We all learned about honor killings in freshmen year in World Cultures class. But it seems the world has forgotten that such a horrific thing as this exists and no one really brings up this issue anymore. Honor killings occur when girls are accused of dishonoring or tainting their family's reputation by engaging in an “immoral” act and are killed by their male relatives as a result. Rana Husseini who is a Journalist, feminist, and human rights defender, uncovered the truth behind these crimes when she was assigned as the crime reporter for the Jordan Times. “In the beginning I wrote about thefts, accidents, fires—all minor cases. Then, after about four or five months on the job, I started coming across crimes of honor”. It was then that she discovered that a sixteen year old girl, who was raped by her brother, was killed for ruining the reputation of the family. Her family accused her of tempting her brother while her brother was the one who threatened to kill her if she told anyone he raped her. Her family aborted the baby and married her off to a man who was fifty years older than her. Their marriage ended in a divorce and her family killed her.
https://www.google.com/search?q=stop+honor+killing+cartoon+images&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS601US601&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=667&source=lnms&tbm=isch&s
https://www.google.com/search?q=stop+honor+killing+cartoon+images&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS601US601&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=667&source=lnms&tbm=isch&s
Rana also mentioned that family members who kill these “dishonorable” girls are considered heroes. So even if they see it not fit to kill, they still partake in it because they’re honor is also at stake.
I remember the videos we saw in freshmen year of women being beaten to death, hanged, stoned and in most cases having acid being thrown on them for a crime not even their fault. And this all goes back to the idea that women are viewed as temptresses and inferior. For this reason, they were accused of any mishappenings or ill fate that befell on their families. And these killings are purposely extreme because they want to teach a lesson to other girls to not step out of their line. Imagine living in a place where you have no voice. A place where you cannot stand up for what you believe in because you do not want to be murdered in the brutal way you have seen other girls. These killings are done publicly and violently and imagine being a fourteen or fifteen year old, seeing this happening on the streets. You will always have that memory in your head and that puts fear in you for the rest of your life. You will yield just like Rose yielded to have a sexual relationship with Rufus because she knows what it means to be beaten. This just shows that we are privileged because we are able to stand up for our rights. Though this may not be true in some way because people get shot during protests, but the beautiful thing about this country is that, the more people you kill, the more protesters come out; people rise up and defend the rights of others as well as theirs. Killing is not honorable in any way. It is wrong to take a life you never brought.
It is heartbreaking to hear that innocent women are being killed because they aren't follow the expectations given to them. It's sad to also see that this issue isn't talked about here because majority of women don't have to face this issues. I wanted to cry when I saw those videos freshman year. It's crazy to see that their families are the ones to hurt them. Their family is suppose to be loving, caring, and understanding. I feel like America should be apart of this and help limit the amount of deaths. If America can be apart of any other problem that doesn't really benefit others, they could be apart of this issue, Instead of fighting over oil, let's try as a nation to help those in need. The women who are going against what their families say are the real MVP's, they are the real role models.
ReplyDeleteWhen some seniors spoke with the juniors during SIC orientation, I mentioned a story to them. An Indian woman and her husband come to my SIC placement, St. John's Soup Kitchen, to be served. These two were both had their marriages arranged, and because they were in love with one another rather than their designated persons, they eloped. This angered the female's family so much t the point they went searching for her, and when they lost her for good, the community disowned them. With nothing besides one bag, the couple came to America, where they were mugged. They struggled for years trying to safeguard their identities and get educated. Always my favorite part of their story, the couple received aid and eventually the female earned her Ph.D. from Princeton University and the man earned his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad because many people from these "Third-World" countries are so capable of attaining unlimited success, but the society's standards hold them back. If these two were found, they would have been killed and killing them would have been seen as honorable, as you mentioned. In response to Jemima's comment, I'm not sure if this is what you were exactly saying, but I disagree that the United States should physically intervene. Sometimes, we need to go into a country to help, but I think that the ulterior motives our government corrupt everything we get involved in. I think that there should be more awareness brought to this issue, but I'm afraid that if we step in, our government will not be whole-heartedly there to help, but to shape the other nation's ideology and political views, steal some oil (like you said), and put on a front as if they care about helping. I just think our involvement would be walking a very fine line.
This is a very important topic in society even though people don't really acknowledge it as they should. Honor killings is not only injustice to women social rights but human rights because women in that culture it's not like women can go to court and get a divorce. If they would even try to runaway or get helped they are going to die. This is acceptable so if a runaway women try to go to someone for help that person will bring them back to their abusive husbands. So its either be submissive and listen to your husband or die. These women do not have any type of voice because they are always looked at to blame and at fault. How could you blame a women for her own rape, when their attacker has a conscious to stop when she says stop. That just never makes sense to me either way you try to put it is a choice to rape and no one asks to get raped. This breaks my heart to see them so helpless and it's nothing they can do about it because the government or the higher society supports this so it's just like they have no choice but to be beaten and violated by their own family members.
ReplyDeleteWomen should not be killed for false accusations. As anna said women are killed for dishonoring their families but most of the ti me Women don't even dishonor their family. Women are seen as inferior than men and nobody really cares as to what she has to say when she is accused of something. If a man was the one doing the bad deed it wouldn't have been second guessed they would just say that he was innocent and had nothing to do with it. Women need to have the right to be given a trail. How can a mother or father let or allow an honor killing be done to their child because of reputation of the family. I think something like that is heartless and cruel.
