Noor Muqaddam Case : Injustice After Injustice: When a Judge Turns Victim-Blaming – by Irum Mumtaz

But justice is not only about legal punishment , it is also about respect, empathy, fairness and dignity for the victim. That is why the additional note issued by Justice Najafi , in which he links Noor’s murder to what he calls the “vice” of living or “live-in relationships” , is not only insensitive, but dangerously unjust.

By framing the tragedy as a moral consequence of a social “evil,” the judge is effectively blaming Noor for her own death. He reduces her to a symbol , an example of what he sees as moral decay , rather than a human being whose life was taken in the most brutal manner.

This is victim-blaming, plain and simple. It deepens the wounds of the bereaved family, and hurts every woman in our society whose right to safety, dignity and justice we are still fighting for.

It shifts the responsibility from the criminal to the victim. Justice Najafi’s note frames the crime as the outcome of a “living relationship,” rather than the result of a cold-blooded act of violence. This tacitly implies that Noor was partly to blame , a notion that is poisonous for survivors of sexual violence and abuse.

It reinforces social stigma and fear. Instead of focusing on accountability and the brutality of the murderer, the narrative becomes about “immoral relationships.” That discourages victims from seeking help, speaking out, or trusting the system.

It undermines the principle of justice. A judge’s role is to evaluate facts, evidence, and guilt , not to lecture on morality or society’s private lives. By conflating morality with crime, the judgment becomes a tool of social policing, not legal justice.

I refuse to believe that justice alone is the hanging of a criminal. True justice demands dignity, empathy, and a clear condemnation of violence , without blaming the victim. Noor’s murder was not the result of social “vice”; it was the result of a monster’s hatred and entitlement.

To all fellow citizens , especially women , I say: we must demand better. We must demand judges and institutions that treat survivors and victims with respect, fairness, not prejudice. We must demand reforms to ensure that no murder, rape or act of violence is ever justified in the name of morality or social patterns.

And for the judiciary , remember: you are the guardians of justice, not the moral police. Your verdicts must protect the vulnerable , not condemn them twice.

Let Noor’s death ,horrific and heartbreaking as it was , become a turning point. Let it strengthen our voices, our solidarity, and our resolve to fight for a society where women can live free from fear, prejudice, or blame.