Honor Killing Case Study

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HOW DOES TWO CULTURES CLASING LEAD TO MURDER? HONOR KILLINGS - THE SHAFIA FAMILY. Honor killings are acts of retribution, frequently causing death. These acts are often committed by the male family members against female family members. Victims of honour killings are believed to have brought dishonor or shame upon the family. In 2007, a study by Dr. Amin Muhammad and his colleague, Dr. Sujay Patel of Memorial University, Canada, researched how the tradition of honor killings was brought to Canada The report highlighted that ‘’When people come and settle in Canada they can bring their traditions and forcefully follow them. In some cultures, people feel some boundaries are never to be crossed, and if someone would violate those practices or go against it, then killing is justified to them’’ (Leaders-Post, 2007). The Shafia family homicide is a perfect example of culture crisis leading to crime. The tragic murders really emphasize all the key aspects of how two cultures …show more content…

The Canadian justice system was outraged realising several statements “"It is difficult to conceive of a more heinous, more despicable, more honourless crime … The apparent reason behind these cold-blooded, shameful murders was that the four completely innocent victims offended your completely twisted concept of honour … that has absolutely no place in any civilized society." (Judge Robert Maranger, 2009). Leaders all across the country were content that justice had prevailed for the Shafia women "This government is committed to protecting women and other vulnerable person from all forms of violence and to hold perpetrators accountable for their acts." (Federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson, 2009). The Afghan Canadian embassy referred to the murders as “sickening” and “unacceptable”. It did not represent Islamic culture in

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