Spotlight on Honour Killing

Kabul: Candles for Mah Gul

Shar-e-Naw Park - Friday, 9th November - 4 pm. Mah Gul was a 20 year old Afghan woman who was beheaded for refusing to become a prostitute....

Deeyah Brings UK Honour Killing to the Screen

Banaz: A Love Story is not a comfortable thing to watch, and nor should it be.... Police footage shows Banaz relating how her husband beat her, raped her,…

Deeyah: Filming Honour Killing

Chris Crowstaff talked to musician and human rights activist, Deeyah, about her new film to raise awareness about honour killings.

Banaz A Love Story - Discussion

Deeyah: Pop Star to Activist

Deeyah - Pop Star to Activist

Deeyah is a critically acclaimed singer and composer from Norway - first hitting the headlines as a child - and is now a prize winning human rights activist.

Deeyah was born in Norway to Muslim immigrant parents of Punjabi and Pashtun descent. Her success was a mixed blessing. The Norwegian media initially heralded Deeyah as an example of their new multi-cultural society. However, many in the Muslim community did not view her success in a positive light. Deeyah became the subject of threats, controversy and abuse.

Together with Freemuse, Deeyah co-produced the CD, 'Listen to the Banned', which features artists who have suffered censorship, persecution and even imprisonment.

Chris Crowstaff asked Deeyah about her life, successes and the challenges which led to her current activist work.

Honour-killing

Two Honour Killings Reported in a Remote Region of Sindh, Pakistan

By Riaz Qadir Narejo, correspondent for The News at Dadu

Article published here with kind permission of the author

DADU: Two women were killed in the pretext of honor killing here on Wednesday [24th October].

Brother Shoots Sister

According to reports in the first incident, which occurred in the third largest remote area of Sindh - Kachho, Taluka Johi, district Dadu, a brother gunned downed his younger sister in the name of 'Honor Killing'.

This news was learnt from sources in the village the where girl was murdered. On the condition of anonymity, one villager confirmed the news that the girl was attacked by her brother and killed - the brother believed that his sister had developed an illicit relation with another man, and the brother caught them in an 'objectionable situation'. With anger, he killed his sister while the man succeeded in running away.

Further Reporting Prevented by Armed Men

The victim girl’s dead body was brought to Dadu Hospital for autopsy, and a correspondent also reached the location. However, there were some armed men of associated tribes who prevented the recording of any footage, or further reporting.

Uncle kills niece

In a second incident of honor killing in another remote location of same Kachho area - Taluka Johi, district Dadu, an uncle (Mama) killed his niece in the pretext of konor killing. Sources closed to victim family revealed this story but never shared name of the woman. They described the woman as married and alleged that she was also caught in an 'objectionable stiuation'.

Neither Case Reported to Police

Neither case was reported to the police, nor admitted by the victim's relatives.

Five Honour Killings in Two Months in Region

The cases of honor killing are on rise in the interior of Sindh. Including these latest two incidents, the number of such cases and the death toll of women murdered in the name of 'honour' has reached five within just two months in the interior of Sindh.

However, prominent activists such as Rozeena Junejo have pursued the matter by taking the issue to the plate form of women activists' forums.

Also Read: Deeyah Brings UK Honour Killing to the Screen

Narejo-Riaz-Ahmed Riaz Qadir Narejo belongs to district Dadu province Sindh, Pakistan and has been engaged in Journalism for 20 years, while he worked for many newspapers. For 12 years, he has been working for the English language newspaper - The News International, and also working for Geo News TV for five years. Riaz Narejo has also published many articles on health issue, sexual abuse against children & women as well as on the issue of Human Rights.