(Frontpage Magazine) - James Emery In the feudal, patriarchal societies of the Middle East, honor is based on what men feel is important, and reputation is everything. Unfortunately, thousands of women have been killed in the name of honor because imagination and rumors are as important as actions and events. Honor killings occur for a variety of offenses, including allegations of premarital or extramarital sex, refusing an arranged marriage, attempting to obtain a divorce, or simply talking with a man. There are at least 25 "official" honor killings a year among the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and 35 a year in Jordan. The actual number of deaths is much higher, as hundreds of women have died from strange and unusual accidents or questionable suicides.
2003-05-08 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive