No Honour in "Honour Killings"
‘Honour Killing’ is the killing of a family member by other family members due the belief of perpetrators that the victim has brought dishonor upon the family. In most cases this ‘honour killings’ are mostly directed against women but in some case males also get killed. The method of ‘honour killing’ is adopted when a girl goes against the wishes of the family in marrying someone not approved by the family, or clan, or tribe or the caste. Inter-faith marriages also lead such killings. Such killings take place also when parents realize an illegitimate affair has taken place with any girl or woman in the family or in the tribe. In some cases, both the male and the female get killed. Generally, the driving force is the protection of reputation or honour of a particular family. It is all related to the idea that women are property and you can do whatever you want with property.
The notion of honour and shame and its justification for violence and killing is not unique to any one culture. The origin of ‘honour killings’ dates back to ancient Rome. It was encouraged in China and Egypt. In ancient Rome ‘honour killing’ was considered to be a “merciful” act. Catherine Howard, the fifth wife of King Henry VIII, was beheaded on allegations of adultery. ‘Honour Killings’ have been a practice in eastern societies for centuries.
Analyzed closely, one comes to see basically four reasons that lead to ‘honour killings’ – marrying a person outside the caste or religion; disobeying the dress code given by the community to females; refusing arranged marriages; and engaging in illegitimate relationship.
There are some factors that help in increasing cases of ‘honour killings.’ Among them is political support to the killers. Then come gender discrimination, and lastly the absence of strict laws to punish the killers. There are also legal loopholes that allow these murders to escape punishment. People who kill in the name of ‘honour’ almost never get punished and even if they do, they are either forgiven, released against blood money, or freed after spending just a few months in jail. Most of ‘honour killing’ cases remain invisible as they are either covered up, reported as suicides or as disappearances.
In moving forward to stop this brutal form of crime, certain steps could be taken. The international community must pressure nations to uphold Convention of Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). There must be a commitment from governments to repeal gender-biased laws. ‘Honour killings’ should be considered as first degree murder. And finally, efforts should be made to educate men and women bringing about awareness about women’s rights.
The good news is that laws that allow families to get away are now gradually changing. Syria abolished a law in 2009 that waived punishment for men who kill female members of the family in the name of ‘honour killings.’ In 2011, Lebanon repealed a criminal code provision that permitted short sentences for family members involved in ‘honour killings.’ The Pakistani government, facing mounting pressure in the wake of a recent ‘honour killing’ of a female model, has announced it plans on passing long-delayed legislation against 'honour killings.'
In the end, the label for these acts could be part of the problem. They shouldn’t be termed as ‘honour killings’ at all.
They are nothing but cold-blooded murders.
Yes, That will be a step in the right direction ...............
Thank you for the topic and I hope it goes to the mind of Public and all of us that the killing of another is not worthy for the given reasons.
I can recall two incidents related to known families of mine,
In 1980’s there was a person who was studying computer engineering, related to our family got married to another cast women. The boy’s family had only one child and they are comparatively Rich.
Due to the education level of their parent’s particularly from the boys side, Both got married & the couple visited us recently and living very well with children.
Another case happened very recently related to my family as well. They are very close indeed. The Boy married to another caste women and the women’s family was comparatively rich.
Both the families were well educated & got married. They are living well since last three years or so.
My point is, there are lots of families in this nature around the globe. I have many of General Managers in the Hotel industry who lives happily with different religious and caste people by legally married with children. (I have three of the well-known General Manager’s to me in Doha, living very happily with Kids)
When a two soul has no problem living together under legal term’s what has the other people to do in this? However I am not taking away the love a parent which has to a child. If the parents can agree to a term which originally He doesn’t agree, will make the parents love to the extreme towards the child. This can work vice versa as well. (Child towards Parent).
End of the day the love should end with more happiness. The love cannot end with a murder, if it ends with murder, that means there is something wrong created in the minds which really need time to heal.
I may suggest the forum to find ways, how this message properly reach to the public in an effective way. One of the option I believe by well-known sports personalities making awareness programs in the villages.
Or short documentary films, etc.,
Silly Indians and Pakistanis. They just need an opportunity to bash each other.
