Murder in the Name of Honor (31 page)

65
‘Man jailed for intimidating witnesses',
Sheffield Star
, 16 April 2008.

66
‘On the run in Midlands ... refugee who shot, stoned and battered woman for falling in love',
Sunday Mercury
, 17 June 2007.

67
‘Brother found guilty',
Newcastle Journal
, 17 June 2006.

68
‘Matriarch guilty of ordering family honour killing',
Birmingham Post
, 27 July 2007; ‘Guilty, evil matriarch who lured son's wife to her death',
Daily Mail
, 27 July 2007.

69
‘Daughter keeps alive memory of mother murdered for “honour”',
Independent on Sunday
, 14 December 2008.

70
‘Gun killer's revenge over sex attack allegations',
Asian News
, 26 January 2007.

71
‘Man killed family in house arson', BBC News, 20 February 2007 [
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/6379833.stm
]; ‘Murder probe as five die in fire', BBC News, 1 November 2006 [
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/6106712.stm
].

72
Honour Kills
, BBC3 television documentary.

73
‘International hunt for father of dead family',
Birmingham Post
, 23 August 2000.

74
‘Freedom for doctor in “forced marriage kidnap” by parents',
Daily Mail
, 15 December 2008.

75
‘Parents return passport to Bangladeshi doctor', Associated Press Worldstream, 14 December 2008.

76
‘Sara Thornton is cleared of murder',
Independent
, 31 May 1996.

77
‘Honour-related violence',
European Resource Book and Good Practice
, based on the European project ‘Prevention of Violence against Women and Girls in Patriarchal Families', Kvinnoforum, Stockholm, 2005, p. 37.

78
‘Honour-related violence with a global perspective: mitigation and prevention in Europe', organized by Kvinnoforum/Foundation of Women's Forum, Stockholm, Sweden, 7–8 October 2004.

79
Ibid.

80
Ibid., p. 30.

81
Ibid., p. 3.

82
Ibid., p. 83.

83
‘Honour-related violence',
European Resource Book
, pp. 45–6.

84
Muna Dahl, ‘Muslim men between protection and control: how do four Muslim men experience their fatherhood in Sweden?' Qualitative study, International Master of Social Science Work, University of Göteborg, Spring 2003, p. 44.

85
Ibid., p. 45.

86
‘Honour-related violence',
European Resource Book
, p. 64.

87
‘Honour-related violence with a global perspective', p. 42.

88
Ibid., p. 89.

89
Ibid., p. 75.

90
‘Only one of Hatin Sürücü's brothers jailed', International Campaign Against Honour Killings, 27 January 2009.

91
‘Honor killing victim wanted to live like other German girls',
Spiegel Online
, 27 May 2008 [
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,555667,00.html
].

92
‘Honour-related violence',
European Resource Book
, p. 166.

93
‘Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Resolution 1327 (2003): So-called “honour crimes”', 4 April 2003.

94
Ibid.

95
Germaine Tillion,
The Republic of Cousins: Women's Oppression in Mediterranean Society
, translated by Quintin Hoare, Al Saqi Books, 1983, p. 34.

96
Richard Owen, ‘Mafioso shoots sister over “dishonour”: an old Sicilian tradition is revived as a young woman who had a child out of wedlock is shot',
Times Online
, 27 March 2006 [
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article696820.ece
].

97
‘Sweethearts' reunion ended in murder', BBC News, 18 April 2008 [
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/7352380.stm
].

98
Murder in the Family: Honor Killings in America
, Fox News, 26 July 2008.

99
‘When men murder women: an analysis of 2004 homicide data: females murdered by males in single victim/single offender incidents', Violence Policy Center (VPC), September 2006 [
http://www.vpc.org/studies/wmmw2006.pdf
].

100
Ibid.

101
Ibid.

102
‘Father says he set fire that killed three',
New York Times
, 3 January 2008.

103
‘Man says he didn't approve of marriage: Subhash Chander is accused of setting fire, killing daughter, her husband, their child', Associated Press, 2 January 2008.

104
‘Manhunt continues in Texas; Father sought in girls' deaths',
Washington Times
, 4 January 2008.

105
‘For the first time, FBI admits Texas murder was a case of honor killing',
Hindustan Times
, 15 October 2008.

106
‘“Honor” killing comes to the US',
Boston Globe
, 10 August 2008.

107
‘An American “honor killing”',
New York Post
, 23 July 2008.

108
‘Man charged with killing his wife', PR News, 16 April 2004.

109
‘Cultural “honour” killing brought to Canada',
Vancouver Post
, 11 June 2007.

I first thought of writing a book on so-called honour crimes in Jordan nine years ago. The idea was constantly postponed because of the political turmoil that seems to be a constant backdrop to our lives in this region. There have been many developments across the world in those nine years, and during this period I was able to further my research and include valuable information and consult specialists. I hope it will prove to be an informative documentary reference for those interested in learning more about this issue, as well as a tool to help end so-called honour killings.

This work was made possible thanks to the support and help of my close friends, colleagues, government officials, local organizations and the international community. Thanks first go to Jane Fonda for her generous contribution. For me, it's a real honour that such an outstanding, genuine and truly committed human rights activist such as Jane agreed to write the foreword.

I would like to thank Diala Khasawneh, my editor in Amman, who put her heart, mind and remarkable editorial skills into this book, as well as adding her own rich insights.

