On April 18, 2025, the Court of Assise of Appeal in Bologna delivered a significant verdict in the case of Saman Abbas, an 18-year-old Pakistani girl who was murdered in Novellara in 2021. The court sentenced her parents, Shabbar Abbas and Nazia Shaheen, to life imprisonment, alongside their cousins Nomanhulhaq Nomanhulaq and Ikram Ijaz, who had been acquitted in the first trial. The uncle, Danish Hasnain, received a 22-year sentence, a notable increase from his previous 14-year term.
Saman's tragic story began on the night of April 30, 2021, when she was killed, reportedly for opposing an arranged marriage. Her body was discovered a year and a half later, buried in a dilapidated farmhouse just a few hundred meters from her family home. The case has drawn significant media attention, highlighting issues surrounding forced marriages and familial violence.
The Bologna court recognized the aggravating factors of premeditation and base motives, affirming the prosecution's stance that the entire family was complicit in Saman's murder. Prosecutor Silvia Marzocchi had argued that Saman was effectively "condemned to death by her entire family," emphasizing the brutality of the crime.
During the trial, the defense lawyers for Shabbar Abbas and Nazia Shaheen argued for their clients' innocence, claiming that the couple had no knowledge of the events leading to their daughter's death. Sheila Foti, representing Shabbar, stated, "Shabbar made a mistake that he will carry in his heart all his life: he had the unfortunate idea of asking his brother to intervene to give a lesson to Saqib, Saman's boyfriend." This assertion was met with skepticism by the prosecution, which maintained that the evidence was substantial enough to warrant a guilty verdict.
In a poignant moment during the trial, the prosecutor described Saman as a "rebellious girl" who sought to escape the constraints of her family's expectations. She was known to have opposed her family's plans for a forced marriage and had previously sought help from social services to report her parents for mistreatment.
On the morning of May 1, 2021, shortly after Saman's murder, her parents boarded a flight to Pakistan, raising suspicions among investigators. The case quickly escalated, leading to the arrest of several family members, including Danish Hasnain, who was apprehended in France and later led authorities to Saman's burial site.
As the trial unfolded, it became clear that the family members were turning against each other, with accusations flying amidst their denials. Ikram Ijaz, one of the cousins sentenced to life imprisonment, proclaimed his innocence, stating, "I am innocent and had no role in this case." Nomanhulhaq echoed these sentiments, suggesting that their only mistake was leaving the area after the incident.
The court's ruling was met with a mix of relief and sorrow from those following the case, as it underscored the need for justice in instances of domestic violence and the cultural pressures surrounding arranged marriages. The case has sparked a broader dialogue about women's rights and the societal norms that often place young women in perilous situations.
As the legal proceedings concluded, the court's decision was hailed as a crucial step towards accountability for acts of femicide. Maria Terrsa Manente, a legal representative from Differenza Donna, stated, "This decision radically reforms the first-instance ruling, recognizing the responsibility of all family members accused of Saman Abbas's femicide and performs a necessary act of justice."
The aftermath of this case continues to resonate, with many advocating for systemic change to protect vulnerable individuals from similar fates. The tragic death of Saman Abbas serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggles against gender-based violence and the urgent need for reform in cultural attitudes towards women's autonomy.
As the legal narrative surrounding Saman's murder comes to a close, the community and advocates are left reflecting on her legacy, which has become emblematic of the fight against forced marriages and the broader issues of women's rights in society.
