The ruling is good, the AP report less so. This is not about “traditional taboos.” Muslims commit 91 percent of honor killings worldwide. A manual of Islamic law certified as a reliable guide to Sunni orthodoxy by Al-Azhar, 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.”
Until the encouragement Islamic law gives to honor killing is acknowledged and confronted, more women will suffer.
“US appeals court: Jordanian woman faces threat at home,” by Dan Sewell, Associated Press, November 24, 2017 (thanks to Leo):
Cincinnati — A recent U.S. appellate court ruling offers a window on “honor killings,” an ancient practice across the globe that calls for defending a family’s reputation by slaying female relatives who violate traditional taboos.
Three 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judges voted this month to block U.S. removal of a Jordanian woman who says a cousin in her homeland has vowed to kill her because she got pregnant out of wedlock. Their unanimous ruling stated that the case record “overwhelmingly supports” her belief she would be persecuted if returned to Jordan, where she would face an honor killing or involuntary incarceration for “protective custody.”
The decision by the Cincinnati-based court sends the case of Olga Jad Kamar, who lives in the Detroit area, back to the Board of Immigration Appeals for further review.
Her attorney, George Mann, called the ruling “a very important step forward not just for our client, but for many similarly situated women. It is a recognition by our courts that these practices are against our values and women who are subjected to what amounts to barbarian practices deserve our protection.”
The Justice Department didn’t respond immediately to a request for comment. Immigration authorities had rejected Kamar’s appeal in 2016.
Kamar, born in Lebanon in 1964 but a Jordan-raised citizen, lost her visiting student status in the United States when she left school, court records show. She was married and had three sons; she divorced and then became pregnant in 2007 before marrying the father.
She and her sister testified in federal immigration proceedings that a first cousin has said it his holy mission to cleanse the family name and restore honor by killing her, following local tribal traditions.
“You understand what the punishment is for a girl like you who brings shame upon your family,” she quoted a letter from her cousin as saying.
The Associated Press reported this year in Amman, Jordan, that Jordan’s main criminal court dealt with nine slayings of women in 2015 that were labeled “honor crimes” and eight more honor killing cases in 2016. Even rape victims have been “punished” in honor crimes, and some Jordanian laws have allowed lenient treatment of those who kill or assault female relatives.
Jordanian legal officials say that Jordanian courts have imposed harsher sentences for honor crimes, and that no convicted killer has received a sentence of less than 10 years since 2010….
Angemon says
Isn’t Jordan touted as a “progressive” muslim nation? :‑/
MFritz says
“Progressive” means in Jordan’s case that they won’t beat you to death as a gay man but only throw you from a building.
salim says
Angemon, Jordan is like the guys in CAIR – radical to the core but with a deceptive thin cover of modernity. I lived years in that country and know it well. The only “progressive” aspect of the Jordanians is they use cars and mobile phones.
gravenimage says
Exactly, Angtemon.
Carolyne says
Yes, their last Queen was an American woman, Lisa Hallaby. The present Queen is a beautiful Palestinian woman who is quite westernized and leaves her garbage bags at home. But still, I think the tribal Jordanians are just as barbaric as any other Muslim barbarian.
Paddy O'Connor says
Arab states are the most bigoted against non-Arabs in the world and Jordan tops the list.
……
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2013/05/15/a-fascinating-map-of-the-worlds-most-and-least-racially-tolerant-countries/?utm_term=.6dbb0b23da74
”• India and Jordan by far the least tolerant. In only two of 81 surveyed countries, more than 40 percent of respondents said they would not want a neighbor of a different race. This included 43.5 percent of Indians and 51.4 percent of Jordanian.”
Pet Charles says
The moral of the story is that similarly situated people who violate US immigration laws will be sent back as long as they do not face honor killings. So the net result is that the law does not apply because of Islam! Unbelievable.
Karen says
These are very good points. I’m much less elated after reading your perspective on this.
The only silver lining I can see here (besides her life being saved from barbarism) is at least the woman’s attorney purported to stand up for American values in a very verbal and public way.
