Are they willfully misleading? Or are Canadian Muslims who are fighting against federal funding to investigate honor violence in the Muslim community simply naïve victims of the same propaganda used routinely to explain away the religio-culturally-based murders of Muslim women?
IPT Every year, according to United Nations reports, 5,000 women worldwide are killed for reasons of “honor” that relate to matters of modesty and obeyance, though most experts maintain the numbers are far higher. And the number of victims of honor violence, which can involve beatings, acid attacks, or locking a woman in her home, is literally incalculable.
In the United Kingdom alone, more than 3,000 such honor crimes occurred just in 2010, according to a study by the Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Rights Organization (IKWRO). The vast majority of those crimes, the organization states, were committed by Muslims, though Sikhs and Hindus have also been known to commit honor-related crimes.
In Canada, the decision to earmark funds to combat honor violence began in 2007, after a series of honor crimes over the previous two years resulted in the deaths of two women and one man. Soon after the program was announced, on Dec. 10, 2007, the father and brother of 16-year-old Toronto native Aqsa Parvez, strangled her to death. The reason: she had refused to wear the hijab, or scarf.
Yet recently, some groups have begun speaking out against the idea of specifying these crimes as “honor killings” and providing targeted programs to address them, even as two subsequent events underscore just how urgently such funds and programs are needed.
The first of these was the 2012 conviction of Mohammad Shafia, his wife Tooba Yahya, and their son Hamed in the murder of Mohammad and Tooba’s three teenage daughters and of Rona Amir Mohammad, Mohammad Shafia’s other wife in a polygamous arrangement – a case that received worldwide attention.
That conviction confirmed the findings of a University of Sherbrooke study released earlier that year showing an exponential increase in the number of honor killings in Canada. Only three known victims were killed between 1954 and 1983. Since 1999, 12 women have died in honor killings.
All of the murders, the study reported, took place within immigrant families. (It is worth noting that the increase may or may not reflect either the growing numbers of Muslim immigrants to Canada over the years, or a better understanding of honor crimes among law enforcement and other agencies.)
Yet according to a recent report from Women’s e-News, many Canadian Muslim women now are speaking out against the government’s new focus on these crimes, arguing that honor violence is no different from any other form of domestic abuse.
Opponents of the idea call the projects “racist,” and claim they put an unwarranted and biased focus on Muslim families. “When women of color are killed, we ask these larger questions around their culture. We ask what’s wrong with their entire people – their culture, their religion – instead of a particular person,” Itrath Syed, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in “Islamophobia” in Vancouver, for instance, told Women’s e-News.
What is so tragic about this remark is not just the half-dozen or so ways in which it is patently untrue, but that it seeks to nullify the horror that is honor violence, to deny the profound distinctions between honor crimes and other forms of domestic violence and femicide.
What Syed really was referring to was religion, not race. Or rather, the implication that domestic abuse in Muslim families is related to Islam, and that Muslim families are therefore treated differently than everybody else. It’s a common accusation, and an ongoing question: are honor crimes culturally-based, or founded in interpretations of the Koran?
It’s a bit of both, according to Carla Rus, a psychiatrist in the Netherlands who specializes in working with victims of both domestic abuse and honor violence. “Honor violence involves a kind of ideology, which you don’t find in domestic violence,” she points out. “In [Islamic] cultures, where church and state are not separated, it’s difficult to distinguish whether honor violence comes through cultural or religious motives – culture and religion are inseparable in those cases.”
Moreover, not all domestic violence occurring in Muslim families (some of whom are white) is automatically categorized as an honor crime. But call a crime what it is. When Mohammad Safia curses his daughters for “dishonoring” and “betraying Islam;” when Iraqi-American Aita Altameemi’s mother burns and beats her for engaging in “non-Islamic behavior” – and the family says they “are proud of it” – there is no reason not to take them at their word.
Understanding how dramatically honor violence differs from other domestic abuse is, however, critical – a point that the recent Canadian funding aims to address, as do similar efforts in the UK and the Netherlands. As Phyllis Chesler, author of the landmark study, “Worldwide Trends in Honor Killings,” has noted, “Westerners rarely kill their young daughters, nor do Western families of origin conspire or collaborate in such murders.”
Similarly, domestic abuse in Western families does not involve brothers murdering their sisters, as happens in cases of honor killings. To the contrary, siblings most often protect one another.
Moreover, while domestic violence may relate to a man’s sense of self-respect, reputation, or “honor” among his peers, it does not – despite what some Muslims argue – reflect his sense of religious honor or his sense, as patriarch, of responsibility for his family’s perceived insults to his god.
Yet it is precisely this mindset which incites much honor-based violence and murder – and not only on the part of the father or husband. Frequently, religious devotion and patriarchy places pressure on other family members – siblings, aunts, uncles, spouses or even mothers of a victim –to commit the act, often under threat.
That fact underscores two other critical points that opponents to Canada’s focus on honor killings apparently do not wish others to see – or perhaps are too culturally blinded to see: Ordinary domestic violence is nearly always spontaneous, while honor violence (and especially honor murder) is almost always calculated, often planned out over time through numerous family meetings.
