Italy jails Pakistani couple for abusing daughter

A Pakistani couple residing in Reggio Emilia, Italy, has received a two-year prison sentence for severe abuse against their 22-year-old daughter. Italian news agency ANSA reported the sentence, which stems from charges of forcing the young woman to undergo an abortion and coercing her into marriage with her cousin in Pakistan.

The victim, whose identity was not disclosed, reportedly rebelled against her parents' control. After enduring years of abuse, she reported her parents to the Carabinieri, the Italian police. Reports indicate she was subjected to physical and psychological torment, including being locked in a basement, having her cell phone confiscated, being slapped, and having her face smashed against the floor.

Her parents allegedly forced her to travel to Pakistan, threatening her if she refused an engagement and marriage to a cousin. The situation escalated when she became pregnant by a boyfriend her family disapproved of. Her parents then allegedly punched her repeatedly in the abdomen and back, forcing her to have an abortion.

The parents, aged 54 and 51, were sentenced for mistreatment and attempted forced marriage. This case echoes the tragic story of Saman Abbas, a young woman murdered by her family in Italy for refusing an arranged marriage to a cousin in Pakistan, highlighting ongoing concerns about forced marriages and honor-related violence.

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The case echoes the tragic tale of Saman Abbas, a young woman murdered by her family for refusing an arranged marriage in Pakistan.