A MAN, 33, has appeared in court after the body of a 19-year-old woman was found in a fridge in a London home following a suspected honour killing.

But what are honour killings and how common are they in the UK?

What is an honour killing?

Honour killings are committed within families or social groups with the purpose of controlling behaviour, reports the Honour Based Violence Awareness Network (HBVAN).

Such murders are carried in the name of protecting cultural beliefs or honour.

Those targeted are believed to have shamed their family or community.

Reasons given for this can include refusing an arranged marriage, entering a relationship with someone disapproved of, renouncing faith and behaving or dressing in a way thought to be inappropriate.

Both men and women can be victims of honour killings, although women are more commonly targeted.

The HBVAN stresses that there is little scriptural support for honour killings in any major religion, and it has been roundly condemned by several high status religious leaders.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/4091357/honour-killing-kingston/

Two men have been charged in connection with the suspected “honour killing” of a teenager whose body was found in a fridge.

The Metropolitan Police said a 33-year-old man has been charged with the murder, rape and kidnap of the 19-year-old woman.

He is further charged with the rape, attempted murder and with the kidnap of a second victim, a woman aged in her 20s.

A second man, aged 28, has been charged with the kidnap of both the 19-year-old woman and the woman aged in her 20s.

The body of the teenager was found inside a fridge at a house in Kingston three hours after she was reported missing along with the older woman last Wednesday.

Police said the women may have been forced to go to the address by a man they both knew before being subjected to a “violent attack”.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/kingston-teenage-woman-19-fridge-body-london-two-men-charged-honour-killing-murder-rape-kidnapping-a7856251.html

Detectives are investigating the murder of a young woman in a possible so-called honour killing.

The body of the woman, who was believed to be 19, was found at a house in Kingston, London, just three hours after she was reported missing along with another woman, who is believed to be in her twenties.

Police said the pair may have been forced to go to the address by a man they both knew before being subjected to a “violent attack”

The older woman managed to escape to get help and was admitted to a south London hospital with stab and slash wounds on Wednesday evening before police went to the house in Coombe Lane West.

Referring to reports the victim had been found “cut up in a fridge”, the Metropolitan Police insisted the dead woman was discovered “intact” at around 8pm.

Asked if police were looking into whether the murder was being treated as a so-called honour killing, the Met said detectives are keeping an “open mind”.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/honour-killing-young-girl-19-years-old-dead-fridge-stab-wounds-honour-killing-investigation-kingston-a7853216.html

The Halo Project Charity remembers all those who lost their lives in the nam of honour. Working in partnership with the PCC Cleveland, survivors, staff and volunteers help release balloons in memory of those who were brutally murdered.

Quote from Yasmin Khan – Director Halo Project

“A day to remember those murdered in the name of honour is bestowed upon us this Friday 14th July 2017 . Shafilea Ahmed’s birthdate is now a reminder for us all to raise the awareness of honour based abuse and recognise women whose lives are tragically ended at the hands of those who they called their family. We must work together and encourage victims to come forward and take necessary action against perpetrators.  Let us remember today,  those who lost their lives in the name of honour, let us not forget our duty to protect”.

#breakthesilence @halo_project #WeRemember