Posted on June 28, 2006

Danish Court Convicts Family Of Honor Killing

Reuters, June 27, 2006

Copenhagen, Denmark — A Danish court on Tuesday convicted a man of Pakistani origin of murdering his teenage sister and attempting to murder her new husband in what the prosecution said was an honor killing.

Ghazala Khan, 18, was shot dead by her brother outside a train station in eastern Denmark two days after her wedding. The murder has stunned the Nordic country and sparked debate about a conservative Muslim community at odds with Danish society.

Eight members of Khan’s family and a friend were convicted of murder. They face life in prison when they are sentenced later in the week.

“All nine were found guilty of murder and attempted murder,” a Copenhagen court official told Reuters.

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Jurors threatened, targeted

According to the police, Khan’s father, who immigrated from Punjab in 1970, commanded a three-week hunt for the couple.

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The case drew further attention after jurors were threatened and were targets of vandalism, and a witness was indicted for giving false testimony.