An 18-year-old Pakistani girl, Saman Abbas, was murdered by her family in Italy's Novellara in 2021 after she refused an arranged marriage.The Italian Supreme Court recently upheld the murder convictions of her parents, cousins, and uncle, sentencing them to life imprisonment or long prison terms.

Abbas had rebelled against her family's plan to marry her to a cousin in Pakistan, sought help from social services, and was moved to a shelter home.Despite reporting her parents to police, she returned to them before her disappearance.Security footage showed her family leaving with tools, leading to the discovery of her murder.Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praised the verdict, emphasizing Italy's stance against cultural justifications for violence against women.This case highlights ongoing issues of forced marriages and gender-based violence across borders.