Father to Face Trial in Italy for Daughter’s Honour Killing

Step towards justice, Shabbar Abbas, wanted for the alleged honour killing of his daughter Saman Abbas, has been apprehended in Pakistan and extradited to Italy. Saman, a Pakistani-Italian citizen, tragically went missing in April 2021 after refusing an arranged marriage and declining to travel to Pakistan. Italian Justice Minister Carlo Nordio hailed this development as a crucial stride towards ensuring justice for the victim, saying it’s a “step forward to allow justice to run its full course after a horrific crime.” The suspect is en route to Italy to face trial. The identification of Saman’s remains near her family home in Novellara, Italy, more than a year after her disappearance, was made possible through dental records. Prosecutors allege that her family was incensed upon learning of her boyfriend in Italy and believe she met her tragic end when she returned home to retrieve documents, having lived under the care of social services nearby for a period. Despite the father’s denial of his daughter’s demise, the wheels of justice are turning as her uncle, along with two cousins, were also extradited from France to face trial.