Global Perspective of Honour Killings and the Need to Eradicate Them

Honour killings’ are extreme acts of domestic violence culminating in the murder of mainly women but men are also the victims too. Honour killing is also considered as “Shame Killing” where member of a family kills his/her relatives as they believe that they had brought dishonour to the family by breaking or not following the principles of religion or community. Most of the targeted victims are women who are targeted by male family member for variation of reason such as decline to an arranged marriage or being victim of rape, or do adultery. Such type of behavior brings ‘shame’ to her family. Ways of doing homicide includes stoning, stabbing, whipping, burning, beheading, hanging, throat violently cutting, causing death by acid attacks and strangulations. This sort of crime is mostly done in public so it could become a lesson for others not to repeat the same thing. Such violence often silence women who have been raped or suffered some other horrific attack that, in many places, is blamed on the women. My aim is to make the difference between “honour killing” and “murder”. In most of the cases, honour killings are mostly directed against the women especially in the South Asia, Middle Eastern Islamic cultures and in some parts of the Indian society too. According to my perspective every individual has the right to live according to their own wishes. Most of the parents want to see their children happy but for a number of families; their status, principles and position in the society is much more important than their kids happiness that they don’t mind killing them or sacrificing them just to retain their so called position or ego. I suggest that a new word should be given a thought to the fact that women are being punished because they look for to be free and challenge patriarchal. In troubles words are in fact a fighting instruments, we need to discover the right weapon to fight. There is NO respect in murder and also a force killing is another type of honour killing where family does not kill the victim directly but forces the victim to attempt suicide in order to avoid violence.

While evaluating the implementation of any law, it is vital to also examine its effect, if any, on the community. Laws, especially those that fall into the realm of “human rights laws” are promulgated with the intention of creating a social change. Accordingly, it is also important to gain the perspective of the community as to whether any change has come about at all. It is also essential to ascertain their point of view regarding gaps in the law and its implementation, alongside any difference it may have made within the value and belief system of society and the mode and prevalence of honour killings in society today. It is generally felt in the community that the incidence of honour killings has increased. However, the media states that there may not have been an increase in the incidence, but in the reporting of it. Whereas before no one would talk about honour killings, now they are discussed, not just on a national and international stage but even within smaller communities who had previously considered it a taboo subject.

The presence of murders termed as honour killings exist not just in Pakistan but in various countries around the world. There are so many communities of developed and developing countries where honour killing is considered to be legal by different communities. India, Pakistan, Afghanistan e.t.c. are some of the examples of developing countries where honour killing is frequently practiced by their different communities. In countries like Yemen, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria, the legislation allows for lesser punishment where there is considered to be adequate ‘provocation’ by violating cultural norms. According to the article 232 of the penal code of Yemen states “If a man kills his wife or attacking them causes disability, he may be fined or sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year. Article 548 of the Penal Code of Syria also provides an exemption from penalty if a man kills or injures his wife or female after finding her committing adultery or other illegitimate sexual acts with another. The law also provides for a reduction in penalty for a man who kills or injures his female relative after catching her in a suspicious state with another. Article 562 of Lebanon’s penal code says that if a man catches his wife or female relative engaging with someone outside of wedlock, he can kill or injure her in a moment of passion. This legal protection does not, however, extend to a woman who happens upon her husband or a male relative in a similarly compromising position. Well, on the other hand there are so many cases of honour killing being done in developed countries too like UK. Although UK is a developed region but unfortunately this development couldn’t changes the mind of the people. In UK they were mostly Muslims and who basically belong to the developing countries. According to their views honour killing is considered a legal punishment in Islam which is absolutely wrong. In Islam there is no such concept of honor killing. It’s simply a murder and a criminal act and it so never a justified act. In India thousands of women per year are burned or killed by their husbands and in-laws as their dowry is in sufficient or on the basis of fake allegations. In UK although the ratio is less but still it happens there too. Sometimes parents killed their daughters for having an illegal relationship or wearing inappropriate dresses. And in most cases husband brutally kills their ex-wife’s as revenge. But the main difference between under developed and developed countries is; that government and all other departments of developed countries are much efficient and every time when the murderer is arrested He or She is strictly punished by law.

