In ancient Middle Eastern philosophy, honor is the most important gift a family can receive — even more precious than life itself. An honor killing is killing a woman for bringing shame upon her family and community.
Often, it is punishment for behavior the community considers risqué, such as committing adultery or having sex before marriage.
These acts are considered ruinous to a family’s honor and can be justification for death. A woman’s family commits the primitive killing, typically in a public stoning.
Women accused of such transgressions are often innocent. They are found guilty with little evidence and no further investigation.
Although the custom is becoming increasingly frowned upon, instances of this atrocity still occur around the world. According to stophonourkillings.com, managed by the International Campaign Against Honour Killings, a shocking 2,802 women in Punjab, India, were victims in the second half of 2010 alone.
It is common for Middle Eastern countries to receive negative attention due to violence, governmental corruption and discrimination. In some cases it is deserved. In others, perhaps it is not.
Because I was born and raised in the United States, I have always had a sense of comfort and stability. What truly resonates with me, though, is the instance of a young woman like myself, only 20 years old, who was murdered by her Iraqi father in Phoenix.
This homicide occurred in October 2009, and the official trial phase starts this month. Iraqi immigrant Faleh Almaleki hit his daughter, Noor, with his Jeep before fleeing the country.
This event is particularly horrifying to me because it took place in the city I live in for most of the year.
As stated by Fox News, “He reportedly wanted his daughter to adhere to Iraqi traditions and disapproved of her Westernized lifestyle.”
Noor and her father had a tumultuous relationship. She refused to participate in an arranged marriage and moved into her boyfriend’s home after constant verbal abuse from her parents.
When you compare the incidence of honor killings to the number of people actually speaking out against them, the issue seems drastically underplayed.
J. Grant Swank, Jr. of The Post Chronicle wrote recently, “In America alone, there are 5,000 so-called ‘honor killing’ deaths every year.”
These killings have only recently been brought to my attention, and their lacking media coverage means they go unnoticed by many other Americans as well.
As a woman not only allowed but also encouraged to act independently, I can’t help but be sick about honor killings.
Freedom seems like such a simple, necessary concept. It is as essential for any human as food or shelter, and to know so many women are being deprived is truly disheartening.
Women free from the burden of holding their family’s honor are able to socialize freely, act independently, love the person they choose and express themselves in whatever way desired.
These are not privileges. These are rights. It is my hope that free women of the world will start speaking out for those who are being silenced.
Contact Isabelle at inovak@asu.edu
