Honor Killing in Argenteuil, France: 25-Year Prison Sentence Demanded for Two Brothers

Ulfat Ghias
Age: 31
Murdered: July 4, 2020
Residence: Argenteuil, Île-de-France
Origin: Pakistan
Perpetrators: Adib and Bilal C.

On Thursday, January 30, 2025, a 25-year prison sentence was demanded against brothers Adib and Bilal C. for the murder of their brother-in-law, Ulfat Ghias. The brothers, of Pakistani origin, are accused of murdering Ulfat on July 4, 2020, in his apartment in Argenteuil, a suburb of Paris. He was strangled and stabbed six times, after which his body, weighed down with 100 kg of weight plates, was dumped in a barrel and thrown into the Seine. The barrel was later accidentally discovered during a firefighting exercise.

The public prosecutor emphasized that the brothers acted in the name of family honor and that the murder was premeditated. The exact motive remains unclear, but there are mentions of domestic violence, a €5,000 debt, and Ulfat’s marriage for a residence permit. The prosecutor argued that the brothers show no remorse and made it clear that Pakistani customary laws have no place in France.

The defense questioned the evidence and pointed out uncertainties in the case file. Adib C.'s lawyer pleaded for acquittal, claiming his client only intended to hide the body to protect his brother. Bilal C.’s lawyer suggested that the crime resulted from an escalating argument and questioned who actually committed the murder.

The verdict is not yet known.

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.