A married woman can leave her husband’s house only in a coffin- is a famous epitaph in most of the chauvinistic driven Islamic countries.

Are women a mere property than a human being?

When would they be given human status and when they would be treated equally and humanly?

If we look around the social milieu of these Islamic countries, we find that women actually have no air to breathe in. The condition is so deplorable that women give way to self-immolation as we have seen in Afghanistan and Turkey.

If we go a step ahead, we find that women are also being victimized in the name of honor killings.

Why honor killings take place?

The reasons could be accusations of premarital or extramarital sex, refusing an arranged marriage, attempting to obtain a divorce from an abusive husband or simply talking innocently with any man who is not a relative.

The weirdest part of the entire thing is that the allegations do not require any concrete proof, a bunch of people spreading rumor is more than enough to instigate killing in the name of honor.
Honor killing

Sixteen-year-old Zahra Ezzo died at the hospital last month in Syria after her brother very atrociously killed her. This is just one incident but Muslim countries are actually saturated with these kinds of instances.

However, presently, the question hovering around the nation is whether the brother should go on trial for premeditated murder - the family had planned it for months - or as someone who had no choice because the clan’s honor was at stake.

Syria’s law is lenient in a way that an accuser could be acquitted if he catches his female relative in illegitimate sexual acts with another, or in a suspicious state with another. If Zahra’s brother is tried under this law, he might get out of jail in three months.

Thus, the question of female security is hanging around the nation. The authorities are of the view that they are on a move of framing such laws that would curb the menace till some extent. However, the idea seems to be a distant dream.

Staggering figures show the pinnacle of crime:

1. Some experts estimate that 200 to 300 honor killings occur every year in Syria.

2. At least 200 girls and women are murdered each year by their families in the name of honor killings in Turkey.

3. There were around 5,000 women murdered in Iraq, including 13 and 14-year-old girls.

4. Nearly, 50 women each tear in Jordan were killed in the name of honor killings.

5. The brother of the victim commits around 75% of the honor killings.

6. Near about 5,000 honor killings are recorded every year in Middle East Nations.

7. Honor killings cause 1000 deaths per year in Pakistan.

Bottom line

Certain penal codes were introduced in some Islamic countries like Turkey but as a matter of fact, they were never implemented.

The failure of Muslim countries to improve the status of women in their society has long been one of the impediments to their integration in global peace.

Since the medieval custom originates from a cultural and historical context, hence the legal framework too is gender discriminatory in the sense that the current laws are insufficient to address the complicated issues inherent in a family murder.

Gangsters and thugs everywhere, throughout history, always seek to justify their gruesome deeds. Honor killing just sounds like another justification from people who wants to chop down the wings of freedom from women folk.

Honor killings are not at all mandated by any religion not even Islam, then why do men try to show off their strength through this gruesome deed.