Happy Shah: Thank you for adding India to the list this time. As for "proofreading" you got it all wrong once again. My post did not require any "proofreading." It just needed a small bit of understanding with a cool mind, that's all. You will note that I did not mention India at all in my initial post while I did mention Pakistan. I was fully aware while writing my original post that honour killings take place in India also. But you were took quick to attack Pakistan overlooking the fact the post did mention this country's name.
When hot blood surges into the brain, it pushes out sanity and causes loss of proper thinking.
Cool down, cool down, man.
Wuna, You fool people has filled the area , Your list has TOP IDIOTS like Wuna -BRIT, Accha, Mufti ........ .
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Harry is new baby ...............
** Moderator Note ** This is your final warning - If you persist in abusing other users , your ID will be blocked **
Equi, Wuna is the 2/7 ID of Brit .............
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Cunning Brit { RAPE SPECIALIST TOPICS fame } has a whole net work , he operates like a gang leader ...........
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Happy, Please note it down ..........
Happy, The other IDIOT to watch here is MUFTI ...... .
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Why the word IDIOT ..... ?
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Because these two wasteful guys Mufti & Accha are yesmen of Brit ......... they are the ever ready tail carriers .............
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Mufti unlike Accha has his own brain { as is where is } but he { Mufti } hesitates to use his own brain .... instead immediately AGREES with Brit .......... Lol .........
Equi, As Mufti is some what cured from the hate-virus spread by Brit ........ He seems okay as compared to the last week ..... .
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Thanks for pulling him up ........... Some improvement .. I congratulate you ...........
Happy, Accha never learnt a thing in his entire life ...........
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Now you may attempt it.
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My observation is that his mind is blocked by Brit .....Untill Brit is here Accha has to follow Brit BLINDLY .
May Qandeel Bloach's soul rest in peace.
EquinOx: If you have not been able to understand Molten Metal and muad-db with all the rubbish they post on a daily basis, then I must say you disappoint me much.
Equinox: Do you have selective hearing ? What about the 'bad words' from the others ?
Wunae,
Instead of writing bad words, please put up your intelligent reasoning for the benefit of readers.
Anyone with such views and the need to be noticed is not playing with a full deck
Wow. MM - you have no sense of ethics.
MM - do you write such nonsense on this site to attract hits? Is it your goal to try to prove to intelligent prole why the gulf is full of idiots?
Nothing you say is worth reading.
Nothing at all.
Nothing.
Wow. MM - you have no sense of ethics.
MM - do you write such nonsense on this site to attract hits? Is it your goal to try to prove to intelligent prole why the gulf is full of idiots?
Nothing you say is worth reading.
Nothing at all.
Nothing.
Wow. MM - you have no sense of ethics.
MM - do you write such nonsense on this site to attract hits? Is it your goal to try to prove to intelligent prole why the gulf is full of idiots?
Nothing you say is worth reading.
Nothing at all.
Nothing.
Wow. MM - you have no sense of ethics.
MM - do you write such nonsense on this site to attract hits? Is it your goal to try to prove to intelligent prole why the gulf is full of idiots?
Nothing you say is worth reading.
Nothing at all.
Nothing.
Wow. MM - you have no sense of ethics.
MM - do you write such nonsense on this site to attract hits? Is it your goal to try to prove to intelligent prole why the gulf is full of idiots?
Nothing you say is worth reading.
Nothing at all.
Nothing.
Wow. MM - you have no sense of ethics.
MM - do you write such nonsense on this site to attract hits? Is it your goal to try to prove to intelligent prole why the gulf is full of idiots?
Nothing you say is worth reading.
Nothing at all.
Nothing.
Wow. MM - you have no sense of ethics.
MM - do you write such nonsense on this site to attract hits? Is it your goal to try to prove to intelligent prole why the gulf is full of idiots?
Nothing you say is worth reading.
Nothing at all.
Nothing.
Wow. MM - you have no sense of ethics.
MM - do you write such nonsense on this site to attract hits? Is it your goal to try to prove to intelligent prole why the gulf is full of idiots?
