Over 1,000 people were murdered in honor killings in Pakistan in 2005, according to the Karachi-based NGO, Madadgaar Help Line. 373 were were men, six were children, the rest were women. "Real figures could actually be much higher. The media report only 10% of cases, as people usually keep silent out of fear."
No longer confined to third world countries, honor killings are occurring in Europe in immigrant communities (largely Muslim) that have brought some hideous, misogynistic practices with them. Yesterday in London, police found Banaz Mahmod Babakir Agha, a 20-year old young woman, stuffed in a suitcase in Birmingham. Police reporterd that they were investigating the possibility that she had been the victim of an honor killing. "After the discovery of the corpse detectives also charged her uncle, Ari Mahmod Babakir Aga, 50, of Mitcham, with murder." According to the London-based organization Kurdish Women Action Against Honour Killing (KWAHK), Banaz left an arranged marriage of three years last June (H/T LGF).
Say a prayer for Banaz.
I still can't comprehend how these men can live with themselves.
Posted by: Sissy Willis | May 03, 2006 at 03:45 PM
What a beautiful young woman. How sickening. It's not enough to put the murderer in jail. More deterrence is needed, maybe taking other children away or deporting whole families when this happens. Much stronger measures are called for.
Posted by: Anonnie | May 03, 2006 at 04:58 PM
i completely agree, i knew banaz, she was such a good person, n im not jsut sayin that cos i knew her, she was a good friend, i dunt undastand the mentality of these people, how can they live with themselves, i hope they rot in hell!
rest in peace banaz
Posted by: payzee | June 03, 2006 at 04:50 PM
i knew banaz too, she was a beautiful person, but she was not forced into a marriage she chose to marry the man she did, but it did not work out.
But people really need to get there facts striaght before the start accusing people of doing such things, its bad enough banaz is dead but to then accuse the wrong man is messed up too.
May Allah forgive you for ur sins and let you rest in peace.
Posted by: miss kurdistan | July 31, 2006 at 11:58 AM