Despite objections from religious hard-liners, lawmakers Thursday took the first significant move to curb mounting numbers of “honor” killings in Pakistan, stiffening the penalties and closing a loophole that allowed such killers to go free.
Public outrage has been growing in Pakistan in the wake of a string of particularly gruesome slayings. More than 1,000 women were killed last year in so-called honor killings in Pakistan, often by fathers, brothers or husbands who believed the victims had tainted the family name by marrying the man of her choice — or even meeting or being seen sitting with a man. Those who carry out such killings are almost never punished. In accordance with a rigid interpretation of Shariah, Pakistan’s legal code since the 1990s has allowed families of victims to forgive the killer. Since the killers in these cases are usually close relatives, the family almost always forgives them.
The measure passed Thursday imposes a mandatory 25-year prison sentence for anyone convicted of killing in the name of honor and bans family members from forgiving them.
Only about a third of the 446 lawmakers attended the session, but debate was raucous, with the loudest opposition coming from hard-line Islamists...
Conservatives demanded that the Islamic Ideology Council, a body of conservative Muslim clerics, weigh in on the bill before the vote. Supporters flatly refused, saying the council routinely vetoes legislation aimed at protecting women. The council once ruled it was permissible for a man to “lightly” beat his wife, though recently it did say that honor killings are “un-Islamic.” In the end, a voice vote was held, with a strong “yes” vote and a low mumbling of those opposed.
Honor killings are rooted in traditions by which a family’s honor is bound up with a woman’s chastity. Such killings often are met with acceptance, even approval, by neighbors and relatives...
“The problem is societal behavior,” Mr. Khan said. “It has nothing to do with laws.”
The new law also requires a minimum 25-year sentence for rape convictions.
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/wo...nalty-for-honor-killings/stories/201610070153
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Public outrage has been growing in Pakistan in the wake of a string of particularly gruesome slayings. More than 1,000 women were killed last year in so-called honor killings in Pakistan, often by fathers, brothers or husbands who believed the victims had tainted the family name by marrying the man of her choice — or even meeting or being seen sitting with a man. Those who carry out such killings are almost never punished. In accordance with a rigid interpretation of Shariah, Pakistan’s legal code since the 1990s has allowed families of victims to forgive the killer. Since the killers in these cases are usually close relatives, the family almost always forgives them.
The measure passed Thursday imposes a mandatory 25-year prison sentence for anyone convicted of killing in the name of honor and bans family members from forgiving them.
Only about a third of the 446 lawmakers attended the session, but debate was raucous, with the loudest opposition coming from hard-line Islamists...
Conservatives demanded that the Islamic Ideology Council, a body of conservative Muslim clerics, weigh in on the bill before the vote. Supporters flatly refused, saying the council routinely vetoes legislation aimed at protecting women. The council once ruled it was permissible for a man to “lightly” beat his wife, though recently it did say that honor killings are “un-Islamic.” In the end, a voice vote was held, with a strong “yes” vote and a low mumbling of those opposed.
Honor killings are rooted in traditions by which a family’s honor is bound up with a woman’s chastity. Such killings often are met with acceptance, even approval, by neighbors and relatives...
“The problem is societal behavior,” Mr. Khan said. “It has nothing to do with laws.”
The new law also requires a minimum 25-year sentence for rape convictions.
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/wo...nalty-for-honor-killings/stories/201610070153
.
