Syria Honor Killings | 07/30/2009 9:10 am

Syria Imposes 2-Year Prison Sentence for 'Honor Killers,' But Is That Enough?

In an Islamic country where 16 women are estimated to be killed for shaming their family each month, some wonder whether the new law is punishment enough.

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

"Honor killings" are few and far between here in the United States — thank goodness — but in other parts of the world, particularly the Middle East, they’re a horrific atrocity brought upon far too many women.

A woman or girl’s "crime" could be being raped by a man, having an extramarital affair, being alone with a man unsupervised or any other action deemed to bring shame upon her family. But now Syria seems to be making some attempt to crack down on the practice of honor killing, whereas before, punishment for men who killed women for the sake of "honor" was a mere slap on the wrist. A new law in Syria enforces a minimum jail sentence of two years for honor killers. Human rights groups say that this is progress, but it simply isn’t enough.

"Two years is better than nothing, but it is hardly enough for murder," said Nadya Khalife, Middle East and North Africa women’s rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. "The Syrian government should punish all murders alike — no exceptions."

HRW notes that a 2006 newspaper reported about 40 honor killings a year in Syria, but The Syrian Women Observatory estimates that there are nearly 200 such killings each year. That means 16 Syrian women are killed by relatives every month, on average. Honor killings also occur in countries like Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Iraq — in Basra alone, about 15 women a month are murdered for breaking Islamic dress codes. The UN Population Fund estimates that as many as 5,000 women a year may be victims of honor killings.

Honor killings have shown up stateside as well. In a small Georgia town last year, a Pakistani-born father was put on trial for strangling his 25-year-old daughter, reportedly after she fled her arranged marriage. Then, in Buffalo, NY, earlier this year, a Muslim businessman was accused of beheading his wife who got a restraining order against him.

What do you think should be the minimum and maximum punishment for convicted honor killers, both here and abroad?

Read more about: Honor Killers, Honor Killings, Islam, Middle East, Muslim, News, Prison, Shame, Syria, U.S., World

9 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

As mentioned, murder is murder and should be treated the same across the board. What a situation for women in these countries to know if they commit any infraction, they can be killed. And dont think jealousy doesnt enter in to it. I bet many a relative has set up some woman in the family not liked by that person. No one talks about suicide rates for women but that must be high too.

By Judy K. on 07/30/2009 9:27 am

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You’re right, Judy, particularly about the suicides. There are a lot of "honor suicides" in the mid east and, unfortunately, in the west now, where a woman is told to take her life because she has shamed her family, and they will kill her if she doesn’t; so, to prevent her would-be killers (her family) from seeing jail time, and to die in a less brutal manner, these poor girls are often bullied into killing themselves.

A two year sentence is a joke. Murder is murder; to differentiate based on some primitive idea of honor — which varies from family to family, region to region, etc. — would be laughable, if it was not so disgusting.

By Rachel F on 07/30/2009 10:18 am

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I suspect this " two year" sentencing is merely window dressing. It’s doubtful they will serve any jail time at all. In this country, the law about murder is specific. The only hope for women in Syria, Jordan, etc, is for continual horrific exposure to work its way through the media and hope world wide public outcry will make some difference. It’s doubtful, I realize. A sack of rice holds more value than women in these countries.

By Maggie W on 07/30/2009 10:34 am

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What else is new in the Middle East? Don’t we have our own issues to deal with as far as the prison system goes in this country?

By DeBúrca obj on 07/30/2009 1:50 pm

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As a Middle Eastern woman myself from a neighboring country to Syria (Lebanon) I couldn’t agree more that the sentence should be just as tough as any other murder. But I do have a comment that I think is important on the sub-title (In an Islamic country where 16 women are …).

1-Syria is not an Islamic country as described in the sub-title, though the majority of its population is Muslim, it is (though governed by a dictator regime) a secular country and a secular rule.

2- "Islamic" means ruled by Muslim Sharia law. "Muslim" means a majority of its population belongs to the Muslim faith.

3- "Honor killings" is in no way a ‘Muslim or Islamic tradition’. It’s typically a Tribal tradition that in fact Prophet Mohammed banned when he was spreading the new religion. But people who perform these hideous acts give it an "Islamic reference" to make it justifiable and ‘holy’.

4- That being said, I’m an atheist myself. Just wanted to clear up a few things to be fair if for no other reason.

By Greta Ghacibeh on 07/30/2009 1:59 pm

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Thanks for the clarification Greta. More people need to be aware of the differences in the definitions of words that are thrown out by the media. It is confusing to say the least and deceptive most of the time to sway the reader to believe these are religiously mandated or even acceptable crimes. Common though it is, these "traditions" come from long before Islam appeared in the region, it’s just a way people hold on to the past and pretend that things are acceptable just because their ancestors and elders did it or allowed it. It’s shameful and not "Islamic" in the least. I really wish writers would stop equating Middle East with Islam. When they do, it will open a whole new dialogue about things that go on in the region. A dialogue that desparately needs to be opened in a way that excludes religion and include humanity.

This is from an American living in the Middle East.

By S A on 07/31/2009 8:17 am

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SA and Greta.. believe me when I say that many of us have studied theology and in no way shape or form do we equate these atrocities with Islam. Islam is a progressive religion based on respect. These atrocities are based on archaic men who are slaves to fear and ignorance.

And no, 2 years is a slap in the face to the victims of these murders. If they want medieval, enforce Hammurabi. Fair is fair.. they took a life in a malicious selfish manner, they should forfeit theirs.

By aud b on 07/31/2009 10:53 pm

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"Honor killings" are few and far between here in the United States — thank goodness"

The Last thing you should compare is American girls which mostly are normally whores and sluts. The begin working on losing their virginity at the age of 13 "thank goodness" with family support and instruction of the proper use of birth controls!!!
Your society have bigger issues to talk about than what is going in the "Islamic scary nations"
Try solve your Drunk teen problems, or 80% high teens hopefuly only smoking weed, or Sexual transmitted diseases that many of your teens are acquiring daily, and when your civilized nation is the perfect world then go ahead and talk about others.

By Neu Kolp on 08/01/2009 11:21 am