How can a father have his daughter killed for dating the wrong man?

Question

I am referring to the premeditated death of a beautiful muslim woman by her family in Great Britian. It was called an "Honor Killing" and it has gained international attention in Britain, where Muslim immigrants continue this practice of "preserving family honor."

I am especially interested in the views of any Muslims on this subject. How is this acceptable?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honor_killing
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19176808/

I have no problem with Muslims. I am simply NOT understanding this practice. As a woman, a mother and human being, how could I ?

Additionally, when you immigrate, do you not agree to be a good citizen and follow the laws of that country? I don't think GB allows this practice...

Answer 1

I am not Muslim and don't agree with the practice, but you have to keep in mind this is a long-standing practice within certain sects in certain countries (not necessarily just Muslims or all Muslims...more to do with culture than religion).

It is because in that culture it has been ingrained in the for generations that things are to be a certain way and a woman is not the equal of the man, she is merely chattel. There is a certain order of things that order includes an arranged marriage; if she defies that, she shames the family and the historical punishment for that has been the death of the woman. They don't see it as murder, they see it as a mercy killing and saving her from her demons within and saving the family (I know, hard to fathom).

In the culture where they are from, if they don't adhere to the prescribed order of things, the entire family can be outcast from the community...the father and sometimes even the extended family could lose their job and no one will hire them. Without the ability to support his family financially, they lose their home, they have no place to live, no food to eat and they all could end up living in the streets and every shuns them and no one will help them.

There has been an epidemic of young teens boys in America being cast of the Morman sect for doing what teens do, rebelling against their parents (but not teen girls as they are coveted potential mates for older gentleman interested in obtaining a young wife) being "throw aways", discarding and disowned by their parents and their community and forced to live on the streets.

Answer 2

Honor killing has never been strictly limited to islamic culture. In fact, practically every society in the world at one point or another had a similar "honor killing" practice at one point in time or another.

Granted that most of the western world has gone through civil rights movements and such barbaric practices are illegal; the middle east has been much slower to adapt to the times.



UPDATE:
I sickens me to see that people are so apathetic and lack a moral grounding strong enough to state that such a practice is wrong even though it is endorsed by a sect of a culture. Simply because a society (any society, even our own) claims that something is right or ok, does not mean that on the bigger moral scale that the act is ever justifiable or inhumane. For God's sake people, have the courage to stand up and proclaim common sense and support basic compassion and respect for Human Life!

Answer 3

Well now you should start getting all the answers about how anyone who would do this is not a real Muslim,or nonsense to that affect. But the reality is Islam is a religion whose entire mentality is oppression,especially if you are a woman. No one can claim that they are the followers of a "religion of peace" and then act the way they do. I feel very sorry for this young woman,and all the others just like her,but any woman that stays in Islam should accept that this could happen to them too someday.

AD

Answer 4

i do not know much about honor killing, but i would think that this is something practiced by the more fundamental practioners of islamic faith. i do not understand the wish of some cultures to keep so strictly isolated, especially today when most every part of the world is readily connected via cellphone, internet and plane ride. it is human nature to look outside of these boundaries, to spread ones genes. its our biology to look for different mates from ourselves and our cultures ("opposites attract" afterall). i dont know. radical fundamentalism in any form of religious belief system or ideology is dangerous and oppressive. keeping women down and oppressed throughout history has created a world of intolerance and paternalism-favoring rules and codes perpetuating the desicration of the planet we live on. whatever religion we choose, at the core of it beneath all the hubub and words and conveyance of ideas of what the truth may be is the real truth - that we are all human, that we all have to live here on earth together, that we have to get along and a good way to do that is through compassion, tolerance and understanding (pretty much). basically, you shouldn't kill your daughter for dating the wrong person.

Answer 5

Killing ones children is second nature for Muslims.
Send them off to blow themselves up
turn them over to be stoned to death. No big deal to the religion of intolerance and death
Can't answer as to how this is acceptable, as it isn't in normal and civil society only to the religion of death is killing of ones children acceptable
NOTE there is never any outrage from the Muslim community only when they are tossed of a plane does outrage become heard
I can't believe there are apologist posting and those that understand and embrace the culture of DEATH posting.
It is beyond wrong no matter what culture your from. Some of your posters are sick death mongers

Answer 6

I heard of this one in the paper today. I find it rather hard to understand that a parent/relative can justify killing someone they've known all their lives just because they dared to love someone "different".

Still, I've heard of horror stories such as one poor man who was forced to kill his sister because she wanted to elope with a jew. There was a lot of peer pressure from the family and friends who didn't want to associate with him anymore because he refused to kill her in the name of family honor. The last I heard was that the lawyers were trying to get a lighter sentence for him (because he pleaded guilty and it was clear he was suffering for the choice he made).

Answer 7

Amazing how whites that live in north america and western europe are accused of being xenophobic, racist, and genocidal, yet all those of none western european heritage are killing themselves with silly superstitions and paganistic beliefs such as Islam and Hinduism.

Answer 8

There is no excuse. Put them in prison.

Answer 9

It is a tradition that goes back a long time and although we westerners don't understand it, that is how they are.

Answer 10

It's not acceptable. Simple as that.