Latest news with #Honour
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Honour' killer sues ITV over rape claim
An uncle behind his niece's 'honour' killing has sued ITV over rape claims. Ari Mahmod is one of five men serving life in jail for the murder of Banaz Mahmod, 20, after she was raped by her cousins before being strangled. She had left an abusive forced marriage with an older man and started a relationship with someone else before her murder. Now, Mahmod, 69, is suing ITV for libel over Honour, a 2020 drama starring Keeley Hawes, and a 2012 documentary about the case. He claims that while 'honour' murders are acceptable in Iraqi Muslim culture, the rape accusations have ruined his reputation. Representing himself, he told the High Court he had been attacked in jail and his family had suffered reprisals. Speaking via video-link from HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire earlier this month, he said: 'In my country murder is normal. After served time you have a new opportunity. In my culture the main things they react against me was the rape allegation.' Referring to himself in the third person, he said: 'Prisoners attempt to hurt Ari Mahmod. 'Almost all statements left no doubts the allegation of rape was with Ari's blessing. In the Islamic community rape is taboo. It is the highest level of crime.' Banaz, from Mitcham, south London, was raped and strangled in January 2006 in a case which shocked the country. Her body was taken to Birmingham and buried under a patio. Her father, Mahmod Mahmod, and his brother Ari, were convicted of murder in 2007 and were handed life sentences with a minimum of 20 and 23 years respectively. Her cousin Mohammad Hama pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 17 years. In 2010, two more cousins were found guilty of murder and jailed for 22 and 21 years. Ben Gallop, the barrister representing ITV, said: 'The claimant is a convicted murderer. 'This is rare for a claim of libel as the possibility of any damage to his reputation is limited due to his pre-existing bad reputation.' Mr Gallop said viewers who believed Mahmod ordered the rape would be choosing to select the 'worst possible' meaning of the programmes. A judgment in the case is expected next month. ITV News was contacted for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Scottish Sun
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Fiend who ordered niece's ‘honour' killing sues ITV over claims he also sanctioned her rape
Mahmod says 'honour' murders are acceptable in his Iraqi Muslim culture but rape accusations have destroyed his reputation SICK LEGAL BID Fiend who ordered niece's 'honour' killing sues ITV over claims he also sanctioned her rape A MAN who ordered the murder of his niece in a so-called 'honour' killing is suing ITV over claims he also sanctioned her rape. Ari Mahmod is one of five men serving life in jail for the murder of 20-year-old Banaz Mahmod after she left an abusive arranged marriage. 3 Ari Mahmod, who ordered the murder of his niece in a so-called 'honour' killing, is suing ITV over claims he also sanctioned her rape Credit: PA:Press Association 3 Banaz Mahmod was murdered after she left an abusive arranged marriage Credit: PA:Press Association 3 Mahmod, 69, is suing over a 2020 drama called Honour, starring Keeley Hawes, above, and a 2012 documentary on the case Credit: ITV She was raped by three of her cousins before being strangled. Uncle Mahmod, 69, is suing over a 2020 drama called Honour, starring Keeley Hawes, and a 2012 documentary on the case. He says 'honour' murders are acceptable in his Iraqi Muslim culture — but rape accusations have destroyed his reputation. Representing himself, he told the High Court he had been attacked in jail and his family were the victims of reprisals. Speaking via videolink from HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire earlier this month, he said: 'In my country murder is normal — after served time you have a new opportunity. "In my culture the main things they react against me was the rape allegation.' Referring to himself in the third person, he said: 'Prisoners attempt to hurt Ari Mahmod. 'Almost all statements left no doubts the allegation of rape was with Ari's blessing. In the Islamic community rape is taboo — it is the highest level of crime.' Banaz, from Mitcham, South London, was raped and strangled in January 2006. Her body was taken to Birmingham and buried under a patio. Banaz's father Mahmod Mahmod and his brother Ari were convicted of murder in 2007 and got life with a minimum of 20 and 23 years. The harrowing true story of Banaz Mahmod who was murdered by her own family in an 'honour killing' Her cousin Mohammad Hama pleaded guilty and got 17 years. In 2010 two more cousins were found guilty of murder and got 22 and 21 years. It was unclear why Ari Mahmod was allowed to sue as convicted murderers normally have no reputation to defend. Barrister Ben Gallop, representing ITV, said: 'The claimant is a convicted murderer. "This is rare for a claim of libel as the possibility of any damage to his reputation is limited due to his pre-existing bad reputation.' Mr Gallop said viewers who believed Mahmod ordered the rape would be choosing to select the 'worst possible' meaning of the programmes. A judgment in the case is expected next month.
