A Kurdish immigrant was jailed for life for the "execution-style"...
A Kurdish immigrant was jailed for life for the "execution-style" murder of his daughter in a case that has called into question Sweden's ability to integrate immigrants into its liberal society
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A Kurdish immigrant was jailed for life for the "execution-style" murder of his daughter in a case that has called into question Sweden's ability to integrate immigrants into its liberal society.
The Uppsala district court said the crime was particularly serious as Fadime Sahindal, 26, was gunned down in front of her mother and two sisters, the younger aged only 13.
"The way the deed was carried out can be compared to a straight execution," the court said in a written verdict. "Given this, the only penalty that comes into question is life imprisonment."
Rahmi Sahindal, 56, confessed to shooting Fadime in January, while she was visiting her sister. At the trial he said she had humiliated him by discussing family issues in public.
The high-profile case, sparking a debate on the difficulties faced by immigrants adapting to life in Sweden, put a spotlight on "honour killings" in which women are killed by male relations to defend the family's honour. Fadime was well known in Sweden after appearing on television in 1998, saying she feared her family would kill her because she had a Swedish boyfriend. She also spoke in parliament on the difficulties immigrant girls can face when wishing to live a modern westernised life.
Her father Rahmi came to Sweden around 20 years ago from a village in rural Turkey, and was joined by the family later. He could now spend the rest of his life in a Swedish prison.
Convicts sentenced to a life term in Sweden remain in jail until they are pardoned. In recent years, prisoners have typically been pardoned after 18-25 years in prison.
Since Fadime's murder, the government has acted to protect girls of immigrant backgrounds.
The authorities are opening more secure housing for girls who need protection from their families, and have changed the law on marriage so that foreigners, like Swedes, can no longer marry below the age of 18.
The Uppsala district court said the crime was particularly serious as Fadime Sahindal, 26, was gunned down in front of her mother and two sisters, the younger aged only 13.
"The way the deed was carried out can be compared to a straight execution," the court said in a written verdict. "Given this, the only penalty that comes into question is life imprisonment."
Rahmi Sahindal, 56, confessed to shooting Fadime in January, while she was visiting her sister. At the trial he said she had humiliated him by discussing family issues in public.
The high-profile case, sparking a debate on the difficulties faced by immigrants adapting to life in Sweden, put a spotlight on "honour killings" in which women are killed by male relations to defend the family's honour. Fadime was well known in Sweden after appearing on television in 1998, saying she feared her family would kill her because she had a Swedish boyfriend. She also spoke in parliament on the difficulties immigrant girls can face when wishing to live a modern westernised life.
Her father Rahmi came to Sweden around 20 years ago from a village in rural Turkey, and was joined by the family later. He could now spend the rest of his life in a Swedish prison.
Convicts sentenced to a life term in Sweden remain in jail until they are pardoned. In recent years, prisoners have typically been pardoned after 18-25 years in prison.
Since Fadime's murder, the government has acted to protect girls of immigrant backgrounds.
The authorities are opening more secure housing for girls who need protection from their families, and have changed the law on marriage so that foreigners, like Swedes, can no longer marry below the age of 18.
— SOURCES
- (Sources: Reuters, 03/04/2002)
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