Today Aminan Rahman was sentenced to life in jail for the murder of his wife, Suma Begum, which was witnessed by her two children and her online boyfriend.

On 3rd July this year, Rahman, 46, was found guilty by a jury at the Old Bailey of murdering Begum, 24, in a flat in east London on the night of 29 April last year.

During the case, prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward KC had told jurors that Suma was: “no longer happy in her marriage, she was fairly openly in a relationship with another man, and she had expressed the desire to leave the defendant, something about which neither he nor her family were happy.”

He also added: “But whether he [Rahman] was motivated by rage, shame, or pure jealousy, or a more complex mix of cultural expectations and emotions, may not matter.”

Speaking of the sentencing, CEO and founder of Savera UK, Afrah Qassim, said: “While we welcome the verdict and sentencing in this case, we understand that it will not bring Suma back, nor ease the pain for her family, friends and all those who loved her.

“This is a truly horrific case, where not only has a young woman had her life taken, but three others – including two children – were witness to the murder, leaving them with lifelong trauma.

“Suma Begum had her whole life ahead of her. If she was unhappy in her marriage, she should have been free to leave. Savera UK believes that this case bears the hallmarks of an ‘honour’ killing. There are no “cultural expectations” that can endorse or excuse murder and no individual, family or community should be able to dictate how an individual should live their life. There is no ‘honour’ in abuse or murder.

“We hope that the verdict and sentencing brings Suma’s loved ones some sense of justice, and that it highlights that perpetrators of such horrific crimes will be held accountable for their actions.”

Image credit: Met Police