Honor Killings in Turkey and Pakistan - Research Paper Example

Honor Killings in Turkey and Pakistan Insert Insert Honor killing is vengeance to female in case where female committees an act thatis considered not honorable. Mostly women are the ones who are affected. They are being punished by their families and in some cases killed in the name of restoring the honor. Although most of the time women are usually the victim’s men sometimes are being punished for immoral act e.g. in the rape cases. Everybody has the right to life, liberty and security no matter the gender. Women in Pakistan and Turkey face a lot of abuse and violence from their husbands and family members and state agents. This abuse ranges from burnings, rape, beatings, murder, mutilation and torture (Najam, 2013). Every year many cases of honor killings are reported, and some are not reported in this countries and surprisingly honor killings are legal and no action can be done. Honor killings in these countries are crucial to them since it helps their society to practice good morals (Livaneli, 2008). Some of the honor killings against women are; - Seeking marriage partner is one of them a woman is not allowed to choose a marriage partner. The society is the one responsible for choosing the marriage partner. Parents arrange the majority of marriages in this countries. Women who marry the man of their choice are and go outside the traditions shame their parents making them practice the honor killings in order to restore their reputation. Seeking Divorce is seen as shame to the family (Zeliha, 2010). A woman is not allowed to ask for divorce under any circumstance. Women who seek divorce in court have been killed or injured. Seeking a divorce is a shame to the man hence the need to do honor killings to restore the reputation.  A woman raped is considered shame to the family and the society hence the need for the woman to be killed to restore the reputation back. The woman is killed with or without seeking her consent since it does not matter. They do not differentiate fornication and rape they consider it the same (Livaneli, 2008). It is so sad that the punishment does not affect those who rape.  In the case of homosexuality, this practice in applied Islam does not support the marriage of the same sex. A case the victims are usually stoned to death or hanged. Significance to the two countries It is very important to the people practicing it since they believe it helps to restore the honor. They have a unique believe that for the purpose of restoring the honor of the family they must practice it. In addition, in some case if they do not practice it the society will punish them in return for supporting something wrong. Some people do it to show women that they are superior to them, and they should follow everything they say without questioning the actions. It is a way to follow their religion, so they have to follow it (Najam, 2013). The practice was done back and as the children grow they follow it. Some do not have specific importance for doing it, but they do it since their parents and grandparents thought them to do so. They do practice honor killings to prevent the rest of the society from engaging in the same mistake. They know that by punishing one, the rest will have to abide by the rule to escape the same ordeal. This act is widely practiced in Turkey than in Pakistan. Turkey is the leading country that practices the honor killings (Livaneli, 2008). Their laws support this kind of practice although the international human rights have tried to make them amend their laws it has helped a small percentage since the method is still used at large (Livaneli, 2008). Pakistan is the second country with this practice but with a slit difference in the intensity of the practice. Turkey training is five times higher than that of Pakistan; this is due to the gradual Islamization from 2002 when the Islamism came to power. This increase in honor killings in these two countries is caused by the weak economy of the countries. Especially in Pakistan where innocent women are the victims, their husband accuses them falsely in order to get away with money.For instance, they blame their women falsely in order not to pay back the loans they have (Najam, 2013). The women end up being murdered and the loan goes unpaid. Religious practices are also the primary cause of the increased number of the practices. The society is being educated on the importance of practicing the idea. Since Muslims are strict on religion, they end up practicing it. Men are mostly the ones who practice it since it is an advantage to them. They are rarely the victims in most cases; this practice does not consider gender equality and the men modify it to serve them well. State policy is also the one that has encouraged the countries to practice. These countries use the sharia laws that support it, hence when they seek government help they do not succeed in the religious practice and is accepted by law (Livaneli, 2008). Politics is also another factor that has encouraged the killings. The politician wants to do what the majority want hence they cannot implement the policy that the law is illegal hence scraping it from the law. SIMILARITIES BETWEEN HONOR KILLINGS IN PAKISTAN AND TURKEY In both countries, it targets women since they cannot defend themselves. In addition, according to their religion women are not supposed to question the husband action since it is considered disrespectful. They are victims of the ordeal without an option their parents cannot support them because of religious believers and pressure from the society (Livaneli, 2008). In both countries, Muslims practice it. Muslims believe in this punishment as a way of restoring the honor of a family hence the need to practice. However, in real sense men use this rule to oppress women and show them that they are the head of the family. The act is not a good way to show them their place. In both cases, their parents support whereby the victim’s parents have no other option but to accept the situation since if they oppose it there is a punishment for them too. The ones who support the immoral practice face the same punishment (Zeliha, 2010). So parent agrees to it to save them from the punishment. It is practiced in both countries in the name of restoring the honor of the family. They claim to do it to restore the honor of the family but truly, they practice it to prevent others from repeating the mistake since they know what will happen. They do it to scare the few who might want to go against the beliefs of certain things. The practice in both countries are supported by their judicial laws hence it is legal. However, now the law has been amended in the circumstances, which this law can be used. In addition, in case someone goes against the law the punishment is lethal. