Western civilizations are not aware of the phrase honor killing. In fact most Americans will disagree with putting a word such as honor and connecting it with murder. Nonetheless honor killing is common mostly within the Muslim and Middle Eastern world but also branches out to countries such as India. Honor killing is mainly cause by women being involved with fornication- engaging in sex before marriage.
“Annually their is 5,000 honor killings a year most being in the Muslim world.” (Kristof,82). This number is not accurate however because governments such as the Sudanese punish women who report rapes or seek out for medical treatment. Also a high number of honor killings are disguised as suicides or accidents to keep organizations such as Nation Organization for Women and Women's Advocates, Inc from bringing awareness outside of their country.
In Darfur Janjaweed militias gang raped women within three african tribes followed by cutting off their ears to mark them as rape victims forever. Rape is also used as a way to punish a family’s rival. A student Hawa, was gang raped and beaten by the Janjaweed her friend carried her to a clinic. As two french nurses were aiding her serveral police stormed into the clinic and arrested Hawa. The crime she is charged with is fornication. Her seeking treatment was acknowledging she had been engaging in sex before marriage.
Within the Muslim world and Middle East killing a women for the sake of a families name is most common. Most often the family is doing the killing themselves because their daughter has behaved immodestly or has fallen in love with a man of a lower caste.
Honor killing in India is caused mainly by women marrying outside their religion and a man in a lower cast or seeking divorce. If men marries a lower cast they can at times be recognized as a hero for standing up to their family. Other causes of honor killing include to camouflage murder, greed and want for money, to obtain property and land or to un pay loans. Most honor killings take place in countries in poverty.
Women living in fear with their life in the hands of family or a man. Honor killing violates the most basic rights, the right to life. Religion and Culture can not be excuses to kill women.
