The shame of honour killings

Images of Du’a Khalil Aswad’s death were shown on the internet

Everywoman examines the growing number of women murdered in the name of honour following recent horrific images of a young girl being stoned to death simply for falling in love. 

Du’a Khalil Aswad was a member of the minority Kurdish Yezidi group. Her death by stoning was recorded and posted on the internet.

We are showing these pictures on the programme but please be warned that they are extremely upsetting.

According to the United Nations, 5,000 women and girls are victims of so-called honour killings annually.

Whether it is because they have been seen talking to a man, refusing an arranged marriage, or even suffering rape, they are murdered for one reason only; they are perceived to have brought shame on their family. It is often the family that carries out the sentence.
 
One of the countries under the spotlight for so-called honour crimes is Jordan, where the practice is sanctioned by law. Under the criminal code, relatives who kill a woman suspected of shameful behaviour receive a light sentence or escape punishment altogether.

But there is growing opposition to this, not least from the king himself, who has backed legislation to remove these articles.

Although that has not yet happened, women perceived to be at risk are given sanctuary in prison, while they wait for the opening of a protected shelter.

Meanwhile, in Turkey, the law has been changed. Provocation is no longer a defence and the government has introduced life sentences for such crimes.

However these killings are still supported in some parts of the country; it is estimated that at least 60 women are victims of ‘honour killings’ in Turkey every year.

Dr Sharif Kanaaneh, a professor of anthropology from Birzeit University, and Houzan Mahmoud, an activist with the Organisation of Women’s Freedom in Iraq, join Shiulie Ghosh in the studio.

In the second half of the programme Pinar IIlkkaracan, the founder of the Women for Women’s Human Rights organisation, joins us from Istanbul.

Do you have anything to say on the subject? Email us at everywoman@aljazeera.net

Watch Part One here:

Watch Part Two here: