This is a request for support for the landmark case of Surjit Athwal. This 27-year old Panjaabi mother, living in Hayes, West London, was murdered in Panjaab (India) in December 1998.  This murder was organised from the UK and carried out in Panjaab, on the instructions of her mother-in-law and husband.

We hope that you will be able to support this campaign with a financial donation and help us take justice forward for a defenceless and powerless victim and help others from suffering the same.

Bank: Triodos Bank, Bristol
Bank Account Name: Justice for Surjit | Account Number: 04178200 | Sort Code: 16 58 10

Our target is to raise a total of £15,000 by January 2009, to start the legal process in Panjaab (India).

Campaign for Truth, Equality and Justice
This is Surjit Athwal – my Mum.  She was taken to Punjab, India in 1998 and murdered in what became an ‘Honour-Killing’. 9 years after her murder in India, the UK perpetrators (her husband and mother-in-law) were convicted for her murder.

Our campaign; ‘Justice for Surjit’ continues – as there are still persons responsible for her murder free – in India. We need donations for an Indian Re-Investigation.  Please help.  Can Surjit’s high-profile case be the catalyst to raise the issue of Honour-Killings affecting women – and save lives?  Pavanjeet Athwal

Bringing Surjit Athwal’s killers to justice in Panjaab (India)
The ‘Justice for Surjit’ campaign has been running since 1999, pushing for legal action against her killers based in the UK and Panjaab.  Following a major UK criminal conviction in July 2007 of the UK killers, we are now pushing for legal action in Panjaab (India) against the hands-on killers that remain at large there.

The UK criminal conviction represents a major victory in this UK-India murder.  However, more needs to be done to bring the Panjaab killers to justice. This is where we are requesting your help with financial support.  We are appealing for donations from individuals and groups. Through this landmark case, we want to raise a public voice against ongoing crimes against vulnerable UK females taken abroad and murdered.

Background
It took 8 years to bring the UK killers to justice, with a sustained public campaign and investigation by the Metropolitan Police.  The motive for Surjit’s murder was her desire to divorce from her unhappy marriage with her husband and his family causing ‘dishonour’ to their family.

Surjit’s case represents a major case of how young females in the UK from South Asian communities are taken abroad to India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and killed.  Surjit Athwal’s is the first such UK-India case which has achieved a UK criminal conviction.  The campaign now continues for justice in Panjaab, against her hands-on killers who remain free.

If you require further information on any aspect of this painful case, you are invited to speak directly with:

DCI Clive Driscoll and DC Palbinder Singh, Metropolitan Police, who led Surjit’s investigation and brought it to a successful criminal prosecution.  Both lead case officers are committed to helping the legal process in Panjaab, to bring the remaining killers to justice.
clive.driscoll@met.police.uk (07730 050908) |  palbinder.singh@met.police.uk (07990 797936)

Jagdeesh Singh, Coordinator of the ‘Justice for Surjit’ campaign and the above police officers recently met with a leading Panjaab-based Human Rights Lawyer, Navkiran Singh based in Chandigarh (www.nakiransingh.com). He has advised that legal action in Panjaab will require a minimum of £10,000.  To progress this, we are appealing for funds from individuals and groups who support this vital cause for justice and helping to deter and prevent such future UK-India murder crimes.

If you would like to help the family directly, as opposed to providing information to the police or offering a donation, you should contact:

The Victoria Climbié Foundation UK
c/o 28 Museum Street
London WC1A 1LH

Telephone: 020 8571 4121 | Fax: 020 8813 9734 | Email: appeal@victoria-climbie.org.uk

The following, and more, news articles provide additional information:

  • “Wife ‘sentenced to death’ by mother in law” – Daily Telegraph, 4th May 2007
  • “Woman ordered honour killig of son’s wife” – Independent, 27 July 2007
  • “Grandmother who orchestrated honour killing ‘will die in prison’” – The Times, 20th September 2007