Mothers arrested over "honour killings" in India

May 15, 2011, 12:43 GMT

New Delhi - Two Muslim mothers were arrested in northern India for allegedly killing their grown-up daughters, on the grounds they had brought dishonour to the family by marrying Hindu men, news reports said Sunday.

Zahida, 19 and Husna, 26 were strangled to death when they returned to their homes in the Baghpat town to seek peace with their families after their marriage, the Mail Today reported.

The girls, who were neighbours, had fallen in love and married construction workers earlier this month, which had angered their mothers, both widows.

Husna and Zahida were tied to beds while sleeping and strangled by their mothers, police told the newspaper. The murders came to light with the arrests on Friday.

'We killed them because they brought shame to our community,' Khatun, one of the mothers told the Indian Express newspaper. 'How could they elope with Hindus? They deserved to die. We have no remorse,' she said.

Interfaith marriages, particularly those between Hindus and Muslims are not common in India, largely prohibited by both communities.

A number of so-calleld 'honour' killings are reported from the northern states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan states every year.

India's Supreme Court last week recommended the death penalty for those convicted of committing 'honour killings' saying this would prove a deterrent and stop such 'barbaric and feudal' practices.

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