| Revision as of 19:20, 22 April 2004 editMustafaa (talk | contribs)14,180 edits Btw, the quote is not only ambiguous, but makes no sense without more context; what exactly are the conditions listed conditions of? Do they lead to dropped charges, or just more lenient punishment?← Previous edit | Revision as of 19:23, 22 April 2004 edit undoMustafaa (talk | contribs)14,180 editsNo edit summaryNext edit → | ||
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| Legal codes in ], ] and ] can be interpreted to sanction honor killings. Jordanian Law Article 341 states: ''The act of killing another or harming another was committed as an act in defense of his life, or his honor, or somebody else's life or honor.'' | Legal codes in ], ] and ] can be interpreted to sanction honor killings. Jordanian Law Article 341 states: ''The act of killing another or harming another was committed as an act in defense of his life, or his honor, or somebody else's life or honor.'' | ||
| The ] Population Fund estimates as many as 5000 females are killed each year. | The ] Population Fund estimates as many as 5000 females are killed each year around the world. | ||
| ] has allowed women to be ]s, including a mother of six and a mother of two children under the age of 10, in place of being the victims of an ]. | ] has allowed women to be ]s, including a mother of six and a mother of two children under the age of 10, in place of being the victims of an ]. | ||
Revision as of 19:23, 22 April 2004
Honor killing is the practice of males killing their female relatives or spouses when the female relative or spouse is considered to have damaged the family honor through unwarranted sexual activity. The males involved in the sexual activity, which might have been a rape, are not adversely affected, in general. The murder is considered to be private matter within the affected family, rarely do non-family members or the courts become involved.
Honor killings are not a crime of passion, rather they are premeditated murders. Similar practices have been known since ancient Roman times, when the paterfamilias retained the right to kill an unmarried but sexually-active daughter or an adulterous wife. As of 2004, honor killing has been observed in numerous countries, including: Bangladesh, Brazil, Ecuador, Egypt, India, Italy, Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan, Palestine, Sweden, Turkey, Uganda and the United Kingdom. At the present, the practice is not reported in Europe outside of Muslim and Sikh communities.
Islamic law prescribes severe punishments for zina' (extramarital sex) by both men and women; premarital sex may be punished by up to 100 lashes, while adultery is punishable by stoning. The act must however be attested by at least four witnesses of good character, punishments are reserved to the legal authorities, and false accusations are themselves punished severely. The term "honor killing" refers specifically to extra-legal punishment by the family against the woman, and as such is forbidden by the sharia.
Interpretations of these rules vary; some Arabs regard it as their right under both tradition and sharia, though this contradicts the views of the vast majority of Islamic scholars (fuqaha.) Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of Iran has condemned the practice as "un-Islamic", though the punishment under Iranian law remains lenient. In Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim country, honor killings are unknown. See also: al-urf
Sharif Kanaana, professor of anthropology at Birzeit University states that honor killing is
a complicated issue that cuts deep into the history of Arab society...What the men of the family, clan, or tribe seek control of in a patrilineal society is reproductive power. Women for the tribe were considered a factory for making men. The honor killing is not a means to control sexual power or behavior. What's behind it is the issue of fertility, or reproductive power.
Legal codes in Jordan, Morocco and Syria can be interpreted to sanction honor killings. Jordanian Law Article 341 states: The act of killing another or harming another was committed as an act in defense of his life, or his honor, or somebody else's life or honor.
The United Nations Population Fund estimates as many as 5000 females are killed each year around the world.
Hamas has allowed women to be female suicide bombers, including a mother of six and a mother of two children under the age of 10, in place of being the victims of an honor killing.
See Also: Islam#The role of women in Islam, dowry murder, Domestic violence, machismo
References
- "Jordan Parliament Supports Impunity for Honor Killing," Washington, DC: Human Rights Watch Press Release, January 2000
External Links
- The rationale of honour killings: Commodification of women and the honour code Amnesty International USA
- Killing for ‘Honor’:Legalized Murder
- Case Study: "Honour" Killings and Blood Feuds
- United Nation High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Honor Killings in Palestine
- Violence Against Women Campaign United Nations Developement Fund for Women
- Muslim women and crimes of honor