What drives families to commit ‘honor killings?’ Who are the killers and where do they come from? A new study commissioned by the German police has found that the killers are almost always first-generation immigrants from poor backgrounds, that cases aren’t increasing and that courts are making mistakes in their handling of them.
In March 2009, 20-year-old Gülsüm S. was killed by her father and her brother. The men hit her in the face with branches and pieces of wood in an assault so brutal that it was difficult to identify her body. The Kurdish woman had to die because she was no longer a virgin. Because she had had an abortion. Because the family felt dishonored by her actions.
In 2005, Hatan Sürücuwas killed with several shots to the head — fired by her brother.
Who are the killers? Why do they kill? How does the German justice system punish them?
A study by the Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law, which has been obtained by SPIEGEL ONLINE ahead of its release, provides the most comprehensive overview yet of so-called “honor killings” in Germany. The researchers investigated 78 cases with 109 victims and 122 perpetrators.
Commissioned by the German Criminal Police Office (BKA), criminologists Dietrich Oberwittler and Julia Kassel spent three years researching “honor-related homicides in families and partnerships between 1996 and 2005.”
The 250-page document outlines crimes of staggering brutality, such as the 22-year-old Turkish man who killed his younger sister by stabbing her 46 times because she had separated from her husband. Or the Jordanian whose underage daughter had to die because she rejected her boyfriend.
The researchers pored over court documents and BKA files, and combed through newspaper archives. “There has never been such an empirical overview of honor-related killings in Germany,” said Oberwittler, the head of the research team.
Categories: Germany, Human Rights, Women Rights
Ahmadiyya view is the same as the teachings of Quran, explained by Hadith and interpreted by Sunnah also. Jama’t Ahmadiyya never goes beyond these limits. Its crystal clear that Islam do not allow adultery. It orders to maintain honesty in family life. Verse 17:33, 25:69 and 60:13 speak over it. while verse 25:69 says that this crime cannot go unpunished. Islam declares adultery a crime while the west has failed to recognize it as a crime. However, for its punishment Islam provides court procedure and do not allow any individual to implement any punishment by himself. Jama’at ahmadiyya also says that we should abide by the laws of the country. Its also a undeniable fact that social pressure plays an important role for the implementation of a rule. Its also a fact that there is a gap between Islamic law and westren laws in general. Question also arises whether Muslim countries has succeeded to implement this law( Hadood Law) in letter and spirit.
Honor Killing is not commanded by any religion. It is a reflection of society, culture or group which is dominated by men and their big ego. The crime has been reported from around the world including India, Brazil and Columbia.
Before the advent of Islam, It was customary to kill baby girls at their birth in the Arabian Society. The Holy Qur’an describes this custom as follows:
“And when the news of (the birth of) a female (child) is brought to any of them, his face becomes dark, and he is filled with inward grief! He hides himself from the people because of the evil of that whereof he has been informed. Shall he keep her with dishonor or bury her in the earth? Certainly, evil is their decision.” (Al-Qur’an 16:58-59)
The Holy Prophet Mohammed not only forbade such a heinous crime but also gave special rights to women and to parents who bring up their daughter with affection and nobility. He said:
“Whoever takes care of two girls until they reach adulthood – he and I will come (together) on the Day of Resurrection – and he interlaced his fingers to demonstrate the proximity!”
“Honor Killing is not commanded by any religion. It is a reflection of society, culture or group which is dominated by men and their big ego. The crime has been reported from around the world including India, Brazil and Columbia”.
To me above view point of Dr Farhat can bee debated as it does not reflect 100% truth. Honour killing has different styles, motives and reasons. Further Pakistan is also in lead in such acts. Article referred by Mr Bilal states the conditions which prevail in developed country like Germany. I am wittness to two such acts committed by Ahmadies of Germany. Researchers have very nicely pointed out the reasons but these are what htey have found in Germany. Most of such cases in Germany are occurring in Turkish Muslim community. In other countries reasons can be smae or might be bit different. As for Germany is concerned the article mentions,The researchers distinguish between four types of cases:
* The victim’s failure to stay in a “legitimate” partnership by being unfaithful, planning to separate or actually separating. In 43 of the cases examined, this was the motive for the killing.
* An “illegitimate” partnership by the victim such as a premarital sexual affair or pregnancy. Or a partnership with the “wrong” person. This was the motive in 25 of the 78 killings investigated.
* A victim’s desire for independence. An excessively “western lifestyle,” or a refusal to adhere to family traditions regarding family and marriage. This was the motive cited behind 20 killings.
* Other reasons that don’t fit in the above three categories, such as the rape of a woman which is seen as having brought shame on the family. The researchers looked into eight such cases.
In all above cases male dominated society or big ego question needs re consideration. Relegious or Ahmadiyya view point has amicably been metnioned by Mr Maqsood.
See also this article: “Honor killing is against Islam”.
http://arabnews.com/lifestyle/islam/article456048.ece