'Honour killings' (forced marriage)

[Silverlog]

I read tonight that a (UK) Pakistani man has been convicted of murdering his niece because she refused a forced marriage at 16. Sadly this isn't an isolated case. I'm baffled to understand how this still happens? Is the pressure genuinely so great on these men that murder (& incarceration) is a lesser disgrace than losing face because someone in the family doesn't want to get married? Who is it that still supports this idea and perpetuates it so we're still ending up with these outcomes? And even more, how can it be stopped? This girl had already had some form of police notification handed to her parents regarding enforced marriage.

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It’s utterly barbaric, tragic and needless. That poor young woman. May she rest in peace.

I am from the same community, same city az this beautiful girl was and don't understand it either.
Whilst many families are becoming more modern and are happy with their daughters finding someone to marry, unfortunately others are still so terrifyingly backward. In this case, the person they wanted her to marry was from a different country. She was brave enough to say no and seek police protection.
I can't really answer your question OP, I was born in England too and don't understand the psyche of men like this. They put their community as a whole above their child's best interest. They think their face in the community and standing will be increased by their child's marriage. When the child says no, (and many many do) then most of them accept it in time. Some don't. I was lucky when I walked away from my abusive marriage at 24 that my parents eventually supported me and accepted it. The only positive I can say is, that the absolute majority of people my age are starting to pick their life partners themselves and marriages are less arranged in my experience. I really hope the next generation will be better with their daughters than the generation of my parents.
My husband is British in his ethnicity. Whilst his family always say "we just want our child to be happy" - in the south asian culture, its a bit more conditional in some families (emphasis on the some). E.g. they interfere a lot more in their children's life choices.
I just wanted to say that she would have made anyone proud if she was their daughter. She worked as a carer, studied biomedical sciences and was contributing to society in a way her backwards uncle wasn't. From speaking to girls who knew her and spent time with her, she really was just amazing and I'm so sad she was murdered so young and in such a heartless way. I hope he gets a long sentence tomorrow.

I found it rather telling that there was no victim personal statement from Ms Begum's family. Poor girl.