Honour Killings - the whats, hows and whys...

Most "honour" killings of women happens in Muslim countries, but as far as I know, its not because of Islam but par tradition.
So where does this happen?
A quick search brought up countries like Afghanistan (condoned under Taliban), Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Morocco, Bangladesh, Turkey, Brazil, Ecuador, Egypt, India, Britain, Israel, Italy, Jordan Sweden, Denmark and Uganda.
In more of these countries, the only way the authorities can protect women in danger to be "honour-killed", is sending them to jail.
So while the victims are in jail, the men walks free. Only very few men actually are sentenced for this crime, or similar crimes against women.

9 people are on trial for participating in this killing here in Denmark - 8 for taking part/helping and the girls father for planning it.
No Dane can begin to understand why or how such crimes can be comitted by close family and friends - way beyond comprehension.
"Insane people" is the common remark.
The trail will end June 30'th.

This thread is not about this specific killing, but an attempt to shed some light about honour killings and similar crimes...
Where was this tradition originated? - why is this tradition so widely spread? - why are so few punished for this crime?
In short terms....  all the the whats, whys and hows ????

Edited by Northman - 14-Jun-2006 at 14:22

 for turkish kurdistan, until last 1-2 year, Honour killing is punished less than killing another human(bonus reason for honour killing). Now Turkey punished honour killing, so It is decreased.(or we think so, because now suicide rate at turkish kurdistan increased)

Edited by Mortaza - 14-Jun-2006 at 15:03

Thank you Cent, Mortaza and Barish for your input. Much appreciated.

This topic had 60 views within 20 minutes yesterday - and more than 150 in one day. Evidently of high interest - still - only 3 comments?

Why cant we talk about this? - is it tabu?

In every case - it wont go away just because we dont discuss it! 

Okay, I can't really comment on why or how honor killings happen in other cultures, especially not those in Latin America, but I can share a little about how the practice took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

We do not have a historical, tribal association with the phenomenon but so-called 'honor killings' did exist in a certain regard in many parts of urban (not rural) Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Ottoman Empire.

These incidents were extremely rare in total, and among these incidents the number of women who were murdered is very minor again - most 'honor killings' in Ottoman Bosnia tended to be suicides.

These incidents were most common in Travnik and I remember reading a very convincing theory as to why. Travnik, as the capital, was a city with more aristocrats than peasants. Every family thought it very important to marry up their daughters, to give daughters to families slightly more honorable or noble than they were. This is where the women were placed in their deadly circumstances.

If the bride's family could not afford the requested dowry it was socially acceptable for the bride to kill herself rather than force her family to turn down the marraige already set in motion. If a bride was for many years without suitors it was also socially acceptable for her to take her life, but this was much more common and seems to recognized as just a general reason for suicide in those days, not anything to do with 'honor'.

I knew much more before but that's all I can remember.

I'd probably wear a hijab if men stopped asking me to. ;) And you seem like a nice man also but I'm already married.

Those who are not from Islamic or Indian backgrounds where honor killings - however RARE - take place are in no position to pass judgment or discuss this issue.

Originally posted by Northman Those who are not from Islamic or Indian backgrounds where honor killings - however RARE - take place are in no position to pass judgment or discuss this issue.   First - Honour Killings are not accepted by any religion - so why are you referring to Islam? I specifically mentioned this in the first post.   Second - Who are YOU to think you can judge who can talk about any issue any where? Murder is never a private issue, and when its comitted in broad daylight, in a public place in a free democracy, I would think we are beyond what can be silenced to death - or hidden in the drawer. I didnt make the post to pass judgement - but to be enlightened. Your post didnt help in that respect - but can only serve to breed more prejudgement and intolerance.

Originally posted by Mila Well, I said the same thing he did, Northman. It's not that it's something I think should not be talked about, I just think it's like... Say in your family, everyone knows your father is having an affair, but no one says anything because it's not the right time, because they're afraid, because they're hoping no one else knows and don't want attention... and your neighbor comes over at dinner to discuss all about it with you. You just feel like... they are being rude, they are being... too brave, too much, you know? That's how I feel when people talk about these things sometimes. But I know logically you can't stop people to talk about it and wait for us because it could be 100, 1000 years before someone says something. Maybe never they would on their own say something. But it's still just an uncomfortable situation, that's all.

Originally posted by Maziar Is that why you are here in AE?  to find a women for a virtual marriage? Cheshato darvish kon, and attend Mila like your sister.

 

Why are you always on my case? Obviously, my comment to Mila was a joke. She got it. I got it. Everyone got it -except you.

 

And of course I will treat her as a Muslim sister. I have a great deal of respect for her as I share many of her views.

 

 

Originally posted by Northman First - Honour Killings are not accepted by any religion - so why are you referring to Islam? I specifically mentioned this in the first post.

 

I did not refer to Islam, I used Islamic and Indian cultures as an example of modern peoples amongst whom the Western media inappropriately attributes honor killings to.

 

Originally posted by Northman Second - Who are YOU to think you can judge who can talk about any issue any where? Murder is never a private issue, and when its comitted in broad daylight, in a public place in a free democracy, I would think we are beyond what can be silenced to death - or hidden in the drawer.

I am not speaking of murder. I was referring to the concept of honor killings themselves. The very notion that you or another outsider would classify as premeditated murder is a good indication that you are unfamiliar with the concepts of honor.

Originally posted by Northman I didnt make the post to pass judgement - but to be enlightened. Your post didnt help in that respect - but can only serve to breed more prejudgement and intolerance.

 

And pray tell, how did I manage to accomplish so much with such a tiny post?

 

All I said was that I agreed with Mila, in that the West and other societies are quick to pass judgment against other cultures and their histories that they themselves [the West] are unfamiliar with.

 

It is not my fault that the Christian West has no concept of honor. We respect our women. We regard them as sisters, mothers, wives, aunts, etc. Every elderly woman is referred to as mother, every female child is referred to as daughter, and every young woman is referred to as sister. This is our honor. The West would like to replace it with pornography, prostitution, and a culture where premarital sex is an accepted norm. Now, you tell me, which is more honorable?

 

Btw: I hope that didn't come off as too harsh. I get a bit offended when non-Muslims bring up the topic of honor.

Edited by Master_Blaster - 15-Jun-2006 at 21:46

Originally posted by Master Blaster Why are you always on my case? Obviously, my comment to Mila was a joke. She got it. I got it. Everyone got it -except you. And of course I will treat her as a Muslim sister. I have a great deal of respect for as I share many of her views.