“The suspect was arrested on Wednesday following a complaint by his other daughter that he killed and buried her sister several months ago in the (northern) city of Ramtha,” the source told AFP.

“The man was charged after he confessed to murdering his daughter to cleanse the family’s honour because she frequently disappeared from home.”

Jordanian authorities recorded a total of 17 so-called “honour”  killings in 2007, slightly up on previous years.

The killers often receive light sentences if convicted, as parliament has refused to reform the penal code to end the near impunity of the perpetrators.