One of the darkest aspects of modern reality exposes deeply rooted, sick mentalities with women as victims. Every year, thousands of women worldwide are brutally murdered in so-called “honor killings,” a horrific crime where perpetrators attempt to justify their appalling acts of violence, claiming the victim brought shame to the family. Issues of divorce, sexual contact, and naturally, failure to adhere to a dress code can ignite the fuse of brutality, arming – to an unjustifiable degree – the hands of men who ignore every women’s right. Women’s lives appear to be devalued to a terrifying extent in countries where mindless adherence to obscurantist views encourages savage attacks.
The crimes are recorded more frequently in parts of the Middle East and South Asia, with nearly half of all honor killings occurring in India and Pakistan. It is concerning that in certain countries, such as Jordan, honor killings are punished minimally, with Article 340 of the Jordanian penal code providing mitigation for those who kill female relatives deemed “guilty” of adultery.
Activists from around the world are trying to conduct their own campaign to end the abuse, however chilling cases of femicide continue to remind us that the road is long.
“Honor killings”: Stories of violence against women that shock
Just a few weeks ago, a pregnant teenager carrying her rapist’s child was brutally murdered by her fiancé in Turkey during an “honor killing” after he learned about the sexual assault.
As the number of deadly “honor killings” continues to rise, the question remains: When will the international community take action and finally end this barbaric practice?
A teenage hero from Iraq described how he saved his friend’s life as her parents allegedly attempted to strangle her in an “honor killing.”
A father who moved his family from the United States to Pakistan was arrested after shooting his daughter in an “honor killing” for… using social media.
“Honor killings” are common in Pakistan, where family members and relatives kill a woman if she does not follow local traditions or if she chooses to marry a man of her choice.
According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, more than 1,000 women are murdered each year in the country by community or family members due to alleged staining of “honor.”
A Syrian refugee who fled to the Netherlands allegedly confessed to murdering his 18-year-old daughter and throwing her body in a canal before leaving the country, in an apparent confession note he sent to a Dutch newspaper last year.
A Somali refugee who murdered his seven-month pregnant girlfriend in an “honor killing” was sentenced to life in prison by a Swedish court in 2024.
