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    'Honor Killings' Present a Clear Danger to Women

    This story comes from the Yahoo! Contributor Network, where individuals publish their unique perspectives on some of the world’s most popular websites.
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    COMMENTARY | The latest "honor killing" trial in Canada was delayed because of a bomb threat at the courthouse, according to FOX News. The three accused are Mohamman Shafia, Tooba Yahya (Shafia's wife), and their son Hamed. They are charged with killing Shafia's three daughters first wife as part of a Muslim "honor killing."

    The four victims were found under water in the Rideau Canal in a vehicle. The defense claims they drove into the canal by accident. All four seats in the car were reclined, and no passenger wore a seat belt.

    Prosecutors believe the victims were killed because they had boyfriends, chose their own clothes, wore bathing suits and were otherwise "immodest," reports The Star. The defense lawyers blame the victims by accusing the girls of dishonesty or other character flaws. Even if true, that doesn't justify the crimes. It's frightening to see such defense tactics employed.

    Equally sad was the social system's lack of reaction. One of the children told authorities on many occasions of the fear of her parents and brother. Nothing was done to help her.

    What will it take before people take the threat of honor killings seriously? Are people reluctant to act for fear of being accused of discrimination against a particular religious group? If so they should be ashamed. A murder investigation is a murder investigation regardless of the suspect's religious beliefs.

    As to the father, his attitude seems extremely cold about the matter, having commented about the deceased: "May the Devil s--- on their graves." So long as any religion can motivate such atrocities and attitudes it presents a risk.

     
    • Philip J. Frye  •  3 mths ago
      So you allow Muslims into your country, so they can kill their own family members for being to "Western." Think about that, if a group of people came to your country, and started killing their own family members out of spite of Western culture, what does that truly say about their intent in your country? It's not to assimilate, they did not come here to be peaceful, they came here to spread THEIR ideology! Thus they are willing to kill their own family members for assimilating!

      Stop all Muslim immigration to Western countries!
      • Gaylynn 3 mths ago
        I do not think we should block all of them from entering our country. How else can we protect the women, who want to assimilate into a culture that would recognize them as equals, instead of chattel? Women have no rights, or value in Muslim countries.
    • chitown  •  Chicago, Illinois  •  3 mths ago
      This is very sickening. What kind of religion is this? They are killing women and children for their stupid honor. I am so disgusted with these crazy people. I will not let any one do this to my daughter. I don't care if she comes home with a baby. I will take care of her and her baby. I don't think any religion is like that or allow any kind of killing. However, I think that these men make up their own religion to benefit themselves. Who do they think they are to take one's life? They should be arrested and executed for their crimes. They are worst than criminals. In fact, killing women and children is the most horrible thing and it should not be tolerated.
      • mesays 3 mths ago
        It is a perversion of Islam, like the Crusades were a perversion of Christianity. Why we have to put up with this in the 21st Century ...??
      • JRobert 3 mths ago
        The Crusades to the Middle East weren't a perversion of Christianity. It was a Christian military response to Muslim incursion and conquest of Christian holy Lands. Albigensian Crusade (1209-1255) was a different story altogether though.
      • Susan 3 mths ago
        Religion in general is designed to stifle women and keep them as a lower class citizen, or worse.
    • Sarafina  •  Phoenix, Arizona  •  3 mths ago
      As long as western countries allow these Muslims to live there this will continue, they have completly different culture/laws/lifestyle very uncompatable with any western country.
      I cannot understand why they would choose to live in a western country and take the chance of their children finding it far more appealing to have freedom than their odd Muslim life.
      • Pam 3 mths ago
        It is because they believe they will eventually conquer and own the US and the world that they are branching out like settlers.
      • Greg 3 mths ago
        Pam is right the only the reason they are here is to one day try and enforce sharia law.
    • Internationalist  •  3 mths ago
      Murder is murder. Fry the murderers!
    • Heather  •  Shreveport, Louisiana  •  3 mths ago
      You mean, "dishonor killing" or perhaps, misogynist horror killing. What I want to know is this--are there really peaceful Muslims? Or do they all believe in this and are secretly trying to corrupt everyone with their beliefs?
      • Jack Mackeral 3 mths ago
        yes they all believe in this. It is the word of alla. If they tell you other wise they are lying in the name of islam as they are brain washed to do. sharia law is comming to your town soon. Google " Islam: what the west needs to know", then watch the show: the whole show. and spread the word. I just read an article where they are going to remove son of god and and a few other verses from the bible because it offends muslims. How many places that sell food in your town are muslim owned?
        Don't buy anything from them. These sleeper cells are waiting for the call to jihad. They cannot by law(the word of allah) be your friend except to deceive and conquer.
      • Forward thinking 3 mths ago
        There are no peaceful Muslems, only those who have not yet seen anybody break the rules of their book.
    • kathy  •  Phoenix, Arizona  •  3 mths ago
      people we better take heed ...these atrocities are a clear warning and forcast of what is coming to US if we don't stand up and put a STOP to the infiltration of Muslims and their Sharia Law!! WAKE UP!! they are using our freedom of religion laws to do it. Sharia Law has NOTHING, NOTHING to do with freedom of religion. Your freedom stops when you are one inch from my face, then it is MY freedom you are imposing on. "non believers will be killed" it's what they are taught and it is what they believe.
      • Greg 3 mths ago
        I agree Kathy.
    • Rational  •  3 mths ago
      Surprising? Of course not...that death cult that masquerades as a religion uses their vile writings e.g. the Koran, Hadiths, Sunnah to justify murder...any murder is OK if the head(s) of the family/group/clan/tribe decide to have someone killed for any reason. They SUCK!
    • Jill  •  London, United Kingdom  •  3 mths ago
      How does the writer suggest 'we' stop these fools. I appreciate freedom of religion but when murder is acceptable maybe we should go back to basics and define 'religion'. no bery godlike .... anyway they really need to go back to their own country where this type of thing is acceptable and the temptations in a western world are removed
    • SO  •  Eugene, Oregon  •  3 mths ago
      only a demonic cult would find it an Honor to murder someone Islam is evil I dare anyone to tell me otherwise
    • Mia  •  3 mths ago
      He was an abuser and murderer and is now trying to justify it. Nothing new.
    • Michele  •  3 mths ago
      I say chain him to a slab of concrete and dump him in the ocean. Let him die the way he murdered his family. It's either that or a firing squad. Either will get the job done.
    • usjustice101  •  3 mths ago
      "So long as any religion can motivate such atrocities and attitudes it presents a risk."

