Ramadhan Foundation
Contact: Mohammed Shafiq
07989 764624
Embargo: Immediate Friday 3rd
August 2012 13:00
Shafilea Ahmed Murder verdicts
Published: Friday 3rd August 2012 13:00
Mr. Mohammed Shafiq, Chief Executive of the
Ramadhan Foundation comments:
“I wish to
condemn the evil nature of the murder of
Shafilea Ahmed and welcome the guilty
verdicts of her parents at Chester Crown
Court. These are gruesome and evil people
that failed in their ultimate duty as
parents to provide safety and security and
instead killed her in their twisted defence
of protecting their honour. Islam is very
clear on honour killings and forced
marriages, they are totally forbidden and
those that carry out these crimes do not
carry them out in the name of our great
faith. Honour killings and forced marriages
are a cultural reaction often found in the
Indian sub-continent and we have seen cases
affecting the Hindu and Sikh communities
too.
The message
this court case sends out is that you will
never be able to evade justice in our
country, these are crimes that you will be
jailed for a very long time. There can be
no justification or excuse for such crimes
and we would urge people not to refer to
them as honour killings as there is nothing
honourable about them.
We salute the
Police and Crown Prosecution Service for
their determination in never giving up in
getting justice in this case and ensuring
that the parents were brought to justice.
Finally we
would urge anyone in fear of being forced
into a marriage against their will or if
their life is in danger to contact the
police or your local Council. We send our
prayers and condolences to the wider
family.”
END
Notes for editors
For immediate media interview requests
please ring 07989 764624 (Media only)
-
The Ramadhan Foundation is a leading
Muslim organisation in the UK that is
working for peaceful co-existence and
dialogue for all communities.
-
The Ramadhan Foundation has issued
advice and guidance to over 1500 Mosques
and Islamic Centres in the UK alerting
them to the increased threat from right
wing extremism and in light of Norway
attacks.
-
Based in Greater Manchester and working
to also establish the platform for human
unity amongst our communities in the UK
-
Mohammad Shafiq is the Chief Executive
of the Foundation, aged 33 and actively
campaigning to provide a more positive
image of Islam