Nothing you say is worth reading.
Nothing at all.
Nothing.
Statistics show that most of the Honour Killings happen in India or Pakistan ..
I would agree with acchabaccha that things cannot change overnight..
However, I also believe that legislation alone cannot change things.. The government and religious leaders need to work together. The juduciary especially needs to make examples and inflict harsh sentences to such muderers to send a clear message.
Happy Shah: You passed a comment without knowing the facts. First of all, "most" honour killings do not take place in Pakistan and in my post I have not hidden anything on Pakistan. In fact if you read my post once again slowly and patiently after you have finished drinking a cold glass of lemonade, you will note I have stated that the Pakistan government is bringing in legislation to curtail this crime. I am using the word "curtail" deliberately as the crime cannot be totally wiped out overnight in any country of the world.
There are couple of reasons why the issue has recently come into the limelight in Pakistan over the past several years. With more and more females getting the benefits of education and joining the mainframe of the society, there are several movements taking place in Pakistan led by educated females to break out of this culture. They are using the powerful media to bring awareness throughout the country and thus you get to hear of such cases of "honour killings" taking place in Pakistan making you draw conclusions and use the word "most."
Culture and traditions build over a period of time some of them being centuries old especially ones such as "honour killings." One cannot get rid of them overnight.
MM: You are talking about boy eloping with a girl.. This is common and the fault lies with both. You cannot just blame the boy..
Having said that - you are not seriously justifying taking a life for such actions - are you ?
@Molten Metal - You have some serious issues my friend .. You go off topic and harp on about the same old thing which has nothing to do with the issue being discussed ... I am amazed at your logic
After her death his eyes open to the real world so he never thinks on killing the girls brother & father ..........
Brit, If the boy really loved the neighbour's girl , when she gets killed why there is no news that the boy took revenge from the girl's family ............. and her brother & father ? ............
You may say he is almost a saint after getting an innocent girl killed in the recent past ......... Lol ........
Because the boy's brain works so he chose the best person from the house ........ ha ha ha ..........
Brit, If it was love ..... Why the boy's mom did not run away ? ........
Why do you assume that the boy's mom does not love a neighbour secretly ? ...........
It's lust ........ not love .........
Why the boy does not show the similar love to the girl's bro, to the girl's other sister , to the girl's grand mom, to the girl's mom ??? ..........
I am assuming that you are a lady - As I said , honour killings occur for both men and women.. There is no way that they can be justified..
By teh way, honour killings happen , not just for a couple running away, but also in dowry disputes and other family issues
So what you're saying is that the girl did wrong by falling in love and should be murdered for the honour of the family..
Don't you see that this is wrong ? Her disobeying her parents is not a crime..
By the way, honour killings occur for girls and boys..
You men always protect men ........... support men ...... but give bad name / punish to the girl / woman ............
You get educated first .......... for not abducting an innocent girl ..........
Brit, Harry, How the cunning fellow escapes the punishment ? That selfish soul never cares to provide protection to the poor girl who left her dear parents & elder brothers who trusted her innocence ... ........
Brit & Harry, Both of you don't know actually what do want to see to happen with the girl who runs off from her parents home who brought her to this world & raised her up .... .......... She has betrayed her parents .....
All of us are disgusted by honor killings.. They have no room in a civilised society . The main problem is lack of education and the inability of people to see that what they're doing is wrong and barbaric
I don't know what you're on about and I don't want to get into any argument with you.. Let us discuss the topic and understand together
Brit, You wish to see more teens suffer .......... that's cruel on your part .............
One side a boy pulls her out wards on the other side her brother pulls her in wards .............
The real cunning person who gets all the benefits remains anonymous .......... !
So Brit you support that BOY ..... not the BROTHER ?
It's the GIRL who suffers ...... at both places ...... at the cunning BOYS home & at her BROTHER's home .........
Which teens ? The topic is about honour killings
Brit, What actually would you like to see happen with the teens ......... ?
The key issue is to accept that these happen and find ways of making sure that we all work together to educate those around us to radically reduce these numbers.
Government and religious leaders also need to stand up and develop a backbone..
