AN expert on Muslim culture has said he believes Shafilea Ahmed was not killed for honour.

Mohammed Shafiq provides independent social work for south Asian communities in the UK.

He has also given advice during court cases on honour killings, forced marriages and child trafficking.

The Bradford resident says that the 17-year-old was murdered not because she shamed her family, but because Iftikhar and Farzana Ahmed could not cope with being unable to control her.

He said: “They were influenced by very close relationships in their family, and their standing in their community that they believed they had to abide by.

“An honour killing is when it is trying to protect their name in the community and they are prepared to take a life of a loved one at any cost.

“There was an element of protecting their name in the community and to ensure that shame wasn’t brought, but Mr and Mrs Ahmed were parents who wanted to show their power.

“They wanted to control Shafilea who was a young person who wanted to have a choice “Rather than getting help or support with a child challenging their parents, they took the law into their own hands.

“They wanted to be seen to keep up with their tradition and values.

“When this was challenged by Shafilea they could not accept it.”

Mr Shafiq, also a Labour councillor on Bradford Metropolitan District Council, believes that the former Great Sankey High School girl’s refusal to be married in Pakistan in February 2003 sealed her fate.

“That was a forced marriage – not an arranged marriage,” he said.

“She wanted to be able to make her own choice.

“The individuals not being able to control her led to them killing their own daughter.”

And Mr Shafiq also believes the horrific murder on September 11 2003 at the Ahmeds’ home in Liverpool Road, Great Sankey had nothing to do with religion.

“The society of Islam advocates treating people with dignity, helping people in need and preventing anyone’s life from being lost.

“These weren’t religious people who wanted to spread the word of that religion, they were people who killed their daughter.”

Both Ahmeds were jailed for a minimum of 25 years for murder at Chester Crown Court last Friday, August 3.