The Irish Sun
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Fiend who ordered niece's ‘honour' killing sues ITV over claims he also sanctioned her rape
A MAN who ordered the murder of his niece in a so-called 'honour' killing is suing ITV over claims he also sanctioned her rape. Ari Mahmod is one of five men serving life in jail for the murder of 20-year-old Banaz Mahmod after she left an abusive arranged marriage . 3 Ari Mahmod, who ordered the murder of his niece in a so-called 'honour' killing, is suing ITV over claims he also sanctioned her rape Credit: PA:Press Association 3 Banaz Mahmod was murdered after she left an abusive arranged marriage Credit: PA:Press Association 3 Mahmod, 69, is suing over a 2020 drama called Honour, starring Keeley Hawes, above, and a 2012 documentary on the case Credit: ITV She was raped by three of her cousins before being strangled. Uncle Mahmod, 69, is suing over a 2020 drama called He says 'honour' murders are acceptable in his Iraqi Muslim culture — but rape accusations have destroyed his reputation. Representing himself, he told the High Court he had been attacked in jail and his family were the victims of reprisals. READ MORE UK NEWS Speaking via videolink from HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire earlier this month, he said: 'In my country murder is normal — after served time you have a new opportunity. "In my culture the main things they react against me was the rape allegation.' Referring to himself in the third person, he said: 'Prisoners attempt to hurt Ari Mahmod. 'Almost all statements left no doubts the allegation of rape was with Ari's blessing. In the Islamic community rape is taboo — it is the highest level of crime.' Most read in The Sun Banaz, from Mitcham, South London, was raped and strangled in January 2006. Her body was taken to Birmingham and buried under a patio. Banaz's father Mahmod Mahmod and his brother Ari were convicted of murder in 2007 and got life with a minimum of 20 and 23 years. The harrowing true story of Banaz Mahmod who was murdered by her own family in an 'honour killing' Her cousin Mohammad Hama pleaded guilty and got 17 years. In 2010 two more cousins were found guilty of murder and got 22 and 21 years. It was unclear why Ari Mahmod was allowed to sue as convicted murderers normally have no reputation to defend. Barrister Ben Gallop, representing ITV, said: 'The claimant is a convicted murderer. "This is rare for a claim of libel as the possibility of any damage to his reputation is limited due to his pre-existing bad reputation.' Mr Gallop said viewers who believed Mahmod ordered the rape would be choosing to select the 'worst possible' meaning of the programmes. A judgment in the case is expected next month.
Daily Mirror
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Mr Bates vs the Post Office writer 'apologising' over TV series and 'monster' scene
Gwyneth Hughes, who penned Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, has been "apologising ever since" to all the people she was unable to include in the show but admitted they "still felt represented" The creative minds behind ITV's gripping retelling of the harrowing Post Office saga have confessed that it was a monumental challenge to translate the intricate real-life events onto the small screen. In an exclusive chat with Daily Express, Mr Bates vs the Post Office writer Gwyneth Hughes revealed: "This was a huge story, running over 20 years and ruining the lives of many hundreds of people the length and breadth of the UK." She went on to explain her approach, saying: "I had to find a way to fit as many of them in as I could, into a narrative that would make sense, without the programmes feeling rushed or over-stuffed." Ultimately, Hughes opted to focus on eight compelling individual stories out of the array of Post Office staff caught up in one of the most egregious wrongful conviction cases in UK history. Hughes engaged with numerous victims to truly understand the "complexity and the hideous scale" of the ordeal they faced. Moreover, this maestro behind both The Tom Jones and Honour sagas disclosed her continued remorse for those she couldn't portray in the series, despite them expressing that they "still felt represented". Deciding what aspects to incorporate and which to exclude constituted the "hardest part" of the process, conceded the esteemed television scriptwriter. Although keen to elaborate on the role of the controversial Post Office executive Paula Vennells, played by Lia Williams, Hughes remarked that the CEO declined an interview, compelling her to depend on emails, board meeting records, and news pieces to shape the narrative. Mr Bates vs the Post Office aired the previous year on ITV, earning considerable praise from viewers and critics alike. The gripping four-part drama series lays bare the horrific toll on the lives of everyday subpostmasters caught up in the notorious Fujitsu Horizon IT system debacle, which led to unjust accusations, jail time, ruined careers, and even suicide. Director Hughes faced a monumental task recreating scenes of the scandal, highlighting one particularly challenging moment where actress Monica Dolan's character, postmaster Jo Hamilton, watches in horror as her supposed losses