I am also indebted to my editor in the UK, Kris Hollington, who helped shape and update the book through his professional work. Special thanks also go to Nina Hollington, who conducted interviews in the UK and maintained and updated a database of the most recent cases of honour killing across the globe. I am especially grateful to Kris and Nina for their belief in this project and their
eagerness to take it to another level, so that awareness about this horrific practice will be spread worldwide.

My thanks and appreciation also go to my publisher and editor in the UK, Juliet Mabey at Oneworld, who used her talent and commitment to the cause of worldwide human rights issues to edit my work and produce a true and honest image of so-called honour crimes around the world, and in our part of the world in particular.

I would like to thank my UK agent, Adrian Weston, who believed in me, as well as my cause, and who worked tirelessly to secure the best possible publisher.

I am also thankful to the following people who dedicated much of their time over the past seven years to either helping me to formulate the outline or edit the early drafts of this book, and contributed hours of their time to assist with my pursuit of information, opinions and guidance: Amy Henderson, Dr Manal Hamzeh, Sana Abdullah, Mary-An Denis, Rima Cortbawi, Christine Arab, Jane Taylor, Muna Darwazeh, Maha Abu Ayyash, and Frances Abu Zeid, in particular, who provided me with numerous morale boosts.

Special thanks go to Their Majesties King Abdullah II and Queen Rania for their faith in my work as well as for championing the cause of women in Jordan and speaking out against so-called honour crimes, and for working tirelessly to introduce non-discriminatory laws to improve women's status. My appreciation goes to Her Majesty Queen Noor who was among the first in Jordan to acknowledge my work openly, and did so again in her book,
Leap of Faith
.

My thanks also go to Her Royal Highness Princess Basma bint Talal and her daughter Mrs Farah Daghestani for believing in me and supporting women's causes in Jordan. I would also like to thank His Royal Highness Prince Ali for his personal commitment to the cause in Jordan and for his constant support. My thanks also
go to every member of the royal family who has supported this cause, including Prince Hassan, Princess Sarvath, Princess Sumaya, Prince Ghazi Bin Mohammad, Prince Raed, Prince Hamzeh, Prince Mired, Prince Zeid, Prince Firas and Princess Dina Mired.

I would like to thank Jordanian officials, influential persons and activists who have often expressed their support for and belief in what I was doing and had pivotal roles in bringing the issue of so-called honour crimes and domestic violence to the fore. They include Their Excellencies Zeid Rifai, Dr Fayez Tarawneh, Dr Zeid Hamzeh, Dr Bassem Awadallah, Dr Nabil Sharif, Asma Khader, Laurice Hlas, Leila Sharaf, Inam Mufti, Dr Marwan Muasher, Dr Abdul Rahim Malhas, Suhair Al-Ali, Hala Latouf Bseiso, Fadi Ghandour, Naser Judeh, Nader Horani, Samir Hiyari, Dr Adnan Abu Odeh, Dr Reem Badran, Maha Khatib, Dr Sima Bahous, Dr Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, Dr Munib Werr, Judge Subhi Abbadi, Dr Nabil Sharif, Judge Ihsan Barakat, Haifa Bashir, and Muhieddin and Amineh Husseini.

I would also like to thank those whose have provided me with their tireless support: Judge Yassin Abdullat, Karen Asfour, Amneh Zoubi, Nadia Shamroukh, Inam Asha, Dr Arwa Ameri, Dr Sari Nasir, Dr Nawal Faouri, Dr Hamdi Murad, Archimandrite Christoforos Atallah, Rania Atallah, Nadine Shbeilat, Ja'afar Touqan, Patricia Salti, Hala Kheir, Kathy Sullivan, Malak Anabtawi, May Abul Samen, Marwan Jumah, Samer Naber, Nadia Hashem Aloul, Emily Naffa, Laila Hamarneh, Toujan Faisal, Samar Haj Hassan, Salwa Nasser, Ethar Khasawneh, Lina Kutob, Reem Abu Hassan, Afaf Jabiri, Eva Abu Halaweh, Nadia Bushnaq, Basma Abdul Jaber, Shirin Mired, Mahasen Imam, Muna Mufti, Salma and Simon Issa, Rihab Malhas, Susan Phillips, Jeanette Jounblat, Myassar Saadi, Suhaila Khouri, Captain Amin and Nadia Husseini, Captain Nasri and Randa Jumeian, Ghada and Abed Husseini, Dalal Etoum, Najwa and Wael Karadsheh, Rami Oweiss, Farid Share, Suleiman Sweiss, Dr Rula Kawas and Vera Salti.

I would like to take this chance to extend my thanks to my close and dear friends who stood by me and with whom I have shared many highs and lows; they were great believers in this cause, and their support helped me tremendously in the writing of this book. They include Najwa Ghannoum, Sahar Aloul, Widad Adas, Randa Naffa, Dima Darwazeh, Suha Snober, Haya Taher, Mona Abdeen, Razan Khatib, Maya Khalaf, Rania Tamimi, Dima Annab, Ola Khalidi, Lamia Fakhouri, Aline and Sevan Bannayan, Alma Khasawneh, Hania Kayal, Rasha Yaish, Ghassan Ghandour, Rula Saadi, Ghada Ziedan, Kais Asfour, Rana Masri, Mohammad Sabbagh, Dina Saad, Shadi Zaayadin, Rania Ay, Maysa and Reem Abu Lughod, Sed Haddad, Ramez Shatara, Runa Sundaha, Sahel Hiyari, Reem Hammouri, Oreib Toukan, ‘Dana Khan' Malhas, Shatha Mahmoud, Nadia Abu Judