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, there will be many more such murders.
“Jordan: Father strangles daughter for honor reason,” from ANSAmed, November 1 (thanks to Block Ness):
(ANSAmed) – Amman, November 1 – A Jordanian man killed his 22 year old doughter by strangling her after suspecting she was having a romantic relation with a man, police source said on Thursday.
The man, from the eastern city of Zarqa, strangled his daughter with his bare hands and will face charges of premeditated murder for killing his divorced daughter, said the official. The 56 year old father surrendered to the police claiming to have killed his daughter for honor reason.
In his initial testimony to the police and Quraan, the suspect said he was “suspicious of his daughter’s behaviour because she wanted to marry a man against his wishes”, the source said.
The issue of honour killing is common in the conservative society, although its rate dropped after years of campaigning, according to activists. Every year around 20 women are killed in honour related crimes, most of whom come from families with limited income. (ANSAmed).
Ah. Get them more money. That will fix it.