‘Honour killings’

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Each year, the UN estimates that 5,000 women and girls are murdered, often by male relatives, for what is perceived to be some violation of family honour.

It is difficult to get precise numbers on the phenomenon of honor killing since the murders frequently go unreported, the perpetrators unpunished.

Honour killings, as they have become known, know no boundaries and are not confined to one faith.

Women have been murdered for a number of reasons. They may have been the victim of rape or incest, they may have left their husband or wore clothing deemed inappropriate.

The one constant factor with these crimes is the conspiracy of silence that exists around them, often aimed at protecting the perpetrators.

On Wedneday’s Riz Khan show, we speak with Rana Husseini, a journalist and author who has made it her life’s work to bring attention to these crimes.

Also joining the programme is Professor Yakin Erturk, the former UN special rapporteur for violence against women.

We ask: When does murder secure a family’s honour? And what needs to be done to bring the practice of honour killings to an end?

This episode of the Riz Khan show aired from Wednesday, October 28, 2009.