Good News? Palestinian women hoping for new law that makes honor killings illegal

I know, we don't think about such things, but in Islamic countries, or where sharia is prevalent there is no penalty for family members to kill one of their own if it is thought honor has been besmirched.  Hamas follows some sharia, but if Hamas and Fatah reconcile there is legislation that would outlaw honor killings.  Women all over Islam would benefit greatly from this, but the problem is Hamas and Fatah.  Internal squabbling does not bode well for a reconciliation and the passing of laws anytime soon.  Women in Islam need our help, support and protection, and since the left and all their synchophants will do nothing it is our voices which can make a difference.  Stand and support women's rights globally and let your voice be heard.


From Gulf News Feb 14 by Nasouh Nazzal

Palestinian women await scrapping of honour killing

Ramallah: The Palestinian Women's Movement is awaiting the implementation of the reconciliation deal between Hamas and Fatah, which will pave the way for a legitimate parliament to approve the long-awaited legislation which abolishes the legal clauses that allow crimes of honour.

In an interview with Gulf News, Rawdah Baseer, an activist of the Palestinian Feminist Movement and head of the Palestinian Women's Studies Centre, said the legislation once approved will be a key achievement for the women fighting against this menace since the 1990s.

"We resent those two clauses which led to the death of many innocent women in our land," she said.

She said that the movement has studied the Palestinian Criminal Law, which is originally Jordanian, in detail and came up with amendments.

"An average of 12 women are killed annually in the Palestinian Territories on honour grounds," she said. "Men are taking advantage of the law," she stressed.

A man who kills a relative is either pardoned, given a suspended sentence or six months to three years imprisonment which is reduced further once appealed, she said. However, when a woman murders her unfaithful husband, she is given a minimum of 15 years imprisonment. "This is not acceptable any more," she said.

"The Palestinian courts do not even investigate the women's cases, and once the accused men claim they had acted on honour grounds, their claims are approved and sentenced accordingly," she said. "This is unfair."

A recent study by the Arab World Research and Development revealed that 74.5 per cent of the youth want the clauses abolished.