The Horror of Honor Killings

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Women have the right to live their own life the way that they please. Women are not properties, nor are they incompetent. Women have the same opportunities to thrive in society as does any male, but some customs and traditions of some cultures prevent women from soaring to such heights. Culturally traditional men want complete dominion over their women. But who can blame them, it’s how they were raised and these things have been rooted in them since they were young children. When one thinks of a culture’s virtue, they automatically think of women’s behavior within her family context. A woman is gold in any society but yet is treated as properties. It is safe to say that one’s honor depend on a woman.
“The United Nations estimates that as many as 5,000 women and girls worldwide were killed last year by family members” (Autumn, 2001). Crimes of ‘honor’ are acts of violence perpetuated typically against women who violate broader cultural standards against sexuality and marriage. When a woman violates the sexual or marital standards within a culture, her actions bring shame and dishonor and in order to eliminate the dishonor within the family, killing is the only way. “Honor killings focus on maintaining the sexual exclusiveness of women” (Barker et al, 1999). In most of the cases, honor killings are mostly present in cultures of the South Asian and Middle Eastern Islamic areas. Sadly, this culture is prevalent in some parts of the Indian society as well. “Offenses leading to ‘honor’ killings include leaving home without permission, rumors about premarital loss of virginity, accusations of flirting, and illegitimate sexual contact. These accusations also do not require the consent of the female in the act. Rape victims, for instance,...

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...ishonor can be brought about in the family. “Women who pursue their claims in court frequently lose because of the inherently male-biased judicial system. Victims of domestic violence are frequently told they will bring dishonor to their families by reporting such crimes and are discouraged from contacting the police” (Lasson, 2009).

If these happen in western countries, the perpetrator tries to claim cultural defense. Cultural defense is a defense to the prosecution for a criminal act which, according to the defendant, results from his/her cultural background. This defense can be used in cases concerning female genital mutilation, domestic violence, acid throwing, and honor crimes. “The idea of cultural defense violates principles of equal protection and the fundamental principle that society has a right to govern protection against crimes” (Morgan, Parker, 2009).

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