An ITVcrime drama has shot to the number one spot on Netflix- based on a true story so horrifying that it has left viewers in tears.
Honour is a two-part series that is based on the events leading up to the murder of 20-year-old Banaz Mahmod in 2006.
Originally commissioned by the British channel back in 2020, the programme has since made its way onto the streaming service and is being discovered by a whole new audience.
The recreation tellsthe powerful story of DCI Caroline Goode's passionate search to discover the fate of Banaz, an Iraqi-Kurdish woman from south London, after she disappeared.
The real killing shocked the UK as it was carried out on the orders of Banaz's own father Mahmod Mahmod and her uncle Ari Mahmod because she had fallen in love with a man they thought unsuitable and had fled an arranged marriage.
An ITV crime drama has shot to the number one spot on Netflix - based on a true story so horrifying that it has left viewers in tears
Keeley Hawes as Caroline Goode in ITV's Honour. DCI Goode helped to bring justice to Banaz Mahmod's killers
The Iraqi Kurd born brothers, who had made their home in Mitcham, arranged the 'barbaric' and 'callous' murder to restore their families 'honour.'
Honour, which stars Keeley Hawes, Mark Stanley, and Rhianne Barreto, follows the harrowing true story of what happened to Banaz.
Many viewers have been left shocked and distressed by what they have watched since the show dropped onto Netflix and have taken to X, formerly Twitter, to share their thoughts, writing:
'Just watched #Honour on Netflix, absolutely awful and the fact that it's based on a true story makes it worse.'
'There is evil in this world then there is #Honour #netflix Shocking.'
'Just finished watching #honour on and I cannot rate it highly enough. An absolutely harrowing story of a girl who deserved better. So much better. When will we learn to protect our women?'
'Absolutely heartbreaking. That poor girl suffered so much #honour.'
'Honour is genuinely one of the most heartbreaking things I have ever watched #Honour.'
Rising star Buket Komur plays Banaz in the series while Moe Bar-El plays her boyfriend Rahmat Sulemani (pictured with Keeley), who had reported her missing at the time
Many viewers have been left shocked and distressed by what they have watched since the show dropped on Netflix and have taken to X, formerly Twitter, to share their thoughts
'If you want to understand what real poisonous evil is - watch - #honour on #netflix.'
'Just watched #honour on @netflix but was an @ITV series absolutely brilliant well done to all involved In this true story to catch the vile people.
'I cried… so so sad. So so evil. I hope she rests in peace.'
'Just watched #honour , and I've cried several times at this tragic story, which is the horrible reality for so many young women.
'This story needs to be told. Big congrats to @misskeeleyhawesfor such a stunningly moving performance, and to @ITVstudios for doing it justice.'
DCI Goode, portrayed by Keeley Hawes, discovered that Banaz had been to the police five times to report threats to her life from members of her own family.
Appalled that her own colleagues had missed chances to save a young woman's life, she vowed that she would not rest until she finally got justice for Banaz.
'We were all so mindful that we were dealing with real people, so probably more than anything I've ever worked on the responsibility was huge. I felt it every day and I've felt it every day since. I really have,' Keeley told the Mail'sWeekend Magazine at the time.
The recreation tells the story of DCI Caroline Goode's passionate search to discover the fate of Banaz (pictured above), an Iraqi-Kurdish woman from south London, after she disappeared
Honour, which stars Keeley Hawes, Mark Stanley, and Rhianne Barreto, follows the harrowing true story of what happened to Banaz
When the story begins, Banaz is already dead but the police don't yet know that. On 25 January 2006, she was reported missing by her new boyfriend Rahmat
'You want to do the right thing by everyone involved and to give Banaz the utmost respect.'
The show's writer Gwyneth Hughes conducted detailed interviews with as many real-life people as possible, including Banaz's boyfriend Rahmat Sulemani, her sister Bekhal and Caroline and her former team.
When the story begins, Banaz is already dead but the police don't yet know that. On 25 January 2006, she was reported missing by her new boyfriend Rahmat, but the police didn't take it seriously.
Her parents portrayed themselves as easy-going, claiming that Banaz often stayed out overnight. But Rahmat persisted until the police took action.
In reality, the previous day Banaz's parents had left the family home, leaving Banaz asleep in the lounge.
On the orders of her father Mahmod Mahmod and uncle Ari Mahmod, two of her cousins and another man went to the house and raped and tortured her before strangling her and stuffing her body in a suitcase, which they buried in a garden in Birmingham. It was found three months later.
Honour is not only a tribute to Banaz, but also her sister Bekhal, who is still in witness protection after risking her life to testify. Rahmat was in witness protection too, but tragically killed himself in 2016, having never really recovered.
'If just one person feels they can reach out to a charity, or sees that what they are going through is not normal because of this drama, then the whole endeavour will have been worthwhile,' said Keeley.
Honour is streaming on Netflix now