And the horrific reality is that, these women simply have nowhere to run: no mothers who will shelter them from the husbands they are trying to escape, no sisters or brothers to protect them from their fathers – no one. (Indeed, the sisters and brothers are often recruited to assure a girl hiding from her family to come home, that all is forgiven. But this assertion is almost always a ruse; once she returns, the child is usually killed within days.)
It is, in other words, a long-term family affair, and one that, unlike the problems of domestic violence, can be changed. Which is precisely why funding for, and attention to, understanding and preventing honor violence is so very critical, not only in Canada, but everywhere in the West. It is why women – and especially Muslim women – should be welcoming it, even demanding more.
And yet, countless Canadian (and other) Muslim activists and apologists remain far more devoted to shaping public vision of their culture – even if it means disguising the truth – than to protecting the lives of their Muslim sisters. In some cases, they may go so far as to contend that the very notion of “honor killings” is a “Western propagated myth,” reports Darpan.
Indeed, one Muslim women’s advocate, Rubaiyat Karim, told Women’s e-News that, “Immigration policy can be very inclusionary and preach the language of multi-culturalism. But if we really want to talk about multiculturalism, we need to address the Orientalist mentality of government.”
She’s wrong. What we really need to address is the refusal of some Muslim families to advance beyond medieval and barbaric religio-cultural practices – and to stop excusing them when they don’t. Not to do so is to abandon thousands of women, not just in Canada or the United States, not just in countries like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, but in every country, every city, every town across the world. We cannot let that happen.
OOOPS, not convicted but indicted for murder. Trial began in July 2013. Could spend 26 years to life if convicted. Yeaa! Couldn’t find info on status of the trial.
good luck on changing the minds of 1400 years of barbarity. they are firmly planted in the 7th century
Hi Bonni, The only thing I could find is that the killer was on trial for murder in July of this year. There is a video of him sobbing in court. Not sure of the outcome of the trial-maybe he’ll plead workplace violence. What really bothers me is that if he is a true believer in sharia/islam why try to cover up the honor killing since honor killing is commanded in the koran? Hypocrit! Allah should be proud.
Billy, it’s called ‘political correctness’ and it will be the death of us.
These women are no more valuable to them than an old stray dog walking down the street, but even that old stray dog will have better morals than these horrible monsters. How sad that these females are born into this monstrosity of an ideology/cult…certainly not religion.
Sadly depressing.
Nice to see the use of the “Dishonor Murder” image, even though it’s a perfectly horrid subject. Those poor women will never get justice here on Earth.
Thanks for being their voice in any event.
If Islam is race, i am the biggest racist.
Honour killings are legal in all muslim countries, i am sure.. Even egypt:-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape_in_Egypt
Another thing is.. Why only islam or muslims are so insecure?
What’s the status of the El Cajon honor killing of Shaima Alawadi by her husband in 2012? The husband was convicted but that’s the last we’ve heard about it. The daughter gave an interview and pretended to be so devastated by the killing of her mother but it was so fake. Pretending to cry but no tears.
Billy, have not heard anything since then. Do you know what his sentence was? I hope the rest of them are back in Iraq.
With all the facts and I repeat FACTS how can anyone not understand how sick islam is and what it does to it’s own muslim following.
I actually think islam is a great tool for criminals, because it gives them the freedom to be what they are, total a– holes. BNI check out Answering Muslims for latest video. I think you will like it. Look out mo.
Stel, I saw it and didn’t like it. Wasn’t up to his usual high standard.
Not all cultures are equal…otherwise stay in Berzerkistan. We don’t want your barbarism here.
Multiculturalism is false. Our culture of freedom IS SUPERIOR to Islamic supremacism and misogyny. Period.
I applaud BNI for publishing this.
This shocking barbarity must be stopped.
Canadians should never forget the words of Justin Trudeau about the condemnation of honor killings as ‘barbaric’ : “there needs to be a little bit of an attempt at responsible neutrality.”
The dead women are now ‘neutral’, Justin!
(CANADIANS DON’T VOTE FOR JUSTIN…HE’S A DHIMMI IDIOT.)
Let me get this straight as I gota be missing something.. This ‘Canadian” Muslim group is offended and feels that using the term “honor killing” when a Muslim woman is killed by her own family as a sacrifice to restore family honor is racist?
“Honor Killing” is the Muslim name of this cowardly Islamic act imported here by the sweaty ass crack and no toilet paper using asshole sniffing arselifters, how is their own term racist?
Whatever. This just proves how stupid and ignorant the Islamic really community is. If the term is racist, so what? Murder is a crime here in Canada and “honor killing” isn’t only Islamic, Samurai seppuku is a form of “honor killing”, Kamikaze, etc. This is like a pervert being offended by people calling them a pedophile rapist when they’re just a child aficionado (or Mohammed).
I’m perfectly fine referring to Muslims who murder their children and wives over their own small penis insecurities as Murderer’s.
