Four relatives of a pregnant woman who bludgeoned her to death outside one of Pakistan’s top courts were sentenced to death on Wednesday for the crime, their defense lawyer said.
The 25-year-old’s family attacked her because they objected to her marriage. Farzana Iqbal’s murder in May this year briefly focused attention on Pakistan’s epidemic of violence against women.
Her father, brother, cousin, and another relative were all sentenced to death and a $1,000 fine, said defense lawyer Mansoor Afridi. Another cousin was sentenced to 10 years in prison and also fined $1,000.
Pakistan currently has a moratorium on executions, meaning death row prisoners are effectively sentenced to life imprisonment. But Afridi said the family planned to appeal. He said the verdict was “a decision based on sensationalism.”
The state prosecutor was not immediately available for comment.
SLIDESHOW: Sad Photos Of Farzana Parveen, Her Family, And Protestors following Her Murder
In this photograph taken on May 27, 2014 Pakistani relatives transport the body of a pregnant woman who was beaten to death with bricks by members of her own family for marrying a man of her own choice in Lahore. The husband of a pregnant Pakistani woman who was beaten to death outside Lahore's High Court for marrying against her family's wishes vowed to fight for justice. Farzana Parveen, 25, was attacked outside Lahore's grand high court building by more than two dozen brick-wielding attackers including her brother and father, who has been arrested, police said. AFP PHOTO
In this photograph taken on May 27, 2014 Pakistani relatives transport the body of a pregnant woman who was beaten to death with bricks by members of her own family for marrying a man of her own choice in Lahore. The husband of a pregnant Pakistani woman who was beaten to death outside Lahore's High Court for marrying against her family's wishes vowed to fight for justice. Farzana Parveen, 25, was attacked outside Lahore's grand high court building by more than two dozen brick-wielding attackers including her brother and father, who has been arrested, police said. AFP PHOTO (Photo Credit: STR/AFP/Getty Images)
In this photograph taken on May 27, 2014 Pakistani relatives transport the body of a pregnant woman who was beaten to death with bricks by members of her own family for marrying a man of her own choice in Lahore. The husband of a pregnant Pakistani woman who was beaten to death outside Lahore's High Court for marrying against her family's wishes vowed to fight for justice. Farzana Parveen, 25, was attacked outside Lahore's grand high court building by more than two dozen brick-wielding attackers including her brother and father, who has been arrested, police said. AFP PHOTO (Photo Credit: STR/AFP/Getty Images)
Pakistani human rights activists hold placards as they chant slogans during a protest in Islamabad on May 29, 2014 against the killing of pregnant woman Farzana Parveen was beaten to death with bricks by members of her own family for marrying a man of her own choice in Lahore. Pakistan's prime minister demanded 'immediate action' over the brutal murder of a pregnant woman who was bludgeoned to death with bricks outside a courthouse while police stood by. Farzana Parveen was attacked on May 27 outside the High Court building in the eastern city of Lahore by more than two dozen brick-wielding attackers, including her brother and father, for marrying against the wishes of her family. (Photo Credit: AAMIR QURESHI/AFP/Getty Images)
Pakistani human rights activists hold placards as they chant slogans during a protest in Islamabad on May 29, 2014 against the killing of pregnant woman Farzana Parveen was beaten to death with bricks by members of her own family for marrying a man of her own choice in Lahore. Pakistan's prime minister demanded 'immediate action' over the brutal murder of a pregnant woman who was bludgeoned to death with bricks outside a courthouse while police stood by. Farzana Parveen was attacked on May 27 outside the High Court building in the eastern city of Lahore by more than two dozen brick-wielding attackers, including her brother and father, for marrying against the wishes of her family. (Photo Credit: AAMIR QURESHI/AFP/Getty Images)
Picture of Farzana Perveen held by her husband.
Picture of Farzana Perveen held by her husband.
Khalida Perveen elder sister of the late Farzana Perveen, holds a picture which according to Bibi is of Farzana's first marriage with her cousin Mazhar Iqbal during a news conference in Lahore. Pakistani police investigating the murder of a woman bludgeoned to death outside a court have arrested four men, a senior officer said, as her husband said he wanted her killers to "die in pain". (Photo Credit: Rana Sajid Hussain/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
The widower of ‘honour-killing’ victim Farzana Parveen
Women are murdered every day in Pakistan for perceived slights against conservative social traditions. The crime is so common it rarely rates more than a paragraph in newspapers.
But Farzana’s case attracted attention because it took place on a busy street outside the provincial High Court where she had gone to seek protection. Her family beat her to death with bricks while her husband, Muhammed Iqbal, begged nearby police for help. They did not intervene.
Iqbal later admitted that he had murdered his first wife to marry Farzana. He escaped punishment because his son forgave him. According to Pakistani law, a woman’s next of kin can forgive her murderers.
Since Pakistani women are often killed by their close relations, the loophole allows thousands of murderers to escape without punishment.
In 2013, 869 cases of so-called “honor killings” were reported in the media, according to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. The true figure is probably higher since many cases go unreported.
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