The boyfriend of an
18-year-old Italian-Pakistani girl who is believed to have been
killed and 'disappeared' by her family near Emilia Romagna for
refusing an arranged marriage in Pakistan at the end of April
said Friday he hoped she was still alive.
"I still have hope that Saman is alive," said the young
Pakistani-Italian man, 21.
"I'm a bit agitated, but I'm ready to tell everything I know,"
he said heading into a hearing on the case.
According to her brother Saman Abbas was strangled by her uncle
after refusing to marry an older cousin in Pakistan as her
family had arranged for her.
Police earlier this week gave up a search for her body near her
home at Novellara but are still looking for her.
Her family, apart from the younger brother, have fled abroad.
But they are still sending threatening messages to the
boyfriend, he told reporters after the hearing.
The young man said he was convinced Saman was being "held
hostage somewhere, and we have to keep looking for her".
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