“No nation can rise to the height of glory unless women are side by side with you. We are victims of evil customs. It is a crime against humanity to shut up women within the four walls Let us try to raise the status of women according to Islamic ideals”
Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Let’s Talk About Honor Killing
Honor Killing
In 2022, 1000 women might be killed in Pakistan to save a family’s honor. UN estimates 5,000 women are victims of honor killing yearly. 1000 of these are killed in Pakistan to “cleanse family honor,” if an individual has brought perceived shame or dishonor to a family or community by violating social norms.
These unfortunate women bring shame to the family if:
They refuse to marry someone chosen for them by their family.
They marry of their own wish.
They divorce of their own wish.
They’re victims of rape.
They’re too socially outgoing for family norms.
Honor killing isn’t supported by any religion. However, a victim’s family member can grant pardon to the murderer, in which case he is acquitted. The Anti Honor Killing Bill passed in October 2016 (3 months after Qandeel Baloch was murdered by her brother to to save her family’s honor, according to him), sought to remove this loophole, however, implementation of the law is hard. Often, it is the family members who plan the honor killing if a girl has gone against their wishes.
Qandeel Baloch
The brother of Qandeel Baloch, Muhammad Waseem, who killed her for staining the family honor, despite admitting to the crime, has been acquitted.
Qandeel Baloch’s killer (her brother), will walk free, despite confessing to his crime, due to a pardon granted by his mother. My only assumption (since the court order hasn’t been made public yet, and I’m not a lawyer), is that, since the Anti Honor Killing Bill was passed 3 months after her killing (October 2016), the defense argued that he can be given pardon as the murder was committed when a pardon was allowed. (July 2016). Yeah, sad days indeed.
Update on the case
The state has filed an appeal in the Supreme court against Muhammad Waseem’s acquittal, tweeted Maleeka Bokhari, the Parliamentary Secretary For Law. She went on to state that this is a great opportunity for Supreme Court to set a precedent in “such brutal murders.” (Express Tribune)
Noor Mukaddam’s case, a young girl slaughtered to death recently, is taking the shape of an honor killing. (Or so the defense lawyer states).
Where Is The Honor In Honor Killing?
Why do a woman’s actions defend or tarnish the honor of a family? If so, will women also be pardoned if they kill the men in their families to save their honor?
Till we do not make our laws foolproof & eliminate the idea of a woman being owned like territory, we are doomed.
Over 40% of Pakistanis feel a husband has a right to kill his wife if he thinks she is having an extramarital affair. Should a woman also be justified in killing her husband if he (is perceived to have) indulged in an extra marital affair? You see where this will go?
There is no honor in honor killing.
I’ll let it rest there. But I would like to end with this. Let’s start Aurat March from home. Teach our women not to aid & abet honor killing. Respect your sisters, wives, daughters, mothers, daughters in law and understand the rights of a woman, the rights of humanity.
In the words of Quaid e Azam
“No nation can rise to the height of glory unless women are side by side with you. We are victims of evil customs. It is a crime against humanity to shut up women within the four walls Let us try to raise the status of women according to Islamic ideals”
Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Honor Killing Is A Crime Against Humanity. Help stop it now!
Let’s Create Awareness!
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Sources used in this article include DW, Global Citizen, BBC & CNN.
