Saman Abbas, the 18-year-old
Italian-Pakistani woman killed by her family for refusing an
arranged marriage in Pakistan in 2021, was laid to rest in the
town of Novellara, near Reggio Emilia, on Tuesday.
"You were always the strongest and bravest sister. I will miss
you every day, every moment, every night," were the words of
Saman's brother, written on a butterfly-shaped stele to be set
next to her grave in Novellara cemetery.
In December Saman's parents were given life sentences for her
murder.
The mother, Nazia Shaheen, is a fugitive of Italian justice and
was not present at the trial after fleeing to Pakistan following
the murder.
The father, Shabbar Abbas, had also left the country but was
extradited to Italy from Pakistan and is behind bars.
Saman's uncle, Danish Hasnain, was given a jail term of 14 years
for his involvement in the homicide, while two of her cousins
were acquitted.
Her body was found at a farmhouse near where the family lived in
November 2022, 18 months following her disappearance, after the
uncle had revealed where she had been buried.
"This is a small community. Novellara has been accustomed to
coexistence, supported by different communities and religions,
for decades," Novellara Mayor Elena Carletti told reporters
before the funeral.
"Saman's case shocked the entire community. Such level of
violence had never happened before. We could never have imagined
something like it."
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