This week, the country was gripped by ITV's two-part drama, Honour. Based on the so-called ‘honour killing’ of Londoner Banaz Mahmod in 2006, it follows Keeley Hawes’ DCI Caroline Goode as she investigates the tragedy. The drama, which concluded last night, investigated the lead-up to the real life crime and the aftermath of the murder, and the performance and writing led to an outpouring of praise from viewers. But, more importantly, it casts light on Banaz’s fate, Caroline Goode’s important work, and a practice that is still far too common.
Banaz Mahmod was a South London woman of Iraqi descent. After she left her husband, who subjected her to violence and cruelty, her father and uncle sanctioned an ‘honour killing’. A flawed term that is nevertheless commonly used, it refers to killing of a person – usually a woman – whose actions are perceived as bringing dishonour on her family.
Banaz – played in Honour by Buket Komur - disappeared on January 25th 2006. An investigation later discovered that she had gone to the police several times to ask for help and report her suspicion that her life was in danger. She even provided names of men she feared may kill her, but police dismissed her concerns and offered neither protection nor support.
Keeley Hawes – star of Spooks, Ashes to Ashes and Line Of Duty, plays DCI Caroline Goode. A former Scotland Yard detective, she led the investigation into Banaz’s disappearance and, later, her murder.
Mohamad Marid Hama was charged with Banaz’s murder in February of 2006, after being linked to the family via phone records. Secret recordings made in prison – in which he could be heard confessing to the crime – were used as evidence, and eventually led police to the whereabout of Banaz’s remains. Banaz’s father, uncle and three cousins were also later convicted, although two - Mohammed Saleh Ali and Omar Hussain – had to be extradited back to the UK after fleeing to Iraq. Rahmat Sulemani, Banaz’s boyfriend, reported her missing. Having testified for the prosection in the murder trial, he died by suicide in 2016,
Rhianne Barreto plays Bekhal Mahmod, Banaz’s older sister. After running away from home before Banaz’s murder, she testified against the family and is now in witness protection. Writer Gwyneth Hughes, however, says that she has spoken with her on the phone, consulting her on the programme.
‘She watched last night and I’m very, very pleased to say that she thought it was great and she “cried a lot”’, says Gwyneth.
For support and more information of ‘honour’ based abuse, and support, visit Iranian and Kurdish Women's Rights Organisation, or IKWRO