Honor Killings in South Asia

Last Updated on July 24, 2023 by Administrator

Written By – Tanni Ganguly, Pursuing Master of Laws (LLM) from South Asian University

Abstract:

This paper analyses the factors that lead to honor killings as a form of human rights violation and the contexts in which they occur. It also makes several recommendations for the various international authorities to consider, acknowledging the need to immediately respond to honor killings when they occur and work tirelessly to address their underlying causes, which are more enormous gender imbalances in societies that tolerate the practice. Western nations that receive immigrants have dealt with honor killings and other types of honor-related violence for the past 20 years. The report details the state of honor killing in three countries (Pakistan, India and Afghanistan) of south Asia when honor killing still taking place mostly. Over time, violence motivated by honor has become sanctioned by the law in numerous nations and contemporary parts of the world. A lady in an immigrant neighborhood threatened with honor killing by her family faces bias not just based on gender but ethnicity, race, and gender if she seeks the police’s assistance. The historical context of these rules encouraging honor killing and protecting those who commit it is examined in the article. To show readers the variety of honor killings worldwide, some well-known case studies are also discussed in the paper’s concluding section. The report also includes several recommendations made by various international authorities. The study critically explores instances of honor killing in different places of the world regardless of economic growth and political superiority because honor killing claims the lives of many innocent people, mainly women, around the world.

Introduction: 

A female relative who is seen to have harmed family honor may be killed by male family members in an act known as honor killing. Her demise restores the family’s honor. A woman or girl may be the target of an honor killing if she talks to an unrelated man, agrees to extramarital affairs, is raped, or refuses to wed a man chosen by her family. This action can be brought about even by a mere suspicion that the lady has committed one of these offences. There is no need for more justification. The woman is typically killed by her father, brother, or uncle, while other women in the family are typically also involved in the crime. There is no need for more justification. Although other women in the family are usually also involved, the woman is most frequently killed by her father, brother, or uncle. The real perpetrators of these crimes are frequently praised for having restored the family honor and, if caught, typically receive a reduced sentence on the grounds that honor is viewed as an extenuating circumstance. A young boy is frequently chosen to perpetrate the offence in order to gain leniency from the court. Honor killings may be seen as a “rite of passage” in some cultures that signify and guarantee social maturity. According to UN data, violence against women is the leading cause of mortality for women between the ages of 15 and 44. one type of violence aimed at women. “Honor killings” are one type of violence committed against women.

Objectives of the paper

Honor killings are now among the less-discussed types of human rights abuse. The severity of this offence has grown over time. But there haven’t been many explanations or expressions of the awareness of such brutal crime. The following are the paper’s key goals in this regard: 

• fostering an accurate knowledge of honour killing as a type of honor-based violence that violates human rights.
• analysing the primary causes of honor-related violence and murder.
• describing the international context of honour killing.
• examining the effects of honour killing in various societal contexts.
• analysing the connection between religious intolerance and honour killing.
• analysing the laws and rules that sanction honour killing.
• investigating the connection between honour killings and religious principles.examining whether Islam has any connections to honour killing.
• examining the international authority’s efforts to combat honour killing.
• offering suggestions from within a society to combat honour killing.
•  

The Concept of Human Rights:

Human rights are those that belong to a person or group of people merely because they are human, as a result of their vulnerability, or because they are necessary for the development of a just society. Regardless of their theoretical foundation, human rights encompass a broad range ofcontinuum of qualities that are in some way equally claimed for all people, past, present, and future, and are believed to improve human agency or safeguard human interests. Human rights are standards that shield all individuals from serious political, judicial, and social injustices. A key piece of contemporary international human rights law is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, or UDHR. It was approved by the UN General Assembly on December 10, 1948, in Paris’s Palais de Chaillot.^[1] It comprises of 30 articles outlining the UN’s criteria for the human rights that are guaranteed to everyone.

The Declaration is not legally enforceable, but it has had significant influence since it was passed, and many of its provisions have been included into significant international agreements as well as national constitutions. Numerous nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have developed that are devoted to one or more of the Declaration’s provisions. Additionally, it declares that everyone is entitled to freedom from exploitation, sexism, gender inequity, and slavery.² The Declaration of Independence does, however, state that these rights must be exercised in accordance with “just standards of morality, public order, and the general benefit in a democratic society.” ^[2]

Violation of Human Rights

The idea that everyone has a certain set of fundamental rights regardless of their situation has received almost universal support. The most fundamental of them is the right to life and physical safety, together with other civil liberties and political rights. Human rights represent the expression of the importance of fairness, tolerance, respect for one another, and human dignity in all of our endeavours.^[3]When we talk about rights, we can convey the notion that every person falls under the purview of morality and justice. Assuring that people are treated decently and humanely is a key component of protecting human rights. On the other hand, it is morally wrong to deprive someone of their moral rights by violating the most fundamental human rights. In a sense, it is treating them as though they are less than human and unworthy of respect and decency. Examples of “crimes against humanity” include genocide, torture, slavery, rape, forced sterilisation, and medical experimentation. Purposeful hunger as well as experiments. Limiting the unbridled power of the state is a crucial component of international law since these policies are occasionally carried out by governments. ^[4]Laws that ban certain “crimes against humanity” are based on the nondiscrimination principle and the idea that some fundamental rights are universal.

Honor based Violence

Honor-based violence (HBV) is a term used to characterise acts of violence carried out within the context of the extended family and motivated by a perceived need to regain social status that has allegedly been lost as a result of the victim’s actions. Although men may also be at risk, women and girls make up the majority of HBV victims. Expressions of autonomy by women and girls could damage their reputations, especially if they involve sexuality^[5]. Men may be targeted by their own families or by the family of a woman who they believe has been dishonoured, depending on whether they are seen to be homosexual.

30 January 2003). Available at  http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/afrec/sgreport/pressrel.htm; Internet.

• Refusing an arranged marriage, 
• dating outside of the group,
• losing one’s virginity, 
• becoming pregnant,
• being alone without a family member around,
• reporting domestic violence are some examples of common HBV triggers.
• trying to get a divorce; 
• arguing for child custody after a divorce; 
• refusing to have a divorce when family members want it.

However, some families may decide to kill or harm a family member for what could seem like relatively minor reasons. Even though it seems unlikely, it is crucial to take clients’ fears of HBV seriously. When it comes to safety hazards, HBV victims are more prone to understate them than to overstate them. Even while this may seem inconsequential to the victim, it is not to the victim’s family.^[6] HBV risk individuals may have had unfavourable encounters with authority and expectations. Reassuring potential victims is crucial, as is being sensitive to cultural differences and compassionate without assuming anything about the victim’s history or culture.

The Concept of Honor Killing:

Murder perpetrated by a male on a female relative who is thought to have brought dishonour to the family—typically by sexual conduct forbade by religion or tradition—is known as a “honour killing.” The following is how Human Rights Watch defines “honour killings”:

Honor killings are acts of retaliation, generally resulting in death, carried out by male family members against their female counterparts who are believed to have tarnished the family’s reputation. A woman may come under attack by (people in her family) for a number of reasons, such as refusing to join into an arranged marriage, experiencing sexual assault, requesting a divorce—even from an abusive husband—or (supposedly) engaging in adultery.^[7] Even just the notion that a lady has acted in a way that “dishonors” her family can result in an attack on her life. Honor-killing frequently manifests itself in the form of a parent killing a child for disobeying them, as John Lawler notes, and not even in a life-threatening or even dangerous fashion. ^[8]When a child is If a person is underage (as is commonly the case when assessed by contemporary, western standards), then the parent has failed to provide for and safeguard their child. There can be no doubt that this is a murder if the child is of legal age and ought to behave

independently of others and as an adult. An individual cannot be held accountable for their own acts and liable to a legal guardian in such a high-stakes situation, certainly not with their life. ¹⁰

Citizens are only held accountable to the state, according to the majority of democratic forms of government.¹¹ Even state-sponsored killing does not attempt to minimise the demise with a sugar-coated euphemism; this is referred to as an execution, capital punishment, or death sentence, as was already mentioned. The proclaimed purpose of such assassinations is to eliminate a continuous threat to society, not to restore the honor of the community.

The following list includes several detailed honor killing triggers:

1. Refusal of an arranged marriage: An honor killing frequently results from a refusal of an arranged marriage. If the marriage does not go through, the family that prearranged it risks scandal.
2. Divorce-seeking: A woman trying to separate or get a divorce without the husband’s or extended family’s permission may also set off an honor killing. In societies where families frequently trade things and marriages are arranged, a woman’s desire to obtain a divorce is frequently seen as an affront to the men who negotiated the arrangement. The women are perceived as exposing the family to public dishonor by disclosing their marital issues outside of the family.
3. Rumors and accusations against a family member: In certain cultures, only one rumor or accusation against a woman can ruin her family’s reputation and lead to an honor killing since the family is so terrified of being shunned by the community.
4. Victims of rape: In many cultures, victims of rape experience extreme violence from their families and kin, including honor killings. Women who have been sexually assaulted are frequently thought to have brought their families “dishonor” or “disgrace” in many cultures. This is particularly true in cases where the victim gets pregnant. In many communities, a woman’s virginity—which must be maintained until marriage—is at the heart of the code of honor. According to Suzanne Ruggi, “A woman’s virginity is the property of the males around her, first her father, then a gift for her husband; as she progresses to marriage, it becomes a virtual dowry.”
5. Homosexuality: There is evidence that relatives may use as justification for an honour killing. Violence is not only sparked by same-sex acts; it can also result from actions that are seen as

1. 6. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/26/world/europe/26turkey.html?_r=0 Ahmet Kaya,  Ahŵet Yildizs ĐousiŶ, said Mƌ. Yildiz ǁas the oŶlLJ soŶ of a deeplLJ ƌeligious aŶd ǁealthLJ ͛ Kurdish family from Sanliurfa, in the predominantly Kurdish southeast.

1. Daughter pregnant by rape, killed by family – World. BrisbaneTimes (13 January 2009).  Retrieved on 1 October 2011.

inappropriate gender expression, such as when a man acts or dresses in a “feminine way.” In one instance, a gay Jordanian man’s brother shot and injured him.

Honor killing in Pakistan: 

Honor a vague concept in a Patriarchal society – has long been used to justify the criminality of murder. Women are considered the most oppressed group in Pakistani society. Every day, there are stories in newspapers reporting horrible crimes against women, such as acid throwing, Vani, domestic violence, child marriages, bride burning, rape, human trafficking, and even killing in the name of honor. Women’s emancipation corresponds to the complete independence of women to exercise their free will. This becomes a reality only when women are liberated from the shackles of the patriarchal society. What resists this emancipation is the myopic customs and traditions, which are the bedrock of this male-controlled society.^[9] Therefore most of the crimes have been committed against women in the name of customs. Honor killing is a cultural norm in societies like Pakistan where victims are slain for failing to honor their parents. Not only this, but women are also brutally murdered by members of their family when they pursue education, leave an abusive husband, deal with property disputes, exact revenge for being rejected or insulted, or engage in extramarital affairs, among other reasons. In tribal societies where male-dominated informal processes of dispute resolution are still in place, these habits and traditions become increasingly aggressive.

Not only this, but women are also brutally murdered by members of their family when they pursue education, leave an abusive husband, deal with property disputes, exact revenge for being rejected or insulted, or engage in extramarital affairs, among other reasons.^[10] In tribal societies where male-dominated informal processes of dispute resolution are still in place, these habits and traditions become increasingly aggressive. Honor killings rank among the most psychologically difficult, difficult-to-prove crimes against humanity on a legal and social level. Both savage and repugnant, reports of women being burned to death, stoned to death, stabbed to death, electrocuted, and strangled to death.

The legislature passed 20 laws. Twelve ordinances were issued by the president. 120 statutes were passed by the provincial legislatures. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa produced the most laws, with 40, followed by Sindh (32), Punjab (31) and Balochistan (31). (17). Several significant laws were nonetheless passed by the provinces using the 18th Constitutional Amendment’s enlarged legislative authority, but the implementation process stalled. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bonded Labor System (Abolition Act), the Balochistan Prevention and Control of Thalassemia Act, the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women Act, and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Prohibition of Employment of Children Act were all significant pieces of legislation.

Some occurrences of honor killings in Pakistan: 

According to sources, Ms. Muqaddas’ neck was slit by her father, brother, and mother while she was carrying her second child because she had wed without the will of her family. About three years ago. The recent deaths of a second pregnant woman and her husband by relatives who disapproved of their marriage, as well as a young girl who was murdered by her brother for wishing to marry a guy of her choosing, have been added to the most recent spate of honour killings in Pakistan. Maria Sadaqat, a 19-year-old schoolteacher, was tortured and burned alive on May 31 by family members after she had turned down an arranged marriage proposal.

Young girls are also affected: on April 29, Ambreen ‘iasat’ ‘as body was discovered outside a vehicle that had been burned on fire during a jiga over his murder for aiding in the killing of his wife. I once witnessed a man having his throat cut by his wife, who had disapproved of their match—a uncommon occurrence for a male victim.^[11] Samia Shahid, a 28-year-old Bradford beautician, was slain last month when visiting her ancestors in northern Puja. Despite Ms. Hahid’s assertion that she had a heart attack, her second husband says he thinks she was killed in an alleged honor killing because the deceased was married to him at the time of her death.

