Yahoo News Keeley Hawes 'honour killing' drama faces objections over diversity
Keeley Hawes’ new show based on the true crime story Honour has come under fire before filming has even begun.
The Bodyguard actress will star in and serve as executive producer on the ITV drama about the ‘honour killing’ of 20-year-old Banaz Mahmod, who in 2006 was murdered by her family after she left her violet husband and began a relationship with another man. Her body was found in a suitcase in a garden three months later.
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But critics have pointed out that Honour, starring Hawes as Detective Chief Inspector Caroline Goode's switches the focus from Mahmod to the white police officer who investigated her murder.
TV scriptwriter Furquan Akktar wrote on Twitter: “ITV have announced a drama about Banaz Mahmod. An Iraqi Kurdish Muslim woman who was the victim of a so called “honour” killing. It shifts the story from being about her to the white detective who “got her justice”. The project has a white lead, writer and director.”
Playwright Iman Qureshi agreed: “Honour starring Keeley Hawes?! As the white police officer who fought for justice for Banaz Mahmoud. When Banaz was failed repeatedly by the police. White writer. White director. White lead actress. White savour narrative. There’s just no excuse.”
ITV have announced a drama about Banaz Mahmod. An Iraqi Kurdish Muslim woman who was the victim of a so called “honour” killing. It shifts the story from being about her to the white detective who “got her justice”. The project has a white lead, writer and director.
— Furquan Akhtar (@furquan) June 24, 2019
Bit late on the uptake. But “Honour” starring Keeley Hawes?! As the white police officer who fought for justice for Banaz Mahmoud. When Banaz was failed repeatedly by the police. White writer. White director. White lead actress. White savour narrative. There’s just no excuse.
— Iman Qureshi (@ImanQureshi) June 25, 2019
Executive producer Liza Marshall said the drama hoped to, “Shine a light on the bravery of Banaz and Caroline’s dedication to achieving justice for her.”
Writer Gwyneth Hughes said in an ITV press release announcing the show: “Banaz Mahmod met her brutish death on the orders of her own father and uncle, which I find profoundly unsettling. That this story is ultimately so uplifting is down to the sheer heroism and dedication of the police officers who hunted down her killers. Caroline Goode and her team felt real love for this girl they’d never met. I found their unusual warmth and humanity deeply moving.”
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Screenwriter Vinay Patel, who penned BBC’s Murdered By My Father, tweeted: “‘This story is ultimately so uplifting’ is a strange way to see this, especially since her boyfriend, who was torn apart by these events, ended up dying by suicide years later.”
Also "this story is ultimately so uplifting" is a strange way to see this, especially since her boyfriend, who was torn apart by these events, ended up dying by suicide years later:https://t.co/3V5CXfMj3l
— Vinay Patel (@VinayPatel) June 24, 2019
Mahmod had been raped and tortured before she was killed. Her father and uncle were found guilty of her murder.
Her boyfriend Rahmat Sulemani was found hanged aged 38 at his home in Poole 10 years after her death.
