Trigger warning: This article may be triggering for some readers as it deals with graphic violence.
“I was determined either to kill myself or kill her.”
That was the justification given on Sunday by the brother and murderer of Qandeel Baloch, a 26-year-old Pakistani social media star who was asphyxiated in the name of ‘family honour.’
The violent murder of Baloch has put honour killings back into public conversation, with outrage emerging from numerous voices who are demanding we talk about the murder itself, as well as ‘honour killings’ more broadly.
Fierce debate has begun about the use of the term ‘honour’ to describe such crimes, and the cultural context which allows such cruel acts to occur.
Qandeel Baloch was not afraid to be different. Post continues after video…
Pakistani publication Daily Times wrote that Baloch’s “only crime was that she was born in a society that refuses to allow women to live on their own terms.” The article said that their laws, often in the name of religion (which, they noted, also bring their religion into disrepute), “give sanction to this misogyny and protect it.”
It’s affirming to see introspection coming from the same culture where Baloch’s murder was deemed acceptable by her family members. But, of course, this should come as no surprise. Every culture is diverse and full of contradictions, because people are people and there are good and bad ones, moderate and extremist ones, no matter where you are.
But when we hear these stories - that a man found it more honourable to kill his sister than allow her self direction -because he thought a woman's place was in the home and she refused to conform to that, it's only natural to distance ourselves. To tell ourselves that these things happen in another world, in another place where people believe different things and have beliefs about women that we wouldn't even recognise. But that's simply not the case.
It happens here, too.
All the time.
As of July this year, domestic violence has killed 36 women in Australia.
According to ABC Fact Check, one in six Australian women has experienced violence at the hands of a partner since the age of 15. But due to low reporting rates and a lack of accurate data about the frequency and severity of violence, these numbers are likely to be much higher.
How can we argue that Qandeel Baloch murder was the product of Pakistani laws or cultural beliefs, when we have similar cases of violence happening in Australia?
Yes, it's important to recognise the motivations behind such horrible acts of violence. But what we also need to acknowledge is that they stem from the same root cause - beliefs that men are entitled to women, their bodies and their lives.
In one of her last Facebook posts, Baloch wrote about her support of women’s rights.
The only difference between an 'honour killing' and the violence that afflicts women in Australia is the word 'honour.' And what does that mean? An 'honour killing' refers to protecting what one 'knows' is morally right, it's a phrase used to describe killing a woman who has brought the family into disrepute.
The more we try and distance ourselves from the case of Qandeel Baloch, telling ourselves that what happened to her happened because "she was born in a society that refuses to allow women to live on their own terms," the further away we get from acknowledging why violence against women occurs so frequently.
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While violence against anyone is entirely unacceptable and horrific, I don't feel like it's comparing the same exact thing.
While there are similarities for the 'justification' by the perpetrator, I disagree with the only difference between an 'honour killing' and the violence that afflicts women in Australia being the word 'honour.'
Domestic violence here is mostly committed by a current or former partner, whereas honour killings are committed by fathers, uncles and brothers. They are also socially (and virtually legally *see below info) accepted and without repercussions in countries such as Pakistan or India, where it is far more prevalent (see stats below). That is not the case in Australia for murder. Unlike honour killings in Pakistan or India where it is the norm, domestic violence murders shock most Australians because they are not everyday, everywhere. The only reason Qandeel Baloch's killing shocks people is because she was a social media star and so places like Australia have heard about it.
Honour killings are supposed to be prosecuted as ordinary murder, but in practice, police and prosecutors often ignore it. The Pakistani government's failure to take effective measures to end the practice of honour killings is indicative of a weakening of political institutions, corruption, and economic decline. In the wake of civil crisis, people turn to other alternative models, such as traditional tribal customs.
These figures are considered estimates and are widely believed to be severe underestimates. Due to lack of focused reporting and recording of Honour Killings internationally very little is known about the true extent of HBV worldwide.
- 5000 honour killings internationally per year.
- 1000 honour killings occur in India
- 1000 honour killings occur in Pakistan
- 12 honour killings per year in UK
I am glad to say that in June 2016, the Council of Islamic Ideology, a body of Muslim clerics which advises the government on compliance of laws with the Shariah, has "decreed that honor killings are un-Islamic." If this has any effect at all, though, remains to be seen. It seems an entrenched practice with no repercussions to me.
Nice run down of a terrible topic.
Just want to add that approx. 30% of victims are male (though I know you didn't specify gender).
30% of murder victims in domestic violence are male? Where is this coming from? Are we speaking about Australia?
This is a story about honour killings. 30% of honour killings victims are men.
That would be globally, but mostly in Pakistan and India.
Perhaps we should call them shame, not honour, killings? My partner was first responder at the scene of one as a policeman on Sydney's northern beaches where a young woman was killed by her father with an axe for daring to date a local boy rather than someone from her father's native country. He committed the murder in the backyard in front of family and neighbours who were unable to stop him. So, yes, it does happen here too.
Wow. That is DEEPLY traumatic!! I hope your partner is ok and people are getting help and support...
It does happen here, in migrant populations from the countries where honour killings are common.
In agreeance. It does happen and it seems strange that Australians are not aware of it. Many women from certain countries are forced to continue their traditions in Australia as if they are back home.
Not shame killings either. It could be misconstrued to mean the shame of the victim.
There's no perfect word for it. It is too hideous for words