Honourless: The Shafia Family Murders
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Episode 328: On June 30, 2009, the serene waters of the Rideau Canal in Kingston, Ontario, revealed a dark and tragic secret. A submerged car discovered that day contained the bodies of three teenage sisters—Zainab (19), Sahar (17), and Geeti (13) Shafia—along with their father's first wife, Rona Muhammad Amir (52).

What initially appeared to be a tragic accident soon unravelled into a chilling tale of premeditated murder. The perpetrators, Mohammad Shafia, his second wife, Tooba Mohammad Yahya, and their son, Hamed, were arrested on July 23, 2009, and later convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Shockingly, the victims were Mohammad Shafia's daughters and his first wife. This heinous act, driven by twisted notions of family honour, shocked the nation and highlighted the grim reality of honour-based violence. Join us as we delve into the harrowing details of the Shafia family murders, a case that not only captivated Canada but also sparked crucial conversations about domestic violence and the challenges faced by immigrant families in preserving their cultural values while integrating into a new society.

Sources:

2016 ONCA 812 (CanLII) | R. v. Shafia | CanLII)

2013 ONCA 248 (CanLII) | R. v. Kailayapillai | CanLII)

2004 BCSC 998 (CanLII) | R. v. Atwal | CanLII)

2002 BCSC 928 (CanLII) | R. v. Nahar | CanLII)

2004 BCCA 77 (CanLII) | R. v. Nahar | CanLII)

Chronology of events in the Shafia murders)

Inside the Shafia killings that shocked a nation)

Portrait of Hamed Shafia, a young 'honour killer')

The Shafia case’s abandoned minivan, submerged car and damaged SUV)

Honour based Violence – Indo Canadian Women’s Association)

Apparent Modern-Day Incidence in Canada - Preliminary Examination of so-called Honour Killings in Canada)

Man who murdered family in 'honour killing' became jailhouse religious tyrant)

Preliminary Examination of so-called “Honour Killings” in Canada - Open Government Portal)

Gendered Violence, Cultural Otherness, and Honour Crimes in Canadian National Logics on JSTOR)

Honour-based violence | Royal Canadian Mounted Police)

Domestic Violence Resources | Canadian Association of Social Workers)

Honour Killings | Canada Commons)

Types of Femicide | Femicide in Canada)

Honour Based Violence & Forced Marriage – Canadian Police Knowledge Network)

Problematizing “Honour Crimes” within the Canadian Context)

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