Samia Shahid, a woman who agreed to an arranged marriage to make her family proud, faces unexpected struggles. Her secret marriage, threats from her family, and attempts to reconcile lead to a risky journey to Pakistan. Conflicting reports about her death suggest an honor killing. Efforts for justice result in the revelation of autopsy findings and a cover-up involving local police. Legal changes are made, but the suspect is released on bail.
Samia Shahid, a British Pakistani, fell victim to an honor killing for seeking a divorce and marrying outside her community.
The pursuit of justice for Samia's murder has faced significant obstacles, including corruption and insufficient evidence.
Deep dives
Samia's Unwanted Marriage and Struggle for Freedom
Samia Shahid's parents arranged a marriage to Chaudhry Shaquille, her first cousin living in Pakistan. Despite feeling unhappy about the marriage, Samia initially complied with her family's wishes. However, she fell into depression and sought a way out. Samia met Ali Qasim, and they developed a platonic friendship that turned into a romance. Samia eventually divorced Shaquille under the protection of Islam's Sharia law and married Ali. The disapproval and animosity from her family increased, leading to threats and attacks on Samia's life.
The Tragic Honor Killing of Samia Shahid
Samia's visit to Pakistan to attend her aunt's funeral proved fatal. Her ex-husband, Shaquille, and her father, Muhammad Shahid, confronted her. Shaquille raped, and then strangled Samia with her own scarf when she attempted to escape. To cover up the crime, Muhammad Shahid falsely claimed that Samia died of a heart attack. The investigation revealed a premeditated honor killing orchestrated by Samia's family due to her attempts to divorce Shaquille and marry Ali, who was not from the same religious community.
Attempts at Justice and Ongoing Frustration
Ali Qasim's tireless efforts, along with the support of Samia's friends and UK politician Naz Shah, shed light on the murder and prompted investigations. However, significant obstacles hindered the pursuit of justice. Muhammad Shahid was released due to insufficient evidence, and Samia's mother and sister fled back to the UK. The corrupt involvement of a local police officer also complicated the case. Despite promises, progress has been limited, leaving Samia's tragic death without the justice it deserves.
*** Content warning: Domestic violence, sexual assault ***
In Pakistani culture, arranged marriages are common. So when the parents of Samia Shahid chose a husband for her, Samia agreed to the marriage. Despite being raised in England, Samia took her Pakistani heritage very seriously and would do anything to make her family proud.
But Samia’s arranged marriage to her first cousin, Choudhry Shakeel, was far from what she expected. Samia was determined to build a better life for herself, but at what cost?