ReplyDeleteWomen should not be killed for false accusations. As anna said women are killed for dishonoring their families but most of the ti me Women don't even dishonor their family. Women are seen as inferior than men and nobody really cares as to what she has to say when she is accused of something. If a man was the one doing the bad deed it wouldn't have been second guessed they would just say that he was innocent and had nothing to do with it. Women need to have the right to be given a trail. How can a mother or father let or allow an honor killing be done to their child because of reputation of the family. I think something like that is heartless and cruel.
ReplyDeleteThis was an very inspiring blog and extremely sad. It is so crazy how girls in these parts of the world have to go through this everyday of their lives. No killing in shape or form is honorable and it should not even be acceptable. It is so shocking that reputation means more than a daughter's life. Those people who find it normal to kill girls who they consider to "ruin" the families reputation need serious help. This is an immoral act and heart-breaking. It really bring me to tears to know that I have a family who will without of doubt protect me from all harm while other young girls are killed by the ones who are suppose to protect them. The worst part of their situation is that people honestly PRAISE these kinds of killings. I wish the script can be flipped so they can understand how it feels to live in fear all their lives, but that would not make a difference because two wrongs will not make a right. Just imagine the emotional trauma these girls are dealing with. Knowing that there families can kill them any second they slip up and do or say something that might be a little embarrassing to the family. They are extremely terrified. These girls are still young. They will make mistakes, but does not mean you have the right to kill them for it. No one is perfect and one thing that angers me the most is that only the females are oppressed in this way. These young girls eyes cry heavy tears, to be rescued from this situation. Those people who think is acceptable for honorable killings to happen are truly wicked people and they will never have peace in there hearts until they realized how sicking these killings are. I pray for every young girl soul who have to go through this and I hope to one day better their life.
ReplyDeleteThis is interesting, Honor Killing is not a topic that is normally talked about. Knowing what some families can do to their own loved ones is harsh. Never in a million years would one expect that to happen to them. Killing someone is a crime it does not matter if it is "honorable." I will never understand why all throughout history women are the ones that are always blamed for everything. Like why can't a man take the blame for something for once?! Why does the woman have to be the one that is tempting and have to face the consequences. I do not know how families like these can kill their own family members. As Anna mentioned Rana did not do anything but yet she was punished for the crime. Society has always been messed up and corrupted for women. It is sad how a lot of families like these only care about their family reputation as opposed to their love one feelings. Rana was not at fault for anything but yet she still paid the price for it. Honor Killing should be talked about more because not many people hear about it in todays world. More light needs to be brought upon this topic.
ReplyDeleteThis post was extremely good , you really took me back to freshmen year of how we learned about women being and abused and tortured whether if they were in relationships or through family members. Honor killings should definitely be eliminated throughout the whole world to be honest. What point do you prove when you kill someone who is just trying to live their life and be who they want to be. Its sad to know that this situation is still continuing till this day, I wish their can be some change to the world we live in . Yes, protest can be efficient but what more can we do as women to be even more progressive so we can have some voice.
ReplyDeleteThis post was needed. I feel as though we do not talk about what happens to women in other countries as much as we need to. Yes women in America are struggling but there is so much more struggle in the countries all around us. In some countries women aren't even allowed to walk outside without a man by there side and we are so blessed to have the freedom we do in America. Yes there is more that can be done and needs to be done but we should take a moment to look around and appreciate what we do have.
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ReplyDeleteIt truly breaks my heart that innocent, abused young girls and women are killed for "dishonoring" their family! These women or young girls have been sexually assaulted and taken advantage of. Some want to escape bad marriages but since they are a female it is considered to be their fault or they are blamed of being a temptress. I feel like more people should step in to expose this way of life and try to bring a stop to it. These acts are twisted and inhuman.
This is a great post Anna! It is so disheartening reading about these honour killings of young ladies, especially of those who were raped. It is so hard to believe that a family would look at a sixteen-year-old girl would be killed because her own brother has raped her. This is just terrible to read about because I know it is so many other stories out there that are even worse than this. This makes me think of how different my life would be if I were living in Nigeria. I would probably be married by now with at least two children of my own and I probably would not be going to school because I would have to take care of the household. In many foreign countries girls are raped, and rather than persecuting the men who raped them, their families kill the girls instead. This world is so backwards it is not even funny! How can a family do this to their daughter; it is already bad enough that she has to endure the fact that she was raped and no she is shunned and isolated from her family, with no support. These girls have to be extremely strong in order endure all of this pain and still move on in their lives. I remember freshmen year watching a video, which discussed the content of women, who were raped and later, killed or badly hurt by their husbands. Many women were discussing how their husbands threw acid in their faces because they were raped by a group of men on the way home. I also do not understand the concept that a woman has tempted a man to rape her. What sense does that make? NONE, exactly. So people mean to tell me that if a man rapes a woman it must be because she tempted him into doing it. I just can't with this; the more I talk about it, the more it pisses me off.
ReplyDeleteThere is truly no honor in honor killing. This idea is basically a way in which men over power women and once again make women inferior to men. This practice should be illegal because it involves harming God's creates which is not an honorable thing. It is unfortunate that many women face this daily. The bottle line is that we should all treat each other with respect for we are all made in the image and likeness of God.
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