Honour: Achieving Justice for Banaz Mahmod Paperback – September 8, 2020

I loved how the author told Banaz story. Heartbreaking but also happy that her name lives on despite her family trying to erase her

I am full of admiration for people who fight for justice and help vulnerable women. This book has opened my eyes to a practice that I thought I knew and had understanding of, to a degree. I have always felt sympathy for the way some women are treated in various cultures. Until reading this book I didn't realise how many people may be involved in killing a woman to keep a families honour and respect within their community. What an awful and frightening way to have to live for the girls who live under such a threat. The women who go against the practice and make honour killing public are very brave. I am enlightened after reading this book but very, very sad.

Elle est terrible cette histoire mais il était nécessaire de la raconter. Caroline Goode a eu raison de nous partager cette enquête, du jour 1 au dernier ; l'investigation a été menée de main de maître, le travail fourni remarquable. On s'enfonce dans l'univers moyenâgeux d'une communauté kurde vivant confortablement en Europe mais n'en acceptant aucune valeur, aucune coutume. La femme est un objet dont le père dispose jusqu'au mariage, ce sera ensuite le mari, sans compter les divers oncles, cousins et frères qui se permettront de mettre leur grain de sel dans sa vie, de tenir des "conseils de famille" pour débattre de son avenir, de ses actes, des punitions à infliger... Ha-llu-ci-nant. Et la réaction de la "famille" pendant l'enquête et durant le procès vous laissera sans voix... qui traite ses propres enfants de cette manière ???Une fois le livre terminé, j'ai pu apprécier pleinement la famille ouverte dans laquelle j'ai grandi. J'admire le courage de celles qui ont osé braver les interdits pour être libres, indépendantes ; elles sont encore trop nombreuses à risquer leur vie pour récuperer leur liberté. Une tendre pensée pour Banaz et son petit ami... si beaux, si jeunes... un vrai gâchis. Je recommande (cette version anglaise est pour un niveau intermédiaire).

This is a heartfelt and passionate account of so called honour based violence. The story highlights the dangers of being a female in certain communities and the lengths that community will go through to hide their hideous crimes, it certainly is an interesting insight. The sheer dedication of the police team is crystal clear. A very very sad story, but this book gives hope for all those women affected.

This book tells the story of how DCI Caroline Goode and her team pursued the truth around the disappearance and murder of Banaz. It demonstrates the determination of all the team working on the case, fighting against a community that put up a wall of silence and who tried, and failed, to escape justice. It gives a fascinating insight into how a police murder investigation works and how the jigsaw of pieces are put together. I couldn’t put the book down, and would highly recommend it. But most of all it is a tribute to Banaz, and Rahmat.

To read of the medieval practices that exist in the UK is shocking, to read of the policewoman that failed to believe or act on what Banaz reported is shocking. Well done Caroline for bringing all the perps to justice.