Thread: Ga-Father allegedly murders daughter over arranged marriag

Father Allegedly Murders Daughter Over Arranged Marriage Updated 7/6/2008 10:22:56 PM
Posted By: Catherine Kim

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. -- A Clayton County father is charged with murdering his daughter over wanting a divorce from her arranged marriage. The news of the murder is sending shockwaves through the community.

For Veronda Luckett, it is the unimaginable, the nightmare that no one in this small community thought was possible. Luckett has lived on Utah drive for 14 years across the street, three houses down from the Rashad family.

"Whenever I would see them it was always greeted with a hello or smile or something pleasant. There was no need or regard to consider that there was something strange or different was going on in that household. Never," said Luckett.

The family was from Pakistan, and had moved into their home at several years ago. 25-year-old Sandela Kanwal lived there with her parents and sister. She was in an arranged marriage, living with her family, while her husband lived in Chicago.

Family members told police the couple hadn't seen each other in three months. And Sandela wanted a divorce. Early Sunday morning, she confronted her father 57-year-old Chaudhry Rashad about what is a cultural taboo.

"She was unhappy with the marriage. An argument ensued over that she had not seen the husband and that I think she wanted out of the marriage. At which point, she and the father had gotten into an argument. At that point, he proceeded to kill her," said Officer Tim Owens with Clayton County Police.

"That's very sad. She was a beautiful young lady," said Luckett, who often saw Sandela drive through the neighborhood.

Anand Mehta, who is from India, lives nearby. He is in an arranged marriage as well. While he is happily married, Mehta understands the staunch cultural stigma against divorce.

"People in our community takes it a step further, where if your marriage don't work out. There's no way out of it," said Mehta, who came to the U.S. more than 20 years ago.

But what he and others cannot understand is how Sandela's plea for a divorce drove her father to murder.

"And if you don't understand your own blood, who will?" said Mehta.

"What could your daughter, what could your child possibly done to bring you to a place that you would take the life you helped create?" said Luckett, shaking her head.
http://www.11alive.com/news/local/story ... 87&catid=3



WOW

These honor killings are more common in certain cultures and talking does not seem to help. Living in the United States is problematic for many who believe and follow these practices. What is going to happen as more of this occurs and the law meets their beliefs?

Romans 5:8