Cornelius says
What must be remembered is that for every honor killing in the Muslim realm,,….(and that realm now extends to pockets in the West), there are literally millions of Muslim girls and women who live lives in quiet desperation, coerced into constricting their own lives and potential so as not to alienate their men folk and risk being killed. Furthermore, when Muslims and leftists argue that honor killings have nothing to do with the Islamic religion, they are not being genuine. The legal basis for honor killing in Sharia is the law on apostasy. Since rejecting the faith is considered a capital offense, the argument justifying honor killing is that by her actions (or as so often the case, her PERCEIVED actions), the woman has put herself outside of the religion and therefore has rejected the faith and deserves what she gets. Until the world is willing to confront the oppressive, mafia-like tradition in Islam that those who leave the faith must be killed, we will continue to witness the ugly phenomenon of honor killing.
Coming soon….my song on the murder of Amina and Sarah Said. I’m just finishing up friends.
t. says
Keep it coming, Cornelius!
mortimer says
The Leftards are WILFULLY UNINFORMED about Sharia law concerning HONOR KILLING. The information is READILY AVAILABLE on the internet.
https://wikiislam.net/wiki/Qur%27an,_Hadith_and_Scholars:Honor_Killing
https://wikiislam.net/wiki/Honor_Killing_Index
https://wikiislam.net/wiki/Honor_Related_Violence
John Kyndesen says
There are none so blind as will not see, nor deaf as will not here !
gravenimage says
All grimly spot on, Cornelius. Very much looking forward to your song on the terrible murder of Amina and Sarah Said.
For those who may have missed it, here is Cornelius’s wonderful tribute to Robert Spencer:
“Robert Spencer, Here’s to You”
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2017/04/robert-spencer-heres-to-you
I know you had mentioned the new song back in April. Glad to hear you are almost finished.
Cornelius says
Thanks for the plug, Graven.
I’ve been working on other material all year. I didn’t start recording Amina and Sarah until late October. Should be ready in a week.. I hope Robert will feature it here. It’s just my little contribution to a worthy cause.
Hugh Fitzgerald says
In the entire AP story, the words “Islam” and “Muslim” do not appear.
mortimer says
Shame on AP for its dishonesty.
gravenimage says
Sadly, who can be surprised by this?
pdxnag says
But if she herself does not reject Islam then her kids will surely represent a mortal threat to us all, at least to non-Muslims. It is the Islam stupid. Muslim sects kill each other. Is this reason enough for us to accept both sides, as they gleefully continue to wage their forever war?
Apostasy or bust.
gravenimage says
I’m afraid this is also true.
mortimer says
HUH? “BARBARIAN”???
Quote: “Her attorney, George Mann, called the ruling “a very important step forward not just for our client, but for many similarly situated women. It is a recognition by our courts that these practices are against our values and women who are subjected to what amounts to barbarian practices deserve our protection.”
In Canada, JIHADI JUSTIN Trudeau believes that HONOR KILLING is NOT “BARBARIC”.
It’s good to know some RATIONAL, HONEST AMERICANS realize that honor killing is only fit for BRONZE-AGE BARBARIANS!
gravenimage says
+1
Carolyne says
Justin Trudeau is barbaric if that is his opinion. Maybe honor killing should include Canadian males with big noses. He might change his perspective.
skeptic says
Here’s an interesting interview about women in Islam with Raheel Raza: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrXGJF7t5BU
tgusa says
Regardless of what my sister, daughter, wife, mother or girlfriend has or may have done you do understand what the punishment is for a guy like you (and your co-conspirators) that try to bring this type of self styled ideological horror in to my life.
No, you probably don’t, not at this moment. Of course and sadly, this woman being a muslima, she wont qualify for this sort of privilege.
Carolyne says
We cannot change the world by saving one woman from honor killing. But we can forever change her world. I think that every woman threatened in this way should be saved and if by staying in the US, so be it. If a few charlatans slip through we cannot punish the innocent.
Cheer Bear Girl says
I hope that woman leaves Islam. I however doubt it.