Honourless: The Shafia Family Murders

Episode 328: On June 30, 2009, the serene waters of the Rideau Canal in Kingston, Ontario, revealed a dark and tragic secret. A submerged car discovered that day contained the bodies of three teenage sisters—Zainab (19), Sahar (17), and Geeti (13) Shafia—along with their father’s first wife, Rona Muhammad Amir (52).

What initially appeared to be a tragic accident soon unravelled into a chilling tale of premeditated murder. The perpetrators, Mohammad Shafia, his second wife, Tooba Mohammad Yahya, and their son, Hamed, were arrested on July 23, 2009, and later convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Shockingly, the victims were Mohammad Shafia’s daughters and his first wife. This heinous act, driven by twisted notions of family honour, shocked the nation and highlighted the grim reality of honour-based violence. Join us as we delve into the harrowing details of the Shafia family murders, a case that not only captivated Canada but also sparked crucial conversations about domestic violence and the challenges faced by immigrant families in preserving their cultural values while integrating into a new society.

Sources:

2016 ONCA 812 (CanLII) | R. v. Shafia | CanLII

2013 ONCA 248 (CanLII) | R. v. Kailayapillai | CanLII

2004 BCSC 998 (CanLII) | R. v. Atwal | CanLII

2002 BCSC 928 (CanLII) | R. v. Nahar | CanLII

2004 BCCA 77 (CanLII) | R. v. Nahar | CanLII

Chronology of events in the Shafia murders

Inside the Shafia killings that shocked a nation

Portrait of Hamed Shafia, a young ‘honour killer’

The Shafia case’s abandoned minivan, submerged car and damaged SUV

Honour based Violence – Indo Canadian Women’s Association

Apparent Modern-Day Incidence in Canada – Preliminary Examination of so-called Honour Killings in Canada