True honour: family’s long fight for justice after killing

MORE than a dozen inspirational people were honoured in Islington this week.

All made a contribution to helping the victims and survivors of ‘honour’-based violence in the UK.

The Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation – a national charity based in the south of the borough – invited 13  people to its headquarters for the True Honour Awards 2014 on Friday.

The charity gave their True Honour Award to three deserved joint winners – a family who have been campaigning tirelessly for justice in the memory of their beloved mother, sister and sister-in-law Surjit Kaur Athwal.

British-born Ms Athwal was murdered almost 10 years ago while visiting family in northern India. Her husband and mother-in-law were convicted for the killing and have now received life sentences, but the contract killers who carried out the crime have not been brought to justice.

Her 23-year-old daughter, Pavanpreet Kaur Athwal, her brother Jagdeesh Singh and her sister-in-law Sarbjit Kaur Athwal all proudly received the award.

A special award also went to Karma Nirvana charity to “celebrate 21 years of incredible passion that the organisation has committed to the fight against ‘honour’-based violence.”

 

A link to the article can be found here.