An Italian court of appeal upheld on Friday a 30-year prison sentence for a Pakistani father who murdered his daughter in a so-called honour killing in 2006. The young woman’s two brothers-in-law, who were also jailed for 30 years for their part in her death, saw their sentence reduced to 17 years, Sky TG24 news channel reported. The stabbed body of Hina Saleem, 21, was found buried in the garden of the family home in Sarezzo, near the northern city of Brescia, on August 11, 2006. Ms Saleem, who reportedly refused an arranged marriage with a cousin, had been estranged from her family and lived with her Italian boyfriend Giuseppe Tempini.

via ‘Honour killing’ sentence against Pakistani upheld -DAWN – Top Stories; December 06, 2008.

Meanwhile this is at least surprising:

Eight United Nations agencies have co-sponsored the first Palestinian festival to combat violence against women, driving home the message that so-called honour killings have nothing to do with honour and seeking to break the conspiracy of silence surrounding domestic abuse. It is time for action, not words, UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) Program Manager in the Occupied Palestinian Territory Alia’ Al-Yassir said in the inaugural speech of the festival held, Thursday, in Ramallah. UN agencies are working as one on this issue and supporting civil societies in their efforts to end violence against women

Well, I don’t think that a “festival” is going to change anything, least if organised by UN. But it’s something refreshing to see some people in those places really worried about this.

Then there is also this other statement:

“Islam does not permit illicit relationship, but killing a girl for this reason is a cold-blooded murder and is a serious offence under the Islamic law,” chairman of Shariyat Court Maulana Irfan Mufti Zulfikar said.

There are so many people going against Islam, then… Of course, this man is from India and was ruling in a case where a girl was killed out of honor.