In Pakistan honour killing is frequently practiced by rural areas as well as urban too. Mostly it happens in rural areas because of less education. Probably 1000 of women’s are targeted by their families. Many of these cases go unreported. Here it is commonly known as “Karo Kari”. The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2004, otherwise known as the “Honour killing Act” was promulgated after the murders of thousand innocent women and girls and years of demands from different segments of society for a legislation to provide protection to citizens, especially girls and women’s; and to punish the abettors of these crimes. The amendment clearly defines (Karo Kari) “Honour Killing” as a murder with penal punishments. It is held up by the government to eliminate honour killing and violence against women. Now if we take an example we have, In 2016 Qandeel Baloch. An actress and a social media celebrity was killed by her brother and the matter of fact is her brother is not even ashamed of his act. He felt proud and tried to represent himself as a role model for everyone. Saima Sarwar, another victim was shot dead in a lawyer’s office because she got a divorce from here severely abusive husband from court. So, his husband couldn’t tolerate this and killed her in front of many people. And if someone wants to avenge it through proper channel they will find many obstacles in their way as some of the examples are serious lack of consolidated data available. The researcher faced much difficulty in collecting data from different police stations. And in many police stations, the First Information Reports (FIRs) were not categorized; in a number of others they were all written by hands in different files. Nor is there a standard used. Researchers had to search through the papers to find the information required and then try to use for the purpose of their study. There is no concept of typing or printing complaints, FIR or reports. Due to lack of resources, many of the police stations are not equipped with computers, rather than the ones which are familiar with the usage. It’s not that every police station is facing the same problem, but this issue is widespread. Apart from this, there is a huge big problem with the storage of the data. All the papers are placed in files and put in cupboards, making it difficult for the people to find it in the needy times. This issue of storage is common across other sectors, including the courts. Many of the papers are been tampered and many of the files are lost due to nature disasters. In this way murderers can get their freedom without any cost.

We should keep that one thing in our mind that honour killing is a tradition and is not a religion. In India and Pakistan thousands of women die each year because of our undesired traditions, and it all starts at a very young age. The most targeted age is fifteen to twenty five. There are more then hundred of reasons why honour killing is occurring globally, numerous factors are combined which threaten the life of the victims. Normally in male dominated community. Females are dependent on their fathers or brothers and later after marriage on their husbands whom they have to obey no matter what. Women are mostly viewed as property but not as individuals who can be independent. If they do not follow or act their traditions or either their command, they receive severe punishment for their disobedient act. Most of the male think that they have a right to decide female’s fate. The conception of the Muslim society of family honour is especially important to them. If a family member act inappropriate and bring shame such as homosexuality. The family comes out with low reputation in the town: relatives and people who knew the starts to avoid them, then the only way left is to end this shame is through killing. Honour killing is obvious through out former times in civilization and in religion. If there is no stopping to honour killing it’s going to increase gradually and will go out of control. It has detrimental effect on communities and creates tension in people especially in youth. Threats from families can lead to suicides because of becoming a victim. These incidents are preassumed to increase economic crisis or conflict situation.

Government should introduce and implement new laws as soon as possible. Strict punishments should be offered for killers. The rate is going to be increasing day by day because of delays in punishment decisions by our court. Islam plays a very important role in many countries as it is encouraged by Ulema’s however Islamic laws regarding sexual morality teach us that god protects women’s honour. It states clearly Islam is a religion that protects women from violence and stops those who hurt them. We must make attempts in our hearts, minds and strengths to persevere in this fight, the nightmare of violent acts and crime of murder will only finish when the opinion of honour is greatly changed and upheld by respecting lives not taking them.

In mostly Asia marriages are often viewed as between two families rather then two individuals and also considerations other then love. Wealth or political favours these types of reasons is why many parents push their son or daughter into marriages. If those two adult individuals have decided to marry nobody has rights to interfere. Wherever honour killing is prevailing in world we can all join hands and devise a collective strategy to fight against this menace. It is important women know thei rights ad have knowledge abot religious and national law to protect themselves. Therefore awareness about human rights would ultimately define the future.