This is a subject I mentioned in an earlier post, but I want to go into more detail about it because it is not well known or heard of. Honor killing takes place generally around the Middle East and parts of Asia and Pakistan, even though there have been incidences which have occurred in Britain and America.
In the family, the males are responsible for the females. The females unfortunately have to carry the family honor. If a female gains disrespect for her family by refusing an arranged marriage, wanting a divorce, being raped, committing adultery, or in some cases is becoming to Western. In order for the family to regain the honor, the male family members must kill the woman who committed these crimes. No one is allowed to mourn for them after their death. Their murders are as harsh as beheadings, whippings, stabbings, so on and so forth. Even the age old method of stoning is still used.
This type of culture has nothing to do with religion as both Christian and Muslim societies in the countries mentioned still practice Honor Killings. I see no honor in killing your own family members or anyone for that matter for committing a sin. “Whomever has not sinned, throw the first stone”. So why is it that the males aren’t killed? Well the societies justify that the males are killed also, but rarely as much as the females. The males somehow tend to find themselves away out of it. Their families try to protect them by giving up goods, which in most cases is accepted. As for the female? Her fate is death.
The reason that people in those countries aren’t changing their views about Honor Killings is because of the social pressure in their cultures. They think that what they are doing is right. I know that no matter how we can try to tell them that what they are doing is wrong, they won’t listen to us; their mentality is that we are trying to assimilate them into our culture.
So what can we do? I am not so sure. What does it take to make a father, a brother, and a whole culture to realize that murder on behalf of honor is wrong? Is it showing views of the deaths? Is it mentioning all of the victims? Is it talking to people of honor killing families who have lost a wife, a sister, or a mother, and seeing their views? I would really like to know.
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It doesn't make sense to me at all why how can think that way. I noticed that you used that statement from the bible: “Whomever has not sinned, throw the first stone”. It got me thinking, that killing was about to happen because of faulty laws and religious views on sin. Their actions are based on what they think is lawful, but in all actuality, it is no where near lawful.
Maybe the answer we're looking for lies within the thoughts of the people who are part of the culture who practice these "honor killings". I'm sure that not everyone likes or accepts the law, or at least keeps their true feelings hidden. I believe their thinking could be changed by the thoughts of the people who don't neccesarily accept, or want to accept these "laws".
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"Personal strength can be measured by your willingness to overcome opposition."
-Amanda-
Maybe the answer we're looking for lies within the thoughts of the people who are part of the culture who practice these "honor killings".
I think you are right. If we can understand people better within their culture, we may know how to help them change their views. As I mentioned in my blog, I don't think that these "honor killings" have anything to do with religion, they deal with culture. It is unfortunate that this is continuing to occur. There are many advocates out there who are trying to inform the public about the issue. They have even been threatened for their views. Hopefully, within these cultures, people take a different glance.
It's difficult for anyone to do anything about honor killings because they are not committed by governments, but by an entire society. How do you punish a society? I think education (as a result of modernization) in these developing countries will help stem the tide of killings.
But fixing society doesn't seem to really fix the problem. In Afghanistan, which has become much more accepting (though of course still quite oppressive) of women since the fall of the Taliban, honor killings are not so common, but thousands of women are subjected to vicious abuse from family members. Many commit suicide, usually by setting themselves on fire. It's a horrible, cruel, and ironic twist of the typical honor killing.
Hopefully time will help fix things. Younger generations tend to be more tolerant than their parents. Unfortunately, it's going to be a long process, and many more will die before honor killings decrease.
I think you understand what i mean by finding a solution. Its an entire society and generations that need fixing.