675 Women murdered in “Honour Killings” in Pakistan in the first nine months of 2011

The AFP on December 20 reports that a total of 675 women and girls were killed in the name of “honour” across Pakistan from January to September, 2011. That’s an average of 18 women every week, all year-round. The final figures are expected to be similar to 2010’ s figure of 791 once the tally for the remaining 3 months is added. According to statistics provided by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, about 130 of the victims were killed for marrying without permission. Some 19 were killed by their sons, 49 by their fathers and 169 by their husbands. At least 71 of the victims were under the age of 18.

Even outside Pakistan, Pakistani nationals keep implementing their “honour-killing” code with all impunity. For instance in the UK, a court believed that a child born out of wedlock by a young Pakistani lady will eventually be tracked down and killed by her family for honour’s sake - even in the UK. The court therefore has ordered that the baby be put up for secret adoption (http://barenakedislam.wordpress.com/2011/12/21/uk-court-says-muslim-baby-at-risk-of-being-honor-killed-must-be-adopted/). Elsewhere, in Belgium, four members of a Pakistani family were in December sent to prison for the murder of their daughter and sister. The girl had defied the family by living with a Belgian man and refusing an arranged marriage. Figures provided on JihadWatch indicate that the Moslem world is responsible for 91% of all “honour killings” in the world.

The number of women seriously abused in the name of honour, without outright killing, are simply legion. In a recent case reported by the AFP on December 19, a Pakistani man went a step above the Islam- permitted hitting of his teenage wife, to chop off her nose and lips in the midst of a furious marital row. The 17 year old wife Salma Bibi tells her story: "He repeatedly slapped my face and then went into the room and brought with him a locally made, sharp razor. I started shouting in panic. He tied my hands and foot with a rope and chopped off my nose and lips" (for details, see http://www.answeringmuslims.com/2011/12/pakistani-muslim-chops-off-wifes-lips.html).

It’s hard to see what is honorable in these brutalities. In other cultures of the world, Nigeria for example, “honour killing” would actually suggest killing oneself, and not the other, weaker person!