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HONOR KILLINGS IN TURKEY AND PAKISTAN Turkey is leading with this practice as compared to Pakistan. The rate at which people of Turkey practice it is very high. It started in 2002 when the Islam started to rule their country. Pakistan has been practicing this for a very long time and is still doing so though they are trying to implement the policies, which help to propagate the same ideas (Zeliha, 2010). In Turkey, most cases young boys who are under age are encouraged to kill since they will have a shorter sentence. In the event whereby the boys refuse to do it, they are threatening. Unlike in Pakistan whereby the adults are the ones who practice it. Here they are not punished since the society supports it hence they cover up the incident with suicidal cases (Zeliha, 2010). In most incidences in Pakistan, those who committed the act are not punished or are sentenced for a very short period compared to those who do so in turkey. Hence the reason why the adults are the one doing the act unlike in Turkey. Steps Taken to Reduce the Practice The Turkish country has amended the circumstances where these honor killings are accepted but is not all the cases that have led to a reduction of the cases. New panel code that took effect in June 2005 punishes anybody who assists or suggests to someone to commit suicide. The punishment is usually a long time imprisonment. This somehow has helped reduce the cases but not in rural areas since some incidences go unreported (Livaneli, 2008). Currently, in Turkey civil institutions have organized educational programs for both men and women since this a long term goal to prevent the honor killings. Education is very important for both the women and men. Women should be taught their rights and men should be thought the need for equality and modernization. This will help at the as slow rate, but it is a long-term solution to the problem. Turkish government is also trying to improve their economy to help reduce honor killings of innocent women for their own personal gain. These incidences occur since they are from a poor background and in case they get a chance to get, better they do whatever it takes. Improving their economy will create job opportunities and better living standards (Najam, 2013). In 2004, Pakistan ministry of law included honor killings as an act of terrorism and it should be punishable by law. However, most of the honor, the relatives do killings and in most cases it goes unreported. Prosecuting the ones who practice it is very important in trying to reduce the rate at which the crime of honor is being practiced. Pakistan was one of the countries which honor killings were considered legal (Najam, 2013). There is a need to put strong rules regarding the punishment that is to be given, in this case, to prevent further killings. Pakistan should practice the compensation policy. This is whereby the state is liable to compensate a victim who has suffered at the hands of her husband due to the negligence of the government authority. Pakistan has amended the constitution about equality among the women and men. They signed the international agreement against women violence. Through this, the government has an obligation to support the women against violence and those who practice are liable to punishment. In the past decade, they have put in place the laws and policies preventing the violation of women rights (Zeliha, 2010). In 2004, the government passed Criminal law act, which state the punishment of the person who indulges in the honor crimes. It will aid the reduction of rates for which this act is practiced since no one will want to be imprisoned for a long time for committing honor killings. Providing and informing women about the available resources are another way to reduce the honor killings. Wome ought to be informed concerning their rights and what are they ways to seek justice in case they are violated. Most of the women in the rural areas do not access this information hence it helps mostly the ones in urban areas (Livaneli, 2008). The government should find a way to reach the people in the rural since they are the ones who suffer more. The government of Pakistan has also put in place equality in education. It is among the countries with the highest number of gender disparities in the education sector. They are trying to make education for both the boys and girls equal and affordable. By doing this, they are able to give a chance to the women to study and have an opportunity to get jobs (Livaneli, 2008). NGOs like Rozan are doing campaigns in Pakistan concerning women violation and are educating them on the laws that help them, and their rights have the women. Success of the Effort The new panel code in turkey has helped since it has been implemented, and the ones who are found guilty are punished through long-term imprisonment. It has helped reduce the practices especially in urban areas where the policy is very strict. It is not very effective in the rural areas since they do not report most cases due to ignorance and lack of awareness (Livaneli, 2008). The education part is still going on and its fruits might not seem now but will be felt in the further since they are trying to prepare the coming generation to the effect of practicing it and the right of each one of them. Prediction in the next ten years I think it will have reduced in the next ten years due to the measures put in place. The measures might have a minimal effect on the situation but with time, people will see the sense of adopting it. The education part is very crucial in ending this women nightmare in their motherland (Najam, 2013). The international human rights communities are really trying hard to find more ways of ending it. With the governments of this two countries agreeing that they are going to help reduce the existence of this practice, it will help get rid of it faster. It is because the government has enough resources and strategic approaches when it comes to implementing a policy. No matter how much the international communities try without the help from the government it will be fruitless (Zeliha, 2010). The progress has been positive for the people in these countries to attain basics to receive the right to life, liberty, and security. Their economy too will have improved hence reducing the case of innocent honor killings for their own benefit. Poverty is the reason for this, in the next ten years poverty will still be there but it will have reduced, and they might seem an alternative way to get money other than this way (Najam, 2013). From this study, I can say that women violation in Islamic countries is very high. Most of the cases go unpunished due to negligence from the government and the political ambitions. Most of the people who vote are in support of this practice hence the reason why most politicians do not implement a lot of the legislation to prevent it. Under the international laws, the country is obligated to address the violence against women. This includes the prevention, investigation, prosecution, and compensation. References Livaneli, Z. (2008). Honor killings and violence against women in turkey. London: Manchester University Press. Najam, N. (2013). Honor killings in pakistan. New York: Adventure Press works. Zeliha, K. (2010). The profiles of victims, perpetrators and unfounded beliefs in honour Killings in Turkey. journal of American college, 8(3), 1-45. Read More