Studies conducted into the role of gender have confirmed that a person's sex and gender would influence any aspect of their lives. Research that has been undertaken has been focused mostly on the type of occupation that would be available according to a person's gender, the income that person would receive, and overall how gender might determine the type of life a person might lead. The major problem faced by women nowadays in the Muslim societies is not whether they will receive the appropriate education needed, or the type of occupation desired, the problem they face is Honor Killings, for Life, itself is at stake here. This problem has become more prevalent, and it does not receive the required attention, that it deserves. Although, the equality battle for women has become somewhat successful in the West, the scale has not shifted in the East.
Honor Killings is the practice of a family member killing a female relative, when the female relative has been considered to have brought dishonor to the family, through unsanctioned sexual-activity, including cases, when a woman is raped (Honor Killing, 2005). A woman can be targeted by her family for a variety of reasons, including, the refusal to enter to an arranged marriage, being the victim of a sexual assault, seeking a divorce-even from an abusive husband, or committing adultery. Honor crimes are not specific to any religion, nor are they limited to any one region of the world. Human Rights Watch has worked on this issue in the Americas , Asia , the Middle East , & North Africa . Supreme Court of Brazil struck down "defense of honor" as a justification for murder of a wife in 1991, and yet years later, courts have failed to prosecute men who claim they kill their wives because of their alleged infidelity (Violence against women and Honor Crimes, 2005).
In Jordan , when has sought protection from the government, she is placed in prison, according to the governments policy, even though the woman has not committed a crime, she is prohibited from leaving the prison. In such cases, a woman can only be released into the custody of a family member (the very member, trying to kill her). When a woman is killed in such instances, she is buried in an unmarked grave (VAWAHC, 2005).
Honor Killings can be dated back to the Roman Times, where by individuals retained the right to kill an unmarried, but sexually active daughter or an adulterous wife. Islamic law prescribes severe punishment for (Zina) extramarital sex, by both men and women premarital sex can lead to a punishment of a hundred lashes, while adultery is punishable by stoning. The act however must be witnessed by a minimum of four male witnesses of (good character). Punishment manner is reserved to the legal authorities, the term "Honor Killing" refers to punishment by the family against the woman, and Sharia (Muslim) Law forbids that act (Honor Killing, 2005).
Honor Killing and the Islamic Culture have been so mixed up, in which the two cannot be separated. The tribe and community participate in the killing by either endorsing it, and in some cases, when the family fails to proceed with the act, the tribe will cast it out. During the Pre-Islamic Period, Arab society was patrilineal Bedouin, the father or male member were held as the highest authority figure, and women were perceived to be the property of their family or tribe (Honor Killing, 2005). The Bedouins at that time practiced female infanticide, before Islam took over. The Islamic religion prohibited infanticide, and yet the Pre-Islamic Code of Conduct survived "creating a value system, parallel to Islam, practically and mutually nurturing, and supporting one another. Many Islamic Fundamentalists as well as Arabs and Tribal Sheiks are united on this issue, "perceiving leniency towards honor killings to be a symptom of
Westoxification". Nowadays, Honor Killings are conducted in a calculated manner. The male members and elders of a family gather to vote on the death of a woman, also deciding who will carry out the killing, usually an under-age minor is chosen, and towards whom the courts will be more lenient (The Lethal Combination of Tribalism, Islam & Cultural Relativism, 2005).
Articles in the Penal Code of Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Pakistan, and Qatar state "A man who surprises his wife, daughter, or sister practicing adultery or illicit intercourse and kills one of the two partner's without premeditation, benefits from the legitimate excuse, that relieves him from the burden. The average sentence received by the majority of the perpetrators averages from three months to a year (TLCOICR, 2005). Although majority of the Islamic leaders and Imams whom promote and support Honor killings, it is theoretically prohibited by Islam. According to a Jordanian Islamic Law Maker "women adulterers" cause a great threat to our society because they are the main reason that such acts take place" (TLCOICR, 2005).
Honor Killings have been commonplace in places such as Egypt & Pakistan . Some have suggested that this can be related to the "Infamous" Honor Killing that took place in 1977 in Saudi Arabia (Honor Killing, 2005). Princess Mishaal Bint Fahad Al Saud was a Saudi Arabian, who fell in love with a young Lebanese student. The princess attempted to fake her own drowning, in hopes to run off with her lover. The couple were caught shortly after in the Airport, and publicly executed for adultery upon the orders of her grandfather, Prince Mohammad Bin Abdul Aziz, who was an older brother to the then King of Saudi Arabia. A controversial version of the story that the killing took place in a parking lot in Jeddah, in an act of tribal vengeance, by the King's elder brother, the princes was nineteen years old at the time (Death of a Princess, 2005). This sheds light on the epidemic of Honor killings, since the majority of the Muslims look up to, and abide by the standards of the Saudi Royal Family, for Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam, and for whom the equivalent is the Vatican City State , in relation to the Christian faith.
Honor Crimes are a clear violation of a woman's human right's, and in many countries, Honor Killings are either condoned through government inactions, or defended as legitimate cultural practices. The U.N statistics report that as many as five thousand woman and girls were killed last year world wide, by family members and majority of them for dishonor. In Egypt alone between the years of 1997-2001, mere suspicion of indecent behavior was the sole reason behind seventy nine percent of all Crimes of Honor. Statistics show that for the year 1997, 400 women were killed in Yemen , 52 in Egypt , and 1000 in Pakistan (VAWAHC, 2005). Honor Killings, are the modern day version of the Witch Hunt. Honor Killings which contradict many basic human rights, values, and the religion itself, is clearly connected to the subordination of women. Safe guards must be implemented, radical Socio-Political and legal changes must be made, and the barbaric values must be eliminated, in order for the equality of women to exist.
Bibliography Genocide.org (2005). Violence against women and Honor Crimes
www.genocide.org Hrw.org (2005). Violence Against & Honor Crimes
www.hrw.org Pbs.org (2005). Death of a Princess
www.genocide.org Secularism.org (2005). The Lethal Combination of Tribalism, Islam & Cultural Relativism
