[1] Described as "sociable and popular", Pela initially thrived at school and achieved good grades, and both she and her sister embraced their new lives.

Their father, Agid Atroshi, fearing that they might do something to undermine the family reputation, introduced stringent rules in an effort to stop them from "living the European way".

The girls were not permitted to go to cafés or shops, as their peers did, and their father timed them to make sure they came straight home from school.

[5][3] In June 1999, shortly after Pela returned home, the family traveled to Duhok in Kurdistan together with her paternal uncles, Shivan, Rezkar and Dakhaz Atroshi.

[3] After receiving a suspended sentence for murdering Pela, Rezkar Atroshi returned to Sweden, along with his brother Dakhaz.

[3] The then Minister for Foreign Affairs, Anna Lindh, took an interest in the case and silent diplomacy enabled the authorities to bring sister Breen Atroshi back from Kurdistan.

[9] The sentences of uncles Rezkar and Dakhaz were commuted to limited durations of 24 and 25 years in prison and they were released after having served two thirds of the time in 2016.

[5] In 2000, an Interpol investigation looked into the whereabouts of Pela's grandfather who, as the patriarch, was alleged to have instigated the murder;[3][6][8] it was believed that he was in hiding somewhere in Kurdistan.

[5] In Sweden, Pela's death led to the introduction of specialist shelters for girls at risk of honour-based violence, as well as telephone hotlines and awareness programs delivered via schools, health services and the immigration sector.