Honour killing in Gujarat: woman killed in retaliation after her husband killed son-in-law

Ram Soriya and Ashaba Jhala
Born: 1992, 1972
Stabbed to death: May 15, 2022
Residence: Gujarat
Origin: India
Children: none
Perpetrators: Father in law Satubha Jhala, brother Lagdheer Soriya

On Sunday morning, May 15, Ram Soriya is recognized by his father-in-law Satubha Jhala at a local marketplace in Gujarat. This is followed by a fatal stabbing with a sharp object, because Satubha Jhala believes that Ram Soriya should not have married his daughter against his will a year ago. In India, it is traditionally taboo to marry someone of another caste.

Within an hour of the murder, Ram Soriya's angry brother arrived at Satubha Jhala's house in Yogeshwar Dham to seek revenge. The victim's brother, Lagdheer, then saw Satubha Jhala's 50-year-old wife, Ashaba, and he stabbed her to death.

It is said that both families were not happy with the marriage. The police opened an investigation and arrested Satubha Jhala and Lagdheer Soriya.

What is an honour killing?

An honour killing is a murder in the name of honour. If a brother murders his sister to restore family honour, it is an honour killing. According to activists, the most common reasons for honour killings are as the victim:

refuses to cooperate in an arranged marriage.
wants to end the relationship.
was the victim of rape or sexual assault.
was accused of having a sexual relationship outside of marriage.

Human rights activists believe that 100,000 honour killings are carried out every year, most of which are not reported to the authorities and some are even deliberately covered up by the authorities themselves, for example because the perpetrators are good friends with local policemen, officials or politicians. Violence against girls and women remains a serious problem in Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Serbia and Turkey.