Choudhry Shakeel, Ms. “hahid’s ed”-husband, has been detained on suspicion of murder. Mohammed, her father, has also been detained and is charged with conspiring to commit the crime. In a courtroom in the northern city of Jhelum on Saturday, both men appeared in chains and with their faces hidden. The judge there ruled that they should be detained for four days while evidence is gathered against them.

Honor Killing in India

Every year, India experiences 1000 honor killings, as was already mentioned before. The remote Indian states have not yet become as industrialised as India’s advanced cities with the passage of time. In some areas of the nation, the rule of law is weak. As a result, honour killings are becoming more common in this nation. In the northern parts of India, particularly in the states of Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, there have been reports of honour killings as a result of persons getting married without their families’ consent and occasionally for marrying outside of their caste or religion. Honor killings, on the other hand, are less common but nevertheless occur in South India and the western Indian states of Maharashtra and Gujarat.¹⁵ Honor killings were fully eradicated in several other regions of India, most notably West Bengal, around a century ago, largely as a result of the activism and influence of reformers like Vivekananda, Ramakrishna, Vidyasagar, and Raja Ram Mohan Roy.

[Honor killings are terrifyingly prevalent in Haryana villages controlled by lawless “khap panchayats” (caste councils of village elders)]. In a historic ruling issued in March 2010, the Karnal District Court ordered the execution of five Kaithal honor killing perpetrators and the life imprisonment of the khap (local caste-based council) chief who gave the order to kill Manoj Banwala and Babli, a couple from the same clan who had secretly wed in June 2007. They were abducted despite having police protection due to court orders, and their mangled bodies were discovered in an irrigation canal a week later. In Garnauthi village, Haryana, in 2013, a young couple who were engaged was killed because they were having an extramarital affair. Rajasthan is also a state where honor killings occur. After finding out that his 20-year-old daughter was dating males, he used a sword to cut off her head in Rajasthan in June 2012. As stated by officer of the law “According to Omkar Singh, his daughter Manju had relationships with a number of other males. Several times before, he had pleaded with her to change her ways. But she paid no attention. He used the sword to cut off her head out of pure wrath “.

In order to address the issues of honor killings among specific ethnic groups in North India, the National Commission for Women established a legislative body in 1990. This body examined issues affecting women as well as constitutional, legal, and other provisions. ^[12]The NCW’s campaigning has made a substantial contribution to the decline in honor killings in North Indian rural areas. Hina Jilani and Eman M. Ahmed, two activists from Pakistan, claim that Indian women are much better protected from honor killings by Indian law and government than Pakistani women are. They have recommended that governments of nations where honor killings are a problem use Indian law as a model to stop honor killings in their respective societies.

The Supreme Court of India requested comments about honor killing prevention from the federal government and the state governments of Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh in June 2010 as it examined the rising incidence of honor killings. The government planned to introduce a measure in the Monsoon Session of Parliament in July 2010 to provide deterrent penalty for “honor” killings in response to the alarming spike in these crimes. Over 30% of all honor killings in the nation, according to an AIDWA report, occur in Western Uttar Pradesh.

Honor killing in Afghanistan:

The behaviors that are considered to defame the family and justify honor killings are continually evolving. In the past, these behaviors typically included adultery, refusing to participate in prearranged marriages, engaging in romantic or sexual intercourse with a man other than one’s spouse, losing one’s virginity prior to marriage, and breaking off an engagement. ^[13]The list of

moral sins grew throughout time to include behaviors that aren’t typically associated with moral wrongdoing in many countries, like participating in social action, fleeing an abusive spouse or in-law, exercising one’s rights and freedoms, and premarital romance. More regrettably, even female victims of crimes and sad events, such rape, molestation, and forced prostitution, abduction, abandonment by the fiancée, and other behaviors thought to defame the family are now no grounds for honor killing.¹⁸ Bad, the custom of giving away a girl or woman to make up for an offence, is still practiced in Afghanistan. Any lady or girl who rejects this custom risked being killed in the cause of preserving her family’s honor.

Before and during the Taliban era, honor killings were a common occurrence in Afghanistan. During the decade of reconstruction that followed the US-led invasion in 2001, the practise apparently decreased. However, incidents of women being imprisoned in family cellars, female suicides, self-immolations, and so-called accidental deaths that appeared to be disguised or modified versions of honor killings continued to be documented.

