Georgia Man Killed Own Daughter to Protect Family Honor

Honor killings and family name are still seen as a major part of life for immigrants despite where they live. In the UK, many stories exist of such acts especially amongst the South Asian communities but it was something that usually didn't hit the news in the USA. This story reveals that it is no different.

A Georgia man appeared in court Monday on charges he killed his own daughter for disgracing his family.

54-year-old Chaudhry Rashid, wearing a red jumpsuit and shackles around his ankles, went before Chief Judge Daphne Walker at the Clayton County Magistrate Court.

Rashid, who is of Pakistani descent, kept his head down as charges were read, and appeared to have difficulty understanding instructions from the judge, possibly the result of a language barrier.

His two sons were also in attendance, watching their father from seats in the rear of the courtroom, joined by two others. Rashid waved to their corner as he shuffled slowly out, impeded by the shackles.

The 25-year-old victim, Sandeela Kanwal, was wed in Pakistan in an arranged marriage. Police said Kanwal hadn't seen her husband, who lives in Chicago, for months.

According to police, there was "friction between father and victim" in the weeks leading up to the killing. Rashid had not spoken to his daughter in more than two months.

Police said Rashid was so angered that his daughter planned to divorce her husband that he killed her after a heated argument at the family's home, FOX News affiliate MyFoxAtlanta reported.

Police who arrived at the scene said they found Rashid's two sons at the end of the driveway and their father sitting behind a car smoking a cigarette. Officers said that Rashid appeared "distraught and possibly mournful" and told police "my daughter is dead" when they arrived.

After entering the home, Kanwal's body was discovered in the doorway of a bedroom, cold to the touch, officials said.

Rashid was taken to the Clayton County jail where he reportedly confessed to strangling Kanwal.

The news shocked neighbors and friends.