"Honour killing expert" testifies at Shafia murder trial

A University of Toronto professor who claims to be an expert on honour killings told the courtroom of the Shafia murder trials that in some cultures, honour is more valuable than human life.

The professor, named Shahrzad Mojab, said that it’s almost expected for male family members to kill female family members if they threaten the family’s honour.

He said that this belief is strongest in the Middle East.

Mohammad Shafia, his wife Tooba Yahya, and their son Hamed are on trial for allegedly murdering four female members of their family.

Prosecutors believe the murders may have been honour killings, brought on by the girls having boyfriends and leading modern lifestyles.

Mojab is one of the Crown’s final witnesses.