      Islam is precisely that religion, and the risk it presents is a clear and present danger to our society as a whole! Never in the history of the US and Canada were the very principles of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" been under the assault they are under today from the islamic community.
    • Myxylplck  •  3 mths ago
      they talk about honor when they themselves dont have it,,,fakking hypocrites
    • Eric Z  •  3 mths ago
      honor + killing = oxymoron
    • chris  •  Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia  •  3 mths ago
      another terrible tragedy simply coz the victims happen to be women. in some cultures men are brought up with outdated values whereby women are considered as property of men ie slaves. it is these values that causes problems. btw, pls dont be fooled .slavery still does exists in many countries though not as official policy but as customary practice. it is these practices that needs to be addressed. unfortunately majority of honor killings happens in the Islamic society something the moderate muslims need to address. honor killings and female infanticide also happen in india. the good thing about india is that the press and people speak up against such murders and they have laws to deal with such outdated customs.
    • Mr. Derp  •  3 mths ago
      Islam has no place in the modern world.
    • Nickalicious  •  Santa Clara, California  •  3 mths ago
      Can you please just stop calling them "honor killings"? Why don't you just call them murders and stop giving this sick idea the value of being associated with "honor"? Let me remind you that the 9/11 attacks were "honor killings".
    • glen  •  None, Italy  •  3 mths ago
      Why do you keep calling Islam a religion when these people continue to show that it is a series of 7th to 11th century muslim laws which are out of touch with reality. All they do is preserve the muslim male belief that they can do anything to women aqnd their familky os just chattel to do with as they wish. Islam is only desired by the males of low self esteem who cannot tolerate women's rights as equals. Semper Fi.
    • old11Bravo  •  Las Cruces, New Mexico  •  3 mths ago
      I had a trite statement, but this is too sad. When will the muslim women in free countries exert influence over their own affairs (and their childrens)? If you break this ignorance in muslims perhaps there is hope that they can break the kill all infidels mentality as well.
    • Ghost  •  3 mths ago
      Looks like the problem is the muslim men. Time to fire up the ingrate extraction furnaces !!
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