Who was Banaz Mahmod and how did she die?

BANAZ Mahmod's story shocked Britain when the truth about her murder came to light.

Banaz, 20, was killed when she dared to leave an abusive arranged marriage.

Who was Banaz Mahmod?

Banaz Mahmod was a 20-year-old woman from Mitcham in South London.

She was murdered by her father and uncle after leaving an abusive arranged marriage and thereby bringing "shame" on to her family.

After she left her husband and met a boyfriend of her own choosing, her father and uncle arranged her murder.

Banaz had gone to the police five times for help before she was killed but her story was not believed.

How did Banaz Mahmod die?

On the morning of January 24 2006, Banaz was raped and strangled to death in the living room of her parents’ house by Mohamed Hama – who had been hired by her father to do the job – as her cousins, Mohammed Saleh Ali and Omar Hussain, restrained her.

The men put her body in a suitcase and transported it to a house in Handsworth, Birmingham, where they buried it in the garden.

Banaz's boyfriend Rahmat Sulemani became concerned after not hearing from her, and reported her missing to the police.

The police launched an investigation to find Banaz, arresting her father and uncle.

Other members of the community tried to foil police efforts, but finally they were led to Banaz's body.

DCI Caroline Goode, who was in charge of the case, said: "In this case the family had no interest whatsoever in the investigation.

"It was an absolute outrage that this girl was missing and nobody cared."

Who are Banaz Mahmod's family?

Banaz had moved to the UK at the age of 10.

Her father was a former soldier who fled Saddam Hussein to seek asylum in the UK with his family.

Banaz's uncle, Ari Agha Mahmod, and father, Mahmod Babakir Mahmod, were the men convicted of her murder.

Banaz’s cousins, Mohammed Saleh Ali and Omar Hussain, also implicated in the murder, fled to Iraq and were extradited in 2010 to serve at least 22 and 21 years in prison.

Banaz’s mother didn’t appear as a witness and investigating officers believed that she could have done more to help her daughter.

“Evidence was heard that Banaz’s mother had offered to get false alibi statements for her husband,” says DCI Goode.

Banaz's sister Payzee, also forced into arranged marriage by her parents, now works in the fashion industry and campaigns against arranged marriage.

Banaz's story is told in ITV drama Honour.