Banaz Mahmod asking police for help in hitherto unseen footage
Banaz Mahmod asking police for help in hitherto unseen footage

The councils of Hammersmith & Fulham, Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea are holding a free screening of Banaz: A love story as part of an event to raise awareness of forced marriage. This will be followed by a panel discussion of the movie, held by the Director Deeyah, which will include Diana Nammi, Director of IKWRO.

The film, which premiered at the Raindance Film Festival in London in September last year, documents the life of Banaz Mahmod. Banaz was killed by her uncle and father in London in 2006, after she left her violent and abusive husband, and began a relationship with a family friend.

Banaz’s father Mahmod and uncle Ari were convicted of her murder in June 2007, while two other men involved in her murder became the first people to be extradited from Iraq to Britain, and were jailed for life in 2010.

There will be a question and answer session on ‘honour’ based violence and forced marriages following the screening. The panelists include Caroline Goode of the Metropolitan Police, who led the investigation into Banaz’s death and won a Queen’s Award for her efforts and Sophie Wright from the Government’s Joint Forced Marriage Unit (Foreign and Commonwealth Office  and Home Office).

The seminar runs between 9:30am and 1pm at the Great Hall, Kensington and Chelsea Town Hall, Hornton Street, Kensington, W8 7NX.

Cllr Greg Smith, Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for residents’ services, said: “No one should be subjected to violence and abuse from their partner or family, nor should they constantly live in fear. All too often forced marriages and so-called ‘honour’ crimes go unreported but we hope that this event will go some way to helping more people report this abuse and feel safe.”

This event is open to front-line professionals working in the public sector, voluntary sector, police, health, housing, social care, and education in Hammersmith & Fulham, Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

To book your place at the seminar and for any access requirements, please contact Carly Fry by emailing PEIA@lbhf.gov.uk or calling 020 8753 3430.

 

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