A biomedical science student, Somaiya Begum, was murdered by her uncle, Mohammed Taroos Khan, on June 25, 2022, after she had refused an arranged marriage to her cousin in Pakistan four years prior. Begum, then 16, had sought police intervention, leading to a Forced Marriage Protection Order that prevented her parents from taking her out of the country.
Following the protection order, Begum moved in with her uncle, Dawood Khan, to continue her education at Leeds Beckett University. Despite her ordeal, she was described by neighbors as a bright and joyous individual.
On the day of her murder, Taroos Khan entered his brother Dawood Khan's home while Dawood was asleep. Neighbors reported hearing an argument between Somaiya and Taroos, after which Taroos stormed out, issuing a threat: "You watch what I'm going to do to you, I'm going to kill you." He returned minutes later. Taroos Khan had a restraining order against him visiting the address, a measure put in place after he had previously abused his own daughter and threatened her.
Dawood Khan reported Somaiya missing after he woke from a nap and could not find her. Eleven days later, her body was discovered in a wasteland on the outskirts of Bradford, wrapped in a carpet. CCTV footage showed Taroos Khan moving her body from a shipping container, where he had initially hidden it, to a vehicle before dumping it.
While Taroos Khan was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 25 years in 2023, the judge rejected the notion that the murder was an 'honor' killing. However, advocacy groups like Savera UK, which works to combat 'honor'-based abuse, contend that the motive was indeed rooted in 'honor.'
Afrah Qassim, CEO of Savera UK, stated that Begum's refusal to marry her cousin and her seeking of police protection were perceived as bringing shame upon her family. "From my understanding she is already subject to a Forced Marriage Protection Order, so she has already done something that is considered 'shameful'," Qassim explained. "I think they were trying to be clever over how they did it."
Savera UK estimates that at least 12 'honor' killings occur annually in the UK, with many cases going unrecognized because 'honor' is not consistently considered an aggravating factor in court proceedings. Neighbors and friends interviewed also expressed their belief that the killing was related to the concept of 'honor' within their community, specifically the Pathan community, where perceived honor is highly valued.