Living in one of the most “progressive” Islamic countries, Jordanian women who hope for the right to divorce their husbands have another wait ahead of them, as the country’s parliament held off voting on the bill for yet more debate. The likely outcome of that debate can be inferred from today’s decision by parliament to forgo harsher punishments for men who kill women as a matter of upholding their “honor.”

Parliament in Jordan has overwhelmingly rejected a proposed law imposing harsher punishments for men who kill female relatives in what are known as “honour killings”.

It was the second time since June’s elections that the lower house, the Chamber of Deputies, quashed the bill on such killings, which are mostly carried out by brothers and fathers against women who have had sex outside of marriage.

Islamists and conservatives opposed to the new law said it would encourage vice and destroy social values.

Honor killing to protect family reputations, and to preserve social values like these?

• A 16-year-old girl who was raped by her brother and had her throat slit by another brother to protect his “honor.”

• A 7-year-old little girl‘s father believed she’d been raped, so he beheaded her to protect his family’s “honor”. An autopsy revealed the girl was a virgin.

• Two sisters, ages 20 and 21, seen talking to men who weren’t members of their families, were killed by their axe-wielding brother and cousin at a matter of “honor.”

• A 17-year-old girl who became pregnant after being raped by a friend of her father, the same father who – with the help of his son – killed the girl with 8 gunshots. It was a matter of “honor.”

• A girl who refused to enter an arranged marriage and chose her own partner, killed by her father for the “shame” she’d brought him and the loss of his “honor.”

• A 25-year-old Jordanian woman who had a boyfriend and was stabbed 12 times by her father to avenge the family’s “honor.” (He received a 3-month sentence for the crime.)

• A 19-year-old Jordanian woman who received gifts from and ate with a man was killed by her brother over the family’s “honor”. He received a 6-month sentence.

• A 13-year-old Turkish girl who talked to boys on the street and ran away from home, stabbed and beaten to death by her father to salvage the family’s “honor.”

• A 15-year-old girl who ran away from the 35-year-old husband selected for her, killed by her brothers who threw her off of a bridge for the “dishonor” she’d brought.

And why?

Honor is everything,” says Ahmed, a 52-year-old Palestinian Muslim. “If a person loses his honor, he becomes like an animal.”

Take a look at the National Geographic photo below – it is graphic and shocking, yes. But you tell me: who is the animal?

Zahida’s husband brutally attacked her because he alleged she had been unfaithful and brought shame to the family. He cut off her ears, tongue, and nose, gouged out her eyes, and left her for dead.

Where is the “honor” in this?

UPDATE: More on the topic from Common Sense and Wonder.

Sunday, September 7th, 2003, 4:45 pm   |   Middle East Bites  |  RSS feed Comments and pings are currently closed.