Smack, see the thing is, they want to keep doing the honor killings, they just don’t want to be stigmatized for doing them.
There is no “honor” in killing. None. To talk of this matter outside the content of murder is to deny the obvious truth. Its just murder, what part of “thou shall not commit murder” do these mutts NOT understand. All of it I suspect. The word (s) they establish, as if it either in their minds or ours, is acceptable or even condoned are nothing short of deception. If a father of his daughter, or the mother of said daughter even contemplate the murder of their flesh and blood, how is it the word honor is even considered in this context. Makes a sane man go crazy at times wondering where the hell did the natural morals of these type of people go, if even they have such a word or meaning for morals, or understand the concept governing its intended use of it.
Recall S. Palin, “you can put lipstick on a pig, but its still a pig” and as this suggest it ( honor killing) is just murder, plain and simple. Cultural differences make not a capital crime go unnoticed, unchecked or unpunishable. well if grease to the correct palms of corrupted officials in islam its prevalent anyway, either in this life or the next, the penalty for murder is the hell fire of eternity, even in the so-called Islamic faith, so they claim anyway.
The real reasoning, as I suspect it anyway, for the one doing the so-called honor of murdering anyone, family member or other wise, is shame, shame on them for getting caught in the process of disrespecting others and their natural right to decide life’s decisions on their own, and daring to live by those decisions. In this ancient culture, Arabs consider the father the ultimate decision ( old biblical head of household) makers of their household and their own offspring, much as we do in this society. So in the even of his death, the eldest son is his natural replacement, another ancient truth as GOD commands, they have always known the scriptures of old to honor thy mother and father, a teaching straight from the Torah, and as they were exposed to the Jewish Torah in those days, also taught their young this lesson and demanded, “respect”, not necessarily earned respect for their authority as head of household or clam leader, but, demanded it by immediate members of family and in certain cases, clansmen/ladies. Insulting a head of household, or clan leader was the ultimate insult, a disrespectful son or daughter, tribesman in their eyes therefor was and is worthy of the death penalty. I have never ever read through the Torah, the Christian Bible, or Islamic sharia law, where this is condoned, no where, so as it is, man made rules over God’s law has once again imposed a penalty of death for being disrespectful to one head of household, or leadership of the many, it makes no difference really, murder is murder is murder. While we today have bleeding hearts yelling past the concepts of GODs rule and those who live by these words/truths in this regard, the penalty for murdering a person, their live are therefore, forfeited, or they too are put to the sword as they chose to take a life, their life must too be taken from them in response.
I, mohareb………………………………………….approve these truth.
Semper Fi.
Wordsmith-ing is team obama’s specialty. If it makes them look bad they just change the names, hoping people won’t recognize their faults.
So what do they want to call it, “honorless killing”?? We can do that too.
There’s nothing “honorable” about “honor killngs.” When someone deviates from Sunna, they show themselves to be hypocrites or apostates – punishable by death. If the devient cannot be shown to be advancing Allah’s cause with the behavior or brought back into the fold, obediently practicing Sunna – or killed – the head of the family will be assumed to sanction the behavior, making him a hypocrite or apostate himself – and someone in the Umma (Muslim community) will kill them both and gain points toward Paradise. Religious authority Sheikh Youssef Abdullah al-Qaradawi said on Egyptian TV: “If they abolished the apostasy punishment, Islam wouldn’t exist today. Opposing apostasy is what kept Islam to this day.” He was correct.
“Devout Muslim stalks his step-daughter over four states ‘before killing her for being too Western.'”
No truer words were ever printed. The most devout Muslims you’ll ever find are the most cruel and utterly reprehensible. Interestingly, although Islam is so rancidly misogynistic, some of the most soul-less Muslims are its women who give birth to children for the sole purpose to make suicide bombers out of them.
I know, seems like muslims as a race are a composite of the Mangalores (Fifth Element) and the Borg (Star Trek).
Pod people
Nate – They certainly don’t belong in this World.
Islam is not a race. Islam is ruled by Sharia Law, there is no denying it. Stop apologizing for and defending it. Muslims do not belong in the West, and those that defend them deserve to be ruled by them.
i tried commenting on the Tommy Robinson story (wtf why did he sell out) but couldnt
please bni fix this issue
Name, I don’t know why you couldn’t. What happened when you tried to post a comment?
its working now i just couldnt access the story all good now
“Itrath Syed, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in “Islamophobia” in Vancouver” – Am I reading that correctly ? Such a thing exists ? Especially in Canada ? WTF ?
SO absurd.
I even caught this:
http://www.sfu.ca/~ozlem/ozlem/Presentations.html
PAST PRESENTATIONS and CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES
Sensoy, Ö. (May 30, 2013). Invited Presentation. Beyond fearing the savage: Responding to Islamophobia in the classroom. Democracy and Diversity in a Global Context:
http://www.sfu.ca/retirees-forum/msg02235.html
https://www.sfu.ca/pamr/issues-experts/2012/islamophobia-greece-immigration.html
DANIEL TUTT.