acts.

Hama had also stamped on her neck as part of the torture.




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Related to this story:
'Honour' victim's sister's fears (20 Jul 07 |  London )
'Honour killing' victim was raped (19 Jul 07 |  London )
'Honour killing' relatives guilty (11 Jun 07 |  London )
Lover 'heartbroken' over killing (11 Jun 07 |  London )
Killed for loving the wrong man (11 Jun 07 |  UK )

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