Killed For Marrying The Man She Loved

Would you die for the one you love? Can you kill to prevent love?

A young couple in Pakistan have been killed by the woman's relatives for marrying against their wishes.
Police said the bride's father, mother, grandfather, and two uncles were arrested on June 28, a day after the killings.

The 17-year-old girl and 31-year-old man had married earlier this month without the consent of their families in Pakistan's eastern province of Punjab.

They were lured to the woman's family home on June 26, where they were tied up and had their throats slit with scythes.

A majority of marriages in conservative Pakistan are decided by the family elders, and couples risk reprisals if they choose their own partners.

Last month, a pregnant woman was killed by her father and brothers in front of a high court in Lahore for marrying a man of her choice.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said 869 “honour killings” were reported in the media last year – several a day. 

But the true figure is probably much higher since many cases are never reported. The Pakistan government does not collect centralised statistics.