Honour killings occur all over the world.. There are some esitmates that India and Pakistan have the highest number of around 1000+ a year.
Europe has also seen some cases - with a couple in UK last year
I was wondering how did you pin point the real CULPRIT of QL .... the Accha .........
Amazing ............... !!
Muad, You are selfish, if you die thinking about your own kids future ............. it will be tough for you to move forward because you thoughts will remain here in Wakrah .......... as a ghost ................
Muad, A mother snake will prefer to eat some of her babies .................... thinking they won't be doing any good to the society ...................
Mufti will let it go , all he got is negativity as always ...............
An animal even a monkey will never drink whiscky or beer ................ !
Most kids suffer due to their parents carelessness attitude inside the home , outside they show them selves as if fully civilised ............
Sit 1 hr at Discovery channel you will know the difference between a human & an animal ..................
Molten my pal.. There is nothing to agree or disagree .. We must all work together to make this world a better place for our children .. A mother duck does not forsake her ducklings when teaching them to swim
Muad, Please elaborate ................. What's in your mind ?
Bad sounds come from mobiles , it is for those who sleep with their mobiles under their armpits ..............
Good article on the subject
http://www.simplydecoded.com/2013/05/17/in-my-honor/
Accha, Mufti, Muad & Mods agree with Brit ...................
Muad, Declare first ...... whether you agree with Brit or not ? .....................
I TOO AGREE WITH BRIT .............
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We must all make sure to follow the proper path with our eyes open and ears listening for bad sounds
Equi, You have rightly pointed it out ....... All humans understand it ......................
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But if somebody still starts walking straight with her eyes closed she will definitely fall in the ocean .........
I agree with Brit, Culture plays a major part in this. Under the garb of protecting 'honour', usually female members are at the receiving end. Strict laws may deter people to some extend but it the mentality which has to change. Until and unless the notion of 'shame' is changed, nothing much will happen. Killings will continue to happen.
MM, yes you are right, the misuse of freedom is common in Europe, but the history reveals that the "Individual's Freedom" has been the core cultural value of the West, and it has superseded even the religious values.
Europeans cherish the independence of individuals, who are totally free to do, what ever they want to do, with the their lives, which in the East and other parts, is the reverse of it.
That is why, honor murders are rare in Europe and the countries where "Individual Freedom" is at the center stage.
Father
Brother
Mother
These are three elements that want their daughter to be killed, if she elopes with his boy friend, because of social stigma of family defame attached thereto.
Let the Eastern countries cherish and follow the family honor under their unwritten culture on it, but that must not be at the cost of girl's life.
What utter rubbish from Molten Metal. Have you Been to Europe or lived close to the families ?
We are just as family oriented as anywhere else and we don't all go to bars whilst ignoring our children
In Europe , there are no emotions in all the relationships ............... it's all GIVE & TAKE ....... DEALINGS ..............
In European culture , all parents are bar goers so are the teens, only lucky ones are able to sit with their parents on their wedding anniversaries ........
Why a father would question a teen ? He never have a say on his own wife's activities ........... so kids if any are left at the mercy of blue sky ................ !
Equinox: Family unit is treasured just as much in Europe as in other parts of the world.
Honour killings are not just women - Men are also murdered
Other than Europe, the family is considered a "Common block of close net individuals, which is headed and dominated by male or males.
Some of things that this block does not accept is the female crossing their unwritten cultural boundary.
This boundary needs to be redefined from the childhood age.
Moreover the value of life of the individuals in the block should be treated and mentored as "Sacred" from the schooling age.
True.. But culture plays a mojor part in this ..
It is seen as "the right thing to do" to protect the family honour.
The sad thing is that there are many cases of mothers killing their own daughters for the sake of family honour - How can this be
The title speaks so clearly about the menace of Honour Killings.
Yes, the laws are gradually and slowly changing to counter this problem, yet much more may be required to counter it, like adding up a chapter on 'Honour Murders" at the school level.
Until and unless the minds of today's teens and tomorrow's men are embedded with the "respect to life" in such cases, the issue shall emerge and reemerge, though, at reduced level.