5,000 women are killed annually to uphold 'honour' worldwide

[chweetgurl]

Honour Killings are present not only in asian families but also world wide in certain communities I dont know when the injustice on women would stop in the name of 'Honour'!

http://news.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/jul/12/slide-show-1-honour-killings-exists-outside-india-as-well.htm

[a.c.]

It is depressing Chweetgurl.

But if we keep doing what we are doing on MT, then we can play our small part in changing the direction of events worldwide. What happens in the UK will have some small influence on all the communities where this terrible crime takes place.

Everyone who posts here is part of that change.

[Dev1975]

Yikes, that makes for some depressing reading!    I firmly believe that what's happening here on MT is invaluable, it provides a lifeline and support for people who would otherwise have nowhere else to turn and feel like they have no one else to rely on.

[chweetgurl]

Thought would post 2 more links to recent honour killings in India, Its one of the social evil system which does not go away... donno if it ever would 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Dad-kills-daughter-boyfriend-for-honour-in-Amritsar/articleshow/8500104.cms

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Dad-kills-20-yr-old-for-talking-to-boyfriend-on-cellphone/articleshow/8714607.cms

[Dev1975]

Thanks for the links CG, make for some interesting, if depressing, reading.  What really shocked me though, was in the first link, in the comments section, someone was actually condoning the actions of the father & brothers.  I honestly hope that it was someone's idea of a wind-up but a part of me thinks the guy was actually being serious.  It really shocks me that people can actually come out in support of those who commit honour killings.  Where is the sense in doing that???

As for the second link....again, the wording of the article annoys and angers me.  She was killed for having an "affair" with a boy??  Really?  Is that what it was, an "affair"??  The two were in love with each other and were seeing only each other, how is that really an affair?!?  Wording like that does nothing to help in this situation in my view.

I'll stop with the ranting now before I pass out.....

[Sweetchics]

Dev I agree with you, had the similar sentiments....can't believe someone comented in the first article "we should also consider the feelings of the parents"...excuse me??!!

Found this article today, wish we had more information though...

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/05/16/helpline-reports-white-victims-of-honour-violence-115875-23133130/

So disheartening to hear such things, especially if you're in a mixed race relationship. Just feels like there's no hope!!
**Sigh**

xxx

[chweetgurl]

I understand your point dev, its ridiculous for media to come up with terms like 'affair' in place of relationship.

Another link related women abuse
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/factbox-worlds-most-dangerous-countries-women-023248258.html

[chweetgurl]

One of the most horrendous act of crime! and cops bribing the parents to keep more disgusting then the criminals.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13835838

[Dev1975]

That is absolutely disgusting!!  The men who carried out that crime aren't human and as for the cops, words fail me.  They are just as bad as the perpetrators!! 

[saffron]

 5,000 women killed annually worldwide....I have stopped at present reading some

of these stories as I find the ones in India in particular inhumane as Dev has

 pointed out, i know I have to face that this has been going on for centuries and

probably a longtime to come..but It does really scare me to think what would could

happen here for the so called crimes that people in this country have let go

 off.....because they live in a so called policed country ..where it is less(?).... likely

 that police will bribe family for money...or where the law can be use to better effect now than in india....or if murders would be committed at the rate

 they are in India and other countries?.....Im not saying that some crimes under

 honour go unrecognized..but I would hope that we have more recognition of the

 injustice done in this country , than alot of others about honour crimes.  We do

 have them, even one is too many...but the ones we read about in India and the

asian subcontinent seem so supported ..by police as well as communties?



But is the thinking in this country from within certain communities so different when

 we see the crimes committed in the name of honour...and are things more hidden

 here?

[Sweetchics]

Saffron you've raised very valid points and this is definitely a topic worthy of discussion and debate. If only we were having this conversation on a greater scale so it would have more impact.

To be honest, until I met my OH, I was not aware of the extent of honor killings or violence. I had heard about it on tv etc but it seemed like something so remote to me for whatever reason. But once my OH mentioned it, I immediately googled honor killings and the results were astounding..story after story.. It's funny because I have Asian friends here in England and even they never mentioned any of this at all. Not that they have to but I guess am trying to contribute to your point about whether such matters are hidden. There is similarity in Asian & African culture where family matters are kept in family & not to be discussed outside that circle..in some cases..not even within the family! So we grow up believing that it's taboo to talk and I guess that leads to the silence..which is not necessarily a case of something being hidden..it's just not being talked about at all. And then there's the language barrier for victims who are not English-speaking, have been brought to this country to marry & don't understand the language or culture and so the effect of that is not knowing where to turn for help (or if they can). Alot of these families prey on that and use that to scare their victims into silence... such a crazy world we live in!

That story about Uttar Pradesh just broke my heart. I hate hearing about such things, esp when you know there's nothing you can do from where you are.. oh dear!

I watched the documentary yesterday on Neda - the Iranian woman who was shot by sniper while protesting against the current regime, who rigged elections. (More4) Such a sad story..esp when you hear about what women have to endure in that country. I also watched a documentary on youtube about certain traditions in Pakistan that allow men to basically murder their wives for whatever reason - supported by legislation as it states (am paraphrasing) that murder is justified if the person is 'provoked' or rather there's justifiable reaon. Good Lord! And not even that, if a neighbour 'suspected' a woman (not his wife) of infidelity, he is justified in murdering her..

I don't know..I wonder what it would take to stop the senseless torture and murder of women..

[saffron]

Your insight is valued sweetchicks...I have found that people dont talk because they sometimes feel that it cant possibly happen in their own communites...to some extent they are protecting themselves...other times in denial.

At the moment I just feel that in speaking out, we still have to personally protect ourselves even in this country.

 Speaking out and breaking the silence is however important and in a way will be the way ahead to effect change.

 To that extent the stories put up by our friends on here are important to see for those who say..its rare or doesn't happen..or even only happens to certain sections of the communities, honour crimes happen right across the board from wealthy families to ordinary people from across so many different groups...for instance.

[Sweetchics]

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to alert everyone that on Monday next week 11th July C4 dispatchers is doing a feature on the 'honeymoon murder' i.e. Shrien & Anni Dewani case. For those who are interested.


Cheers
xxx

[bel]

Thanks Sweetchics

Will definitely watch this.

(The family only live a few mins away from where I live.!)

[purplepest]

yes, thanks sweetchics, shall be plugging this into sky planner!  xxx