Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006

Banaz, Mahmoud Babakir Agha, was disappeared on January 23, 2006. A 20 years old woman of Kurdish origin who walked out of her arranged marriage of three years last June when she returned to live with her family in Mitcham, south London. Banaz was last seen alive on Cricket Green in Mitcham. She has not withdrawn any money from her bank account and was not carrying any spare clothes or even her passport.

All the signs lead us to honour killing. The Metropolitan Police said that there are reasons to suggest it was an 'honour killing”. We fear that it maybe the case.

Honour killing is one of the most horrific crimes that has spread in the Middle East   and Europe in the last few decades. In many countries, namely Iraq, they legally justify killing of women under the pretext of defending family “honour”. Everyday these laws and resolutions are advocated in media, schools, mosques and the state’s institutions.  Once an honour killing crime is committed, perpetrators are freed. In this way they create the climate where the most ruthless and inhumane crimes against women are accepted by the society. These incidents are repeated in Europe! We should stop honour killings every where, we should stop honour killings in the UK.

We urge any one who has information on disappearance of Banaz to step forward. We should stop honour killings before another victim disappears. We need the support of all women’s rights and human rights organisations and authorities to end this crime.

Nadia Mahmood

Co-ordinator of Middle East Centre for Women’s Rights

Sawsan Salim

Co-ordinator of Kurdistan Refugee Women’s Organisation

For more information contact:

Email: mecwr2003@yahoo.com

Tel: 020 76391033