Why does it matter whether or not this is considered an honor killing? In order to help clarify for American law enforcement personnel what one is, so that future honor killings may possibly be prevented. Muslims commit 91 percent of honor killings worldwide. A manual of Islamic law certified as a reliable guide to Sunni orthodoxy by Al-Azhar University, the most respected authority in Sunni Islam, says that “retaliation is obligatory against anyone who kills a human being purely intentionally and without right.” However, “not subject to retaliation” is “a father or mother (or their fathers or mothers) for killing their offspring, or offspring’s offspring.” (‘Umdat al-Salik o1.1-2). In other words, someone who kills his child incurs no legal penalty under Islamic law.
The Palestinian Authority gives pardons or suspended sentences for honor murders. Iraqi women have asked for tougher sentences for Islamic honor murderers, who get off lightly now. Syria in 2009 scrapped a law limiting the length of sentences for honor killings, but “the new law says a man can still benefit from extenuating circumstances in crimes of passion or honour ‘provided he serves a prison term of no less than two years in the case of killing.'” And in 2003 the Jordanian Parliament voted down on Islamic grounds a provision designed to stiffen penalties for honor killings. Al-Jazeera reported that “Islamists and conservatives said the laws violated religious traditions and would destroy families and values.”
In light of all this, until authorities get the courage to tell the truth about honor killing in the U.S., there will be many more such murders.
“Mission triple shooting not being classified as attempted ‘honor killing,” by Rafael Carranza for ValleyCentral.com, June 18 (thanks to Robert):
Authorities are saying that they are not treating the shooting of three people in Mission as an attempted “honor killing.”
The suspect Talal Nimer is facing attempted murder charges after shooting his estranged wife, their daughter and their daughter’s boyfriend.
Mission police the gunman’s Muslim faith did not play a role in their investigation.
But when quizzed on why he did it, the Lebanese man admitted that he didn’t like that his daughter was dating someone who’s not Muslim.
He also felt his daughter’s boyfriend was taking over as the man of the house.
Honor killings of young women dating outside their families Muslim faith or ethnic groups have been reported in England and Germany.
Another girl was killed in the Phoenix area by her father after she allegedly refused to enter in an arranged marriage.
According to Mission Police Chief Martin Garza, Nimer’s religious beliefs will not be taken into account.
Why not? He admitted they were a factor.
Garza said police will they’ll focus on several other factors.
The first is that Nimer and his estranged wife were going through a divorce after he admitted to cheating on her.
The second factor are statements from the family saying Nimer had previously threatened to kill them….