The government started a peace process in 2011 to reintegrate Talibans into society. Newspapers around the country have since started to report an increase in honor killings. This warning was made by the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission in a statement released in October 2012, which noted that 60 honor killing incidents had been documented in just the first half of the Afghan calendar year.

nationwide killing The Independent Human Right in Afghanistan If you exclude the several additional occurrences that occurred in isolated locations but went unreported, this amounts to an average of 10 honor killings every month. The Taliban’s resurgence seems to signal that women’s exploitation and oppression are once again “open season.” As a result, acts of violence against women as well as egregious crimes against women such beheadings, lacerations, hangings, torture, public executions, and assassinations are on the rise.

Women who survive honor killings are imprisoned for their alleged “moral transgressions.”

Even though official numbers are not publicly available, according to a study from Human Rights Watch from March 2012, there are about 400 women and girls who are detained for committing “moral offences” in three jails. They make up almost all of the teenage girls housed in juvenile detention institutions and roughly half of all women in jails in Afghanistan. Many of these women would rather stay behind bars because they are aware that once they are released, their family members will kill them as retaliation for bringing dishonour to the household. According to tradition, both elopement and imprisonment carry a stain of immorality that justifies honor killing. As a result, women who flee their homes or who have spent time in prison have very little prospect of reuniting with their family since they are either subjected to honor killings or are rejected by them.

181818 ibid

Islam on Honor Killing^[14]

Islam vehemently forbids the execution of anyone without justification. No of the justification, according to Islamic principles, no one is allowed to break the law and murder someone. Despite the fact that Islam does apply the death penalty to some offences. The accuser, judge, and executioner could all be the same individual. With anyone allowed to murder someone and then justify their actions, society would completely disintegrate as a result of this. Islam has therefore established a particularly particular system for carrying out the law. According to Islam, a judge must hear the arguments made by both the accuser and the accused before passing judgement. This makes sure that justice is upheld and that society runs according to the rule of law. The following claims made by Islam strictly forbids the killing of those who are believers, as stated in the holy Quran: “Whoever kills a believer purposefully, their reward will be Hell, to live therein eternally, and the wrath and the curse of Allah are upon them, and a horrific retribution is planned for them.”¹⁹ Islam does not have a historical precedent for “honor killing.” No scripture from the Qur’an and no statement attributed to the Prophet Muhammad (S) support these offences. “Honor killings” were unheard of in the early days of Islam. This idea, which seems to have emerged relatively recently, is founded primarily on ignorance of Islam’s genuine teachings and possibly certain old traditions that predate Islam. These “crimes of passion” do not only occur among Muslims. As an illustration, there are around 1,200 women slain by their husbands or intimate partners each year in the United States.

Initiatives and recommendations to combat honor killing 

It is obvious that honor killing violates the victim’s right to life, which is recognized as the most important human right and is incorporated in all major human rights treaties.

the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), among other things (1948). Additionally, given that family honor is viewed as an extenuating condition, it might be argued that honor killing is a kind of prejudice because it targets women and is also seen as a less serious crime than killing a man. Agreement to Abolish All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)^[15]

The adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against

Women (CEDAW), often referred to as the “International Treaty on the Bill of Rights for Women,” in 1979 was a significant step toward addressing the acknowledged gender bias in human rights legislation. Agreement with CEDAW States In addition to abstaining from all acts of gender discrimination, parties are also required to control the conduct of other public and private organisations and persons.^[16] According to this clause, the state is responsible for policing

private activities such various forms of gender-based violence or violence against women (VAW). Honor killing is one of the more extreme examples of gender-based violence or violence against women, as was stated above. responsible for controlling private activities such as various forms of violence or gender-based violence Governments in nations where honour killing occurs among a minority community may also be reluctant to take a strong stance against human rights abuses within that society.^[17]

exclude the gods except for the ultimate specification. The act of “tuig a limp eLJe” (judging a crime) occurs on many different levels, from the police or medical staff called to the crime scene to the judges and jurors called to hear the case. In order to defend honour killing and prevent it from being prosecuted as a capital offence, it is frequently possible to cite religion or cultural distinctiveness.

