“In my country, murder is normal"
A man jailed for ordering the “honour” killing of his niece is suing ITV over claims he also sanctioned her rape.
Ari Mahmod is serving life for his role in the 2006 murder of 20-year-old Banaz Mahmod after she left an abusive arranged marriage.
She was raped by three of her cousins and later strangled. Her body was found buried under a patio in Birmingham.
Mahmod is now suing ITV over its 2020 show Honour and a 2012 documentary on the case.
Mahmod, speaking via videolink from HMP Whitemoor earlier in May 2025, claimed the rape allegations had ruined his standing in prison and within his community.
He said: “In my country, murder is normal — after served time, you have a new opportunity.
“In my culture the main things they react against me was the rape allegation.”
Referring to himself in the third person, he added:
“Prisoners attempt to hurt Ari Mahmod.
“Almost all statements left no doubts the allegation of rape was with Ari’s blessing. In the Islamic community rape is taboo — it is the highest level of crime.”
He admitted that so-called honour killings were culturally accepted in his Iraqi Muslim background but denied having approved of Banaz’s rape.
Banaz’s father, Mahmod Mahmod, and his brother Ari were convicted of her murder in 2007. Both were sentenced to life, with minimum terms of 20 and 23 years respectively.
Their cousin, Mohammad Hama, admitted murder and was sentenced to 17 years. Two more cousins were convicted in 2010 and sentenced to 22 and 21 years.
Representing himself in the High Court, Mahmod claimed he had been physically attacked in prison and said his family had faced reprisals because of the rape allegations shown in the broadcasts.
It is unclear why the court allowed the libel claim to proceed, given Mahmod’s murder conviction.
Under UK law, individuals convicted of serious crimes generally have limited rights to claim reputational damage.
Barrister Ben Gallop, representing ITV, challenged the basis of the case:
“The claimant is a convicted murderer.”
“This is rare for a claim of libel as the possibility of any damage to his reputation is limited due to his pre-existing bad reputation.”
Mr Gallop also told the court that viewers would only take the “worst possible” interpretation of the programme if they believed Mahmod had sanctioned the rape.
A ruling on the libel claim is expected in June 2025.
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