The press watchdog, Ipso, has upheld a complaint against Mail Online for its use of the phrase 'Islamic honour killing' in a story about the death of Saima Khan, a mother of four found dead at her home in Luton in late May.
The Mail argued that the term 'Islamic' was used as 'a shorthand reference to the religion of the individuals involved' and noted that such incidents 'are particularly prevalent in Muslim countries'. However, Ipso ruled in favour of the complainant, Miqdaad Versi, on grounds of accuracy, stating there was no basis to suggest religion played a role in the killing.
In his complaint, Mr Versi asserted that honour killings have no basis in Islam and are rooted in culture, not religion. He also highlighted the distinction between 'Islamic', relating to the faith, and 'Muslim', relating to individuals.
Mail Online has since updated the story, removing 'Islamic' from the headline and adding a footnote clarifying that 'Islam as a religion does not support so-called “honour killings”'. Mr Versi welcomed the ruling, calling for safeguards against future inaccuracies that could encourage Islamophobia.
