Concluding honour killings in the name of religion

In conclusion, honour killings is clearly a cultural problem which is faced by many irrespective of religion, ethnicity, class and gender. According to one website it is a culturally driven violence which “stems from culturally approved codes around collective honour and shame.” - http://iqra.ca/?p=3850 

In terms of gender it could be argued that most cases which I came across were those which involved women, I hardly came across men being killed. This is clearly another issue which needs to be addressed elsewhere in terms of gender inequality.

In terms of religion i believe and i argue that no religion encourages or teaches this practice because most religions are based on the notions  of peace, love, justice and non violence. We all need to take a stand and support campaigns which are against honour killings. Websites such as this is a prime example http://www.stophonourkillings.com/ 

• EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO STOP HONOUR KILLINGS!

The key to stop honour killings is clearly to educate the masses. http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/eo20080930gb.html This will make people more aware and make them understand how innocent lives each year are being lost because they are simply mixing culture with religion. If the world stands up to honour killings then no man or family on this earth will kill, oppress or do injustice to any woman or man. Everyone has the right to live.

I will finish with a quote which is stated by Albert Einstein which sums up the basic thing which i want to say and convey:

"Life is sacred, that is to say, it is the supreme value, to which all other values are subordinate."
— Albert Einstein

http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/show/72719 

Religious leaders need to take a stand!

• Religion is being used as an excuse

We all know that religion does not encourage humans to kill other humans. So one may ask what the underlying problem is in regards to the issue of honour killings and religion. Well to me they could be two reasons either they are ignorant of their own religious teachings and beliefs or they are simply using religion as an excuse.

• Religious leaders need to speak up

Going through certain websites i have easily been inspired and motivated to think that the only people who can make a difference in stopping this barbaric practice or even decrease the amount of deaths per year is the religious leaders.

Over the past years, many people such as the prime minister of Kurdistan urged religious leaders to come forward and address the issue of honour killings to the people. From one website it states the prime minister is "urging religious leaders to use their influential positions to spread a message of peace and tolerance in mosques...the prime minister said just as you have been pioneers in serving the religion of Islam, religious leaders should be pioneers of reform to serve our people." http://www.krg.org/articles/detail.asp?rnr=223&lngnr=12&smap=02010100&anr=19140 

From another website i come across a influential figure who is trying to stop honour killings her name is Rana Husseini, she also "stresses that religious leaders should speak more openly about the issue and more men need to be involved in campaigning against the crimes." http://www.asafeworldforwomen.org/womens-rights/women-in-jordan/408-jordanian-journalist-lectures-on-exposing-honor-killings.html 

It’s about time that the religious leaders of the world speak out and address these issues in the light of their own religion. They cannot just sit back and expect such a sensitive issue like honour killings to be resolved on its own. I personally believe religion is being used as an excuse, how long are we going to let such crimes happen.  

Is honour killings justified in other religious traditions?

We all know that honour killings are against the teachings of Guru Nanak and it has no place in Sikhism. But what about Christianity is it justified in this religion or does it condemn such practices.


Well I started researching on Google about whether honour killings are allowed in this religion or not. Due to my bad luck I came across nothing related to honour killings. But all of a sudden I came across a website which mentions the major sins in the world scripture and third down the list was murder. “Some passages in the Christian, Buddhist, Taoist and Jewish scriptures may be interpreted as teaching that killing a human being is a sin under any and all circumstances.”
http://www.unification.net/ws/intch9.htm
From this website I realized that no religion will encourage killing someone for honour or dishonour because clearly killing someone is a murder and it cannot be justified under any circumstance.



Is religion being used as an excuse, what can we do to educate some so called ignorant religious people?

Honour killings in the light of Sikhism

• Sikhism:

The beliefs which Guru Nanak had of women clearly impressed me.

Guru Nanak condemned any injustice towards women. To my amazement I came across one useful website which briefly I would say discussed the high position Guru Nanak attributed to women. As can be seen from this website:  http://www.sikhpolice.org/honour-killings/59

From this website it clearly shows that honour killings have no place in Sikhism. This religion is peaceful and non violent. It discourages any injustice or bad behaviour towards others.

• A Sikh cannot kill a person for whatever reason.

A sikh cannot take human life under any circumstances whatsoever...the sword of a Sikh sant sipahi (saint warrior) is for defence, and that only when all other means have failed. So doesn`t this mean something to some so called monstrous Sikhs who openly carry out honour killings?

Isn’t an honour killing a discrimination against women? It’s funny how the teachings of Guru Nanak condemn any discrimination against women and how some Sikhs disregard these teachings and openly carry out the killings of women who have dishonoured them and their family. It clearly demonstrates that they are not true believers. They are just Sikhs by name, not by heart or action. Its time to follow the way of Guru Nanak, who brought justice and equal rights for women. Act by his word!

