Associations and activists have been present since early morning outside the court of Reggio Emilia, to act as a "shield" for the memory of Saman Abbas, demanding justice for the 18-year-old Pakistani woman killed in Novellara in the night between 30 April and 1 May 2021.
Today the trial begins in the Court of Assizes for five family members of the girl
who refused an arranged marriage: her uncle Danish Hasnain, her cousins Ikram Ijaz and Numanhulaq Numanhulaq, her father Shabbar Abbas and her mother Nazia Shaheen, accused of complicity in murder.
Her parents are in Pakistan, Abbas is under arrest, her mother is still on the run and it is probable that today the defenders will ask for her removal.
There are banners and placards outside the courthouse.
"Saman in the heart and in the struggles," reads that of 'Non una di meno'.
Others sing choirs asking for justice for the young woman, whose body was found in a cottage near her home in mid-November: she had been searched for a year and a half in vain.
Several associations will take part in civil action: among these, already established, Penelope (which protects family members and friends of missing persons) and Ucoii, the Union of Italian Islamic communities.
The Court of Assizes of Reggio Emilia has temporarily separated the position of Shabbar Abbas in the trial of the murder of his daughter Saman
.
A postponement to February 17 has been arranged for him to evaluate the possibility of a videoconference link with Pakistan, where he is currently under arrest.
After probably the proceedings will be reunited again with the other four accused family members.
The judges, president Cristina Beretti, have also ordered a postponement to 3 pm to give the defense the possibility of replying to the civil action brought forward by about fifteen associations and other realities.
The lawyer: "The boyfriend wants justice for all the Samans"
"If he were here today Saqib would say: I don't care about money, I want justice".
Thus the lawyer Claudio Falleti, who defends Saman's boyfriend in the trial that starts today before the Court of Assizes of Reggio Emilia.
"Suiting oneself is not only compensation for damages, but supporting the prosecutor's office and other civil parties. We must all together demand justice not only for Saman, but for all the other girls who are victims of these crimes. If we were to obtain compensation, Saqib will make a foundation in Saman's name that helps all the other girls," she adds.
