About so-called "Crimes of Honour"

So-called "Crimes of Honor" are effectively the murder of girls or women by their fathers, brothers or other male relatives to "cleanse their family honor".

This type of murder takes place almost all over the world, but it is identified in different ways according to culture, religion, social practices and gender relations.

UN figures estimated in 2000 that 5,000 women are murdered annually in the world for reasons related to family honour.  Experts and activists estimate the figures to be much higher.

So-called honour murders have been reported in the ancient civilizations with some civilizations punishing women adulteress only, and other civilizations imposing punishments for “women adulteress and their partners.”

This label has been given to such crimes because they have been, and continue to be, carried out, justified and excused in the name of "honor".

Honor in the context of these crimes implies the honor of a man, and by extension the family, who feels his own and his family's reputation was disgraced by the behavior of his sister, daughter, wife or mother.

Often evidence of a crime is not necessary – gossip and rumor are enough condemnation for the victim.

Other reasons for such crimes include: being a victim of rape or incest, becoming pregnant out of wedlock, engaging in ‘illegitimate’ sexual activities, choosing to marry a man from a different faith or against the family’s wishes, losing the virginity, leaving the family’s home for unknown destinations or periods, dressing in a Western manner, appearing on social media platforms or cellphones in an ‘inappropriate clothing or statuses’, and in some instances for financial or inheritance reasons.

The man chosen by the family to carry out the murder brutally ends his female relative's life to cleanse the family of the “shame” she brought upon the family or tribe.