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.
–˜Honour” Crime: 15-year-old girl, man killed by brothers,” by Kashif Zafar for the Express Tribune, October 12 (thanks to The Religion of Peace):
A girl was shot dead by her brothers over “˜honour” in Rahim Yar Khan on Friday. In another incident, a man shot his brother dead over a marriage dispute.
Police said 15-year-old resident of Murad Machi village near Machi Goth was shot dead by her brothers Allah Din and Nadir Solangi. The latter was arrested shortly after the killing.
Police said the men had suspected her of having an affair with a neighbour. On Friday, they and their two accomplices- identified as Karamat Ali and Sabir Hussain in the FIR- shot her several times and fled. Some neighbours informed the Sadiqabad Saddar police on hearing the shots.
Police raided the area and arrested Solangi.
An FIR was registered and the body has been sent to tehsil headquarters hospital for a post-mortem examination.
In Bahawalpur, a Chak 33-FBC resident was shot dead by his younger brother following an argument. Police said Rana Muhammad Khushi had married a second time and his wife did not belong to the clan.
On Friday, he had an argument with his younger brother Rana Atiq over his second marriage, following which Atiq shot him and fled. The body was sent to the Dera Bhaka rural health centre by Abbas Nagar police.