A 17 year old girl was stoned to death in Iraq because she loved the boy of some other religion. It is not just one such case but there are hundreds, if not thousands, of such cases where women are murdered by their families each year in the name of family “honor”. It is very difficult to get accurate figures on the phenomenon of honor killing as the murders frequently go unreported and the perpetrators unpunished. Even the concept of family honor justifies the act in the eyes of some societies.

Women accused by family members of bringing dishonor to families are rarely given chance to prove their innocence. In many countries where honor killing is disregarded or ignored, there are very few shelters and very little legal protection.

The prevailing view that devalues women status and individuality in society is derived from the Socio- cultural factors that are justified by a misinterpretation of religion, especially of Islam.

There is nothing in Quran which sanction Honor killing. Islam identifies and celebrates the inherent dignity bestowed by God upon all human beings regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or religion. The Quran emphasizes on the equality of men and women before God:

And their Lord has accepted of them and answered them, Never will I suffer to be lost the work of any of you, whether male or female, you are members, one of another...” (3:195; see also 33:35)

But even then women are considered as the property of males in their family. The owner of the commodity has the right to decide its fate.

We can see what happens when people or culture, misinterpret and use religion which promotes abuse, murder, shame, betrayals, fear and pain. I believe that women, who are created by this cosmic creative energy called GOD, are able, with their bodies, to deliver an independent life into this world- a child. Each person has half of their chromosomes from her mother and half from their father. But then men cannot pro- create, which a female can do. So why are you punishing her when instead she should be thanked? How can you put to shame of half of what you are?

Source: Guardian