Honour killings is seen as a global phenomenon

Well I thought honour killings were just an obsession which was practiced by Muslims alone. But I came to the understanding that it’s not just a Muslim issue but rather it is seen as a global issue which affects many women across the world. It is not strictly confined to Muslim areas and it is not confined to Muslims but it happens across the globe by many people irrespective of religion and ethnicity. http://ibnlive.in.com/news/honour-killings-a-global-phenomenon/126407-19-93.html


This barbaric and backward practice is committed by many people regardless of being part of a religion or not. Many so called devout Hindus, Sikhs and Christians commit this treacherous practice. "In fact, the evidence is overwhelming that not only are Muslims responsible for only a portion of honour killings but the killings are committed on a global scale that includes Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and people of no faith." https://sites.google.com/site/roblwagnerarchives/the-myth-of-honor-killings

Did you know?
In the Christian community whether it be in the Middle East or the western world honour killings is a normal thing amongst some. What disturbed me was the fact that this was openly approved and practiced in the nineteenth century in Italy. For example, from one website it states “the culture of Ancient Rome allowed the father to kill his children if he deemed necessary. Honour killings were only abolished as a specific category in Italy in 1981 and murders in the name of honour still occur in the country.”


Amongst Hindus it is a common practice which even occurs up till today. For example, living in today’s day and age one would think that this practice has decreased or faded. But the truth is this is not a decreasing phenomenon. More than a thousand honour killings in India occur each year. http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/hard-talk/31268-more-than-1000-honour-killings-india.html




Last year in India within six weeks a number of honour killings occurred. For example, from one website it states “according to the Indian media, at least ten separate cases of suspected honor killings either took place—the bodies of 16 victims were discovered—or arrests were finally made.”




The question which arises from this is: how can you be devout and religious and yet at the same time kill another a human being? Do these major religions teach that it is ok to kill another human being for petty reasons such as falling in love, living a westernized lifestyle and making their own choices?

Honour killings are not Islamic!

Just because honour killings are mostly committed in Muslim regions this does not make it Islamic.

• Islam as a religion values human life. Human life is sacred in the eyes of God. For example, in Surah 17 verse 33 “Nor takes life which God has made sacred." Reading this from the Quran it clearly shows a murder is a murder and no one has the right to kill another individual.
•  Both Judaism and Islam are committed to the protection of human life. It makes no difference whether the victim is a Jew, a Muslim or anyone else

• An honour killing has no place in Islam.

This practice has absolutely no sanction in the Quran, the prophetic practice or in the evolved systems of Islamic law.  Let’s consider this verse from the Quran in Surah 5 verse 32: whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption (done) in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely.

• A person does not have the right to kill another without any justifiable reasons and nor does he have the right to take the law into his own hands.

It should be noted that nowhere in the Quran is a person allowed to take the law into their own hands and act as judge, jury and executioner.

• One article which I came across in terms of honour killings was that a father killed his daughter for not wearing a hijab. Is this justifiable in Islam? Doesn`t one have the right to live according to ones choices and desires. Does a Muslim have to be forced in order to practice their religion? These questions began to fill my mind, but then i came across a verse which clearly states "let there be no compulsion in religion." (Surah 2 verse 256). Doesn`t this say something to Muslims, why are they being ignorant of the verses of the Holy Quran? They should stop and think what the Quran says about human life and reflect upon the words of God. Stop being hypocrites!

I personally believe Islam as a religion is not to blame for this so called devout and religious practice. But rather I believe some Muslims are ignorant of the verses of the Holy Quran and the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad.

Beware Muslims have brought this practice to the western world!

• Going through a number of websites, I have read various stories which made me realise that living in a liberal and democratic western society, a Muslim woman still cannot escape murder or abuse in terms of the issue of Honour.
•  http://www.iris.org.il/blog/archives/2250-UK-Muslim-Honor-Killing-Wife-Daughters-Burned-Alive.html
  
  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/love-that-can-be-lethal-muslim-couples-in-fear-of-honour-killing-455174.html
  
  http://www.jihadwatch.org/2010/09/uk-muslim-parents-arrested-for-honor-killing-of-daughter-who-balked-at-arranged-marriage-to-cousin.html
• I guess the western image which is depicted of Muslim women is right to a certain extent. They are some Muslim families who subjugate and oppress certain Muslim women. They expect them to stay at home and not socialise with other members of society. I don`t think this is what religion teaches. I am pretty sure that the Muslim religion teaches that one should integrate within the society they are living in. In order to benefit others and the community.
• Going through a number of websites i came across a discussion on yahoo answers which i found useful and which addresses the issue of why would a Muslim need to integrate into a free society. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101007083727AAwo8JM
•  Why do such Muslim families live in the age of darkness. Its time to read your Holy books and understand your religion.

Whilst researching honour killings in the U.K on YouTube I came across a video which showed Banaz Mahmod talking in hospital after her father attacked her. Clearly from this YouTube video one can see how much fear and stress she is going through. How can a father do such injustice to his daughter?

From this I was shocked and filled with disgust in realising that honour killings also takes place in the United Kingdom.

Hard hearted couldn`t stand his own daughters happiness.