Re: Syria amends honour killing law
Reply #20 - July 27, 2009, 01:02 PM
It is simply ridiculous to label an issue that is being discussed: "insignificant" just because it remotely touches on a religion and it's believers. No, it's downright offensive, look at things objectively, accept criticism and allow us all to talk about matters that affect the human condition collectively without having to tread on egg shells.
I don't know your background John, but your opinion on honor killings would be different if you lived in a Muslim country. I did, and I can tell you that nothing could be further than the truth.
I once had my paternal aunt tell me that my mother deserved to be killed and should have had her dad kill her with his own hands for refusing to wear the hijab, I asked her why, she told me that it's how things are done, the family have the right to protect their honor and decency and any "weed that threatens the health of the flower should be pruned". She also told me that under Syrian law (my aunt lives in Syria) honor killings are given judicial sympathy, and often left unreported.
People were outraged when they found out that under Syrian law if a man catches a woman who is his relative committing adultery and murders her without premeditation the man is free of sentence. Yet this is only the top of the moundhill, worse things happen. Honor killings happen with fulll premeditation and the man often pleads the "anger" defence, either gets away with it or pays a small bribe to the judge (the foundation of Syrian beauracracy is bribery). Of course, that law has been "reformed" but the reform is probably a quickfix in response to Western eyes and anger, and, I doubt it will make a difference in most cases. To show you how corrupt and quick Syrian law can be amended, the constitution states that no president can be sworn in if they are under 40 years of age. Bashar Al Assad was 34 when his father died and the caretaker president stepped down, they held a quick session, and in under 2 minutes they made a vote to change the constitution on this matter from 40 years of age to 34 (convenient isn't it?) The motion was passed unanimously and the constitution was changed in two minutes. This shows that this "reform" is an effortless lie.
And Syria is meant to be one of the more liberal and secular countries of the Middle East, imagine Saudi Arabia or Iran!
Now, if you have any self respect and decency, you will not refer to issues such as honor killing as insignificant or unimportant, just because you have an agenda doesn't give you an excuse to completely p*ss on important humanitarian issues.
"I am ready to make my confession. I ask for no forgiveness father, for I have not sinned. I have only done what I needed to do to survive. I did not ask for the life that I was given, but it was given nonetheless-and with it, I did my best"
Topic: Syria amends honour killing law