Amman - A Jordanian court has sentenced a man to six months in prison for the "honour" killing of his pregnant sister, a judicial source said on Monday.
The man, who was not named, was convicted of strangling his sister who was pregnant with her husband's child after the couple had divorced.
In handing down the lenient sentence, the court said the man had acted in a "fit of anger", the source said.
Last year at least 12 women were killed in similar crimes in the conservative Muslim kingdom.
The perpetrators of "honour" crimes in Jordan are generally close to their victims and often receive light sentences if convicted.
The man, who was not named, was convicted of strangling his sister who was pregnant with her husband's child after the couple had divorced.
In handing down the lenient sentence, the court said the man had acted in a "fit of anger", the source said.
Last year at least 12 women were killed in similar crimes in the conservative Muslim kingdom.
The perpetrators of "honour" crimes in Jordan are generally close to their victims and often receive light sentences if convicted.
Parliament has twice refused to reform the penal code in a bid to end the quasi impunity of men who commit such killings, despite pressure from human rights organisations.
source
Mohammed, along with Buraq and Gabriel, visit Hell, and see a demon punishing "shameless women" who had exposed their hair to strangers. For this crime of inciting lust in men, the women are strung up by their hair and burned for eternity. Persian, 15th century.
Unfortunately, six months is the average sentence for these killings in Jordan. There are three penal code articles on the books--Articles 97, 98, and 340--that offer leniency to the perpetrators, so the state actually treats them as misdemeanors. This particular incident is typical for Jordan.
ReplyDeleteAlmost as bad, there are no shelters in Jordan that will protect these at-risk girls and women, so they are warehoused in Jweideh Correctional Centre (a prison outside Amman) in what is called protective custody for typically years at a time. Seven years is the average right now. Meanwhile, the people who threaten them walk free.
It should be noted that, in cases of rape, it is the victim who is subject to "honor" killing, not the rapist. The thinking is that a family's honor resides in its women, not its men, and that is why they are held to much greater account.
Ellen R. Sheeley, Author
"Reclaiming Honor in Jordan"
(Available on the American version of Amazon.com)
http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/
ReplyDeletejordanian-wins-cartoon-spring-competition
Us and them, but the freedom tweet was quite good I thought.
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