Almost all nations in the world are working to put an end to this shame killing. The following suggestions could prove to be extremely important in combating honor killing as a growing barrier to the development of society:

• Initially, people must alter their perceptions of honor. First, it’s crucial to think about the meaning of honor.
• People need to have a true understanding of religion in order to stop honor killings.
• Since female members of society may defend themselves if they are educated, we know that no religion supports killing to preserve honor, even if honor killings tend to target women more often than men.
• Many communal and religious leaders can play significant roles in a culture.
• Stopping honor killings in society is our job People can launch efforts to end honor killings through the media, the press, or through schools.
• With the assistance of the government, an NGO, the community, or another method, such as college institutions.
• Girls and boys have the right to personal independence once they reach adulthood.
• Parents must allow their children the opportunity to select a life partner or any other life related requirement
• Government must ensure that these laws are upheld throughout society so that no Men and women are murdered in the name of honor killing.
• There are numerous communal and religious leaders in a society who can play a significant role in putting an end to honor killings.
• People can launch campaigns to end honor killings through the media, newspapers, schools, colleges, or in any other means with the assistance of the community and the government.
• To stop honor killing in society, police should be sincerer and almost prejudice-free in their response times. Police should be aware that any religion, practice, or custom that restricts a citizen’s right to privacy must be contested.

Conclusion:

The phenomenon of honor killings is primarily restricted to traditional Islamic patriarchal social structures. Men’s subjective perceptions or social norms, or when a woman crosses lines that cast doubt on or harm the husband’s honor, are what cause honor killings. The majority of men and women believed that killing one’s wife in the event of extramarital sexual liaison was justified and acceptable as a way to settle one’s score while completely avoiding the legal system. The overwhelming majority of men and women did not believe in either forgiveness or giving another chance to someone who has engaged in an intimate relationship, which was the most upsetting finding. Although the results are early and the first of their kind, they highlight the need for a population-based study to identify attitudes and opinions in our nation and their correlates in order to confront, analyses, and prevent the problem of honor killings using a multispectral approach. The man must now act to reclaim his honor. This subject hasn’t received much public discussion up until now. It is time to stop turning a blind eye and instead support the girls and women who are in risk, use all available legal means to put an end to honor killings, and punish offenders harshly.

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[1] Eleanor Roosevelt: Address to the United Nations General Assembly  www.americanrhetoric.com, December 9, 1948, in Paris, France. Retrieved May 12, 2007. ² Helena Kennedy. “Conflict Resolution and Human Rights: Contradictory or Complementary?” INCORE, 1.

[2] United Nations Press Release SG/SM/6524 SC/6503 “Secretary-General Says Proposals in  his Report on Africa Require New Ways of Thinking, of Acting” (16 April 1998, accessed 

[3] “Sexual Violence and Armed Conflict: United Nations Response.” United Nations. Available at: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/public/cover.htm; Internet.

[4] “Sexual Violence.” Available at:  http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/public/cover.htm; Internet.

[5] Honor based violence awareness network, link: http://hbv-awareness.com/honour based-viole

[6] “Honour killings, domestic disputes claim 720 lives in Sindh”

[7] “Honour killing in Karnataka”, http://www.deccanherald.com/content/538665/mandya honour-killing-policeclaim.html

[8] “Belief that honour killings are ‘justified’ still prevalent among Jordan’s next generation,  study shows | University of Cambridge”. Cam.ac.uk. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 16 August  2013.

[9] “Belief that honour killings are ‘justified’ still prevalent among Jordan’s next generation, study shows | University of Cambridge”. Cam.ac.uk. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2013.

[10] Yashar, Ari. “PA ‘Honor Killings’ Up 100% in 2013”. Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 26 February 2014.

[11] Birch, Nicholas (19 July 2008). “The victim of Turkey’s first gay honour killing?”. The Independent. London. ¹⁵¹⁵ Daughter pregnant by rape, killed by family – World. BrisbaneTimes (13 January 2009). Retrieved on 1 October 2011.

[12] “Explainer: Why Is It So Hard To Stop ‘Honor Killings’?”. RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. 

Retrieved 20 April 2015.

[13] Legacy of Honor and Violence: An Analysis of Factors Responsible for Honor Killings in Afghanistan, Canada, India, and Pakistan as Discussed in Selected Documentaries on Real Cases Deler singh.

[14] Verse 93 of Chapter 4 of the Holy Quran

[15] Sharma, Vibha (28 March 2010). “Who gave khaps the right to kill: PC”. Tribune Company. 

The Tribune. Retrieved 4 April 2010.

[16] . International Campaign Against Honour Killings (ICAHK): international campaign, articles  and cases, http://stophonourkillings.co

[17] UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women  (CEDAW), www.un.womenstreaty.or