Family Of Pregnant Woman Murdered In 'Honour-Killing' Sentenced To Death

Death Sentences For Family Of Pregnant Woman Murdered In 'Honour-Killing'

WARNING - THIS REPORT CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES

Four members of the same family have been sentenced to death for the killing of a pregnant woman outside a top court in Pakistan.

Farzana Iqbal had reportedly attended the court to insist she had married her husband Mohammad Iqbal out of love and her own free will, before she was allegedly set upon by relatives who had tried to organise an arranged marriage to a cousin.

She was stoned and bludgeoned to death in a so-called honour killing in May.

The body of Farzana Parveen was left lying outside the High Court in Lahore

Farzana's father, brother, cousin and another relative were all sentenced to death and a $1,000 fine, defence lawyer Mansoor Afridi told Reuters on Wednesday.

Another cousin was sentenced to 10 years in prison and also fined $1,000.

The news agency points out: “Pakistan currently has a moratorium on executions, meaning death row prisoners are effectively sentenced to life imprisonment.”

Farzana Parveen was stoned to death outside Lahore High Court in Pakistan

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif declared the death “totally unacceptable” and demanded immediate action.

The British government also condemned the murder with Foreign Secretary William Hague saying he was “shocked and appalled” by the incident.

He said: "There is absolutely no honour in honour killings and I urge the government of Pakistan to do all in its power to eradicate this barbaric practice .

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said that in 2011, 943 women were killed for apparently causing shame to their families.

The figure is an increase of more than 100 in 2010.

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