In December of 2007 a Rape victim in Saudi Arabia was pardoned after being sentenced to jail and 200 lashes. It was then that many of us were introduced to the idea of honor killings. In case you don't know, let me fill you in. In the Arab society a male family member may kill a female family member if she has in any way brought dishonor to her family. This not only includes refusing to an arranged marriage, adultery, or divorce but it also includes if the female is unfortunate enough to be raped. I was watching an episode of 48 hours Hard Evidence this morning when I heard a little bit about this from the perspective of these Arab men. It was disturbing to say the least. In one country, they are trying to get harsher punishment for men who commit these honor killings, but they are finding great opposition. One man that is on the governing council of this country stated that the Western influence is coming in and trying to take away their family values. Now, I am one that is very into traditional values. I believe that marriage should be between one man and one woman and for a lifetime. However, I'm certainly not going to punish and definitely not kill anyone for obtaining a divorce. More than that, I am absolutely appalled at the idea that a woman be sentenced to die for being raped. They interviewed the brother of one such rape victim. It seems that the community was looking down on them all as a family after her rape. So he did the only thing he could. He killed her. The interviewer asked if he even thought about her any more. He said No. He compared her to a plate. If you drop it on the floor, and it breaks, it's not useful any more. Why keep it around when it isn't good for anything. It's things like this that remind me of how greatful I should be to be an American. Yes, America has problems. Yes, we might be in an economic distress right now. But if I have the misfortune of getting raped, at least I don't have to worry about being killed by my own family for it.
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Comments: 69
I have known of this creulity for a long time but then I research the injustist done to woman and have for over 25 years.
This kind of behavior is not 'honor at all. It doesn't 'honor' anyone to kill another because they have been brutalized already. How would those men feel if thier gov/religion suddenly decided that they should be killed if they are: mugged, robbed,shot, stabbed or their business fails? The business failure might even be their fault. But no one would say that these things should be punished.
It's the whole attitude of how they look at women. The little boys are taught from babyhood that they don't have to listen to their mother, she cannot discipline them and they can hit and pull her hair.
Yes, thankfully, some people in some places, America being one, still want to do the right thing, the 'honorable' thing to all people, not just the male members of their society.
Thank you for reminding us that these things happen. We can all pray for a better world to come.
Until, recently, under Texas law,a jury could give a murder probation, if the murder was commited over an affair.
Angel
I think this is terrible and is something that needs to be brought to the forefront of human rights movement. So what if we are taking away their values? Salvery at one point in America could have been considered a "value" of sorts, but it was wrong and so it was stopped.
My father smuggled them out, risking his own life to do it.
I'm American made and proud of it.
people should get involved. Every year, hundreds of innocent people suffer from such backward practices.
How crazy to place blame on the victim!
I am not advocating murder, but she must have been very unhappy after the emotional upset from both the rape and the disdain placed on her.
I don't quite know how to link it, but I notice it is not showing below as a related article - I suspect it might be because I spell using English spelling, rather than American!
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977028230
Wow. Powerful article!
I have no influence on the laws of other countries, but I can exercise my right to vote and do my part to see to it that such laws are not passed in America.
We some times forget how much freedom and how safe we are here with our laws.
That wouldnt happen here...
Its really sad that any man can do that to a family member or any other person.
Shameful. their reasoning is quite twisted.
I hope as a people that they find a way to enter the new century and find it soon.
Female infanticide is far worse:
Female Infanticide In India
Shame on you Danielle, I don't care if it is THEIR CULTURE, it is SICK to treat anyone this way in any culture.
Slavery still exists in many forms around the world and in America.
You are all making the mistake of stereotyping.
Their thinking is so foreign to Americans. It's like they are from a different planet