Murder of Rania Alayed
Rania Alayed was a Syrian woman murdered in a residence in Salford, Greater Manchester, England, by her husband in June 2013, an act of uxoricide. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) Chief Detective Inspector Bill Reade described this as an honour killing,[1] and the prosecutors stated she was murdered for trying to achieve independence from her husband and undergoing westernisation.[2]
Background
She grew up in refugee camps in Syria. She met her husband Ahmed Al-Khatib there and married when she was 15. His trade was being a blacksmith. As of 2014[update] her family resides in Lebanon.[3] The family later moved to England and lived in Norton, Teeside.[4] The two had three children.[1]
According to testimony at Manchester Crown Court, Al-Khatib committed domestic violence against Alayed after they settled in England, and Alayed eventually left his residence. After the separation she took English classes at Openshaw College and resided in Cheetham Hill, Manchester.[5] Al-Khatib resided in Gorton, a neighbourhood in Manchester. The two were separated for two months at the time of her death, at age 25.[4]
Crime and burial
Parties lost contact with her on 7 June 2013;[3] she went to her husband's brother's house in Salford,[4] with her children, as he invited her there.[5] According to Al-Khatib, the meeting was to discuss plans for childcare.[4]
In this house he murdered her;[3] He stated that he killed her because she was attacking him due to having an evil spirit.[4] He stated that a djinn commanded him to kill her.[1] Alayed's family expressed their belief that the husband murdered her.[5]
Authorities never located her body. The BBC stated that "her remains are believed to have been dumped at the side of a road near Thirsk, North Yorkshire."[3] Al-Khatib stated that he placed her body near the A19.[1]
Trial and punishment
Al-Khatib was taken into custody on 4 July 2013.[1] Al-Khatib's trial at Manchester Crown Court lasted less than a month, and he was declared guilty of murder.[5] He received a life sentence with a minimum tariff of 20 years. In addition he pleaded guilty to "perverting the course of justice" for moving the body out of view of the authorities.[1]
In addition, his brother Munaned was tried for murder and for "perverting the course of justice",[6] and Hussain Al-Khatib, another brother, was charged with the latter.[4] The former admitted to the obstruction of justice but not to murder, and the latter denied his charge.[6] Munaned was declared not guilty of murder. Hussain was convicted of obstruction and received four years, and Munaned received three.[1]
See also
Honour killings in the United Kingdom:
- Shafilea Ahmed
- Banaz Mahmod
- The killing of Surjit Athwal was planned in the UK and done in India
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "Husband jailed for life over Rania Alayed murder". The Guardian. Press Association. 2014-06-04. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
- ^ "Rania Alayed murder: Husband jailed for 'honour killing'". BBC. 2014-06-04. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
- ^ a b c d Jones, Abbie (2014-06-04). "Rania Alayed: Father regrets not helping her leave husband". BBC. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
- ^ a b c d e f "Rania Alayed murder accused 'saw wife with four heads'". BBC. 2014-05-15. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
- ^ a b c d Jones, Abbie (2014-06-04). "Rania Alayed murder: Wife 'wanted a new life'". BBC. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
- ^ a b "Husband 'killed evil apparition Rania Alayed in self-defence'". BBC. 2014-05-01. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
- Honour killing in the United Kingdom
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