Rome, July 16: Italy has no place for those who seek to deny a woman’s freedom, dignity, and existence under the guise of cultural or religious reasons. This was underscored during the court’s ruling in the case of 18-year-old Samaneh Abbas, of Pakistani origin, who was murdered by her parents. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni welcomed the court’s decision regarding this tragic case.
Prime Minister Meloni expressed her support on the social media platform X, stating, “With the final verdict in Samaneh Abbas’s murder, a painful legal saga has come to an end. A young girl of Pakistani descent in Italy was killed by her parents and some relatives because she opposed an arranged marriage and asserted her right to choose her own future.”
She emphasized that while no ruling can bring Samaneh back to life, it is right that those responsible for this crime have been held accountable.
Meloni firmly stated, “There is no place in Italy for those who dare to deny a woman’s freedom, dignity, and life under the pretext of so-called cultural or religious reasons. These are principles we cannot compromise on, and we will never back down from them. My thoughts are with Samaneh. May God grant her peace.”
Samaneh Abbas was an 18-year-old girl of Pakistani origin living in Italy. Her family committed an honor killing in 2021 after arranging a marriage for her without her consent. Samaneh opposed this marriage and consistently resisted it, which ultimately led to her tragic death.
According to media reports, her family had arranged her marriage to her cousin in Pakistan when she was still a minor. After refusing the marriage, she sought help from Italy’s social services department and was placed in a shelter home in November 2020.
She also filed a police complaint against her parents but returned to her family on April 11, 2021. Reports indicate that Samaneh went missing shortly after. CCTV footage near her home showed five individuals leaving with a shovel, iron rod, and a bucket, returning approximately two and a half hours later.
More than a year later, in November 2022, some remains of Samaneh were discovered near her home in Novellara, Italy. The investigative team identified her body using dental records.
In 2023, Prime Minister Meloni stated that there was no doubt regarding the victim’s identity. “Justice must be served for that innocent girl who simply wanted to live her life freely.”
Italy’s Supreme Court of Cassation upheld the life sentences for Abbas’s parents, Nazia Shaheen and Shabbar Abbas, as well as her cousins, Ijaz Ikram and Nomanul Haq, for their roles in the murder. The court also confirmed a 22-year prison sentence for her uncle, Danish Hasnain.
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