suddenly double, dubbing it a "monster" scene. To nail the technical accuracy, the production team buried themselves in the "enormous and incomprehensible" Horizon manual, obsessing over jargon and ensuring the on-screen depiction mirrored the actual systems used by Post Office workers. Hughes candidly acknowledges relying extensively on the expertise of Alan Bates, portrayed by Toby Jones in the show, who established the Justice For Subpostmasters Alliance and was instrumental in pushing for redress for those affected. The commitment to getting the financial and technological script elements spot-on meant tapping into Bates' profound knowledge, an area Hughes admits isn't her strongest suit. Despite concerns that the theme might come across as dull, Hughes succeeded in putting a human face to the calamity, illustrating the emotional wreckage inflicted by the scandal. Her portrayal and the meticulous editing work by Mike Jones have not gone unnoticed. They've been tipped with nominations for prestigious BAFTA Craft Awards — Hughes for Writer Drama and Jones for Editing Fiction — solidifying their achievements in bringing this distressing tale to the small screen. Jones mirrored Hughes' thoughts on the effort to make the vast narrative "simple and understandable", while conveying a "heartbreaking human story of the devastation". Reflecting on why the ITV drama struck a chord with so many, Jones suggested it "tapped into the psyche" of Brits and exposed the full "horror', while others were ", while others were "simply shocked" to have been oblivious about the scandal and indeed how it could have occurred in the first place. Furthermore, Jones noted that Mr Bates Vs The Post Office rapidly became "water-cooler TV", gaining momentum in the media and being discussed at the "very highest level in Parliament", leading MPs to commend the drama.
Express Tribune
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Strict action ordered against online blasphemy
The Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued directives to the federal and provincial governments to take immediate action against blasphemy on social media, including the prevention of blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), the holy Quran, and all sacred personalities. The court, in its 16-page detailed judgement, further ordered the immediate termination of all types of VPNs, the registration of all social media websites, and the establishment of special courts nationwide, similar to NAB and Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATCs). It also ordered the appointment of dedicated judges for these courts, the creation of a special wing within the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to combat blasphemy, and the establishment of a Counter Blasphemy Department (CBD) modeled after the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD). Furthermore, the court instructed the observance of International Islamophobia Day as the "Day of Honour for the Prophet" every year on March 15. The court issued these guidelines after approving all related petitions filed by Umar Nawaz and Aamir Zafar. A detailed 16-page judgment was released regarding the petitions, which sought to curb the growing campaign of blasphemy on social media and called for strict actions. In the ruling, Justice Abdul Aziz issued instructions to the federal and Punjab governments, the FIA, the PTA, and the Ministry of Interior (MoI), urging them to identify NGOs that support the publication or uploading of such content under the guise of freedom of expression. The court also directed meetings with social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube to inform them about the strong sentiments of the Muslim community and demand the immediate removal of such offensive posts. The FIA's Cybercrime Wing was directed to be empowered with more resources and funding. The court also recommended including material in the educational curriculum to encourage children to use social media positively. The judgment stressed that the Pakistani state must play an active role in ending the rising trend of blasphemy on social media, with the PTA conducting awareness campaigns by uploading positive videos. Furthermore, individuals committing blasphemy who have mental health issues should be treated, and preventive measures must be taken to avoid incidents like the Sialkot tragedy, Gojra incident, Shanti Nagar, and the killing of the Sri Lankan manager in Sialkot. The court recommended the formation of Expert Councils of scholars at the divisional and district levels to prevent vigilante justice and ensure that suspects are swiftly detained, followed by transparent investigations. Cases should then be formally registered and legal action taken. The court expressed strong dissatisfaction with the role of state institutions and directed the PTA to develop an immediate mechanism to remove blasphemous material from social media platforms. It also ordered that bloggers involved in such crimes who have fled abroad should be brought back to face legal action. The detailed judgment has been sent for immediate implementation to the federal and provincial governments, chief secretaries, relevant ministries, FIA, PTA, the MoI, and social media companies.
