President Assad scraps article 548 of the penal code. The new amendment however, represents only a small step forward in combating the scourge of honor killings. As clearly explained here (in Arabic) the new amendment sets the minimum sentence at two years and removes the statute from article 548 that essentially justified honor crimes even when adultery is suspected. Does this really represent progress? Yes, if you believe that a slap on the wrist as opposed to a pat on the back is adequate punishment for the horrific act that is honor killing.How could it be acceptable, in 2009 -or in any other year, for that matter- that half of Syria's population is still held hostage to such an inane law? and why was the president's amendment so timid? What constituency within Syria is holding him back? With 98% (or was it 99%) of the votes in the last election, one would think that he has a mandate to push through real change if he so desired.
This is no trivial matter; there are over 200 victims of this crime in Syria every year. And yet there is a certain reluctance to talk about the issue. For some, and here I include myself, it is out of shame and embarrassment that such crimes are associated with our country. Others, may feel that it is a crime of the poor and uneducated and therefore of no concern to them. Even among those who condone it, many, I suspect, know deep down that these crimes are wrong but somehow feel compelled by societal or distorted religious beliefs to think that these are justifiable acts.
There is no room for partial or stepwise solutions to this problem. It is wrong, it is unconscionable, it is morally reprehensible. It is murder pure and simple and it should be punished as such.
(Photo: Grave of Zahra el-Azzo; victim of honor killing; NYT)
4 comments:
Well said Abu Kareem
The whole notion of honor killing is disgusting and barbaric. But what is more disturbing is the fact that the law is concerned with a "man" killing a "woman". That is if a woman goes into her bedroom and finds her husband with another woman and blows their fucking brains off she would not be tried under the "honor" killing law. She will not have the "cushion" of defending her honor.
Abu Fares,
Right. The young man who arrives in Europe tongue hanging, penis in hand and acting like a veritable male whore does not seem to bring shame and dishonor to his family. But if his sister, looks asquance at a boy she likes, then the whole family is scandalized.
Once again, you put so eloquently what many of us think..
I, too, am ashamed and embarrassed that these crimes are associated with our Country's name..
These so-called 'crimes of honour' are, as you said, cold-blooded murders.. nothing more, nothing less.. To try and give them some undeserved legitimacy by calling them anything else is immoral, deceitful and futile...
This was a missed opportunity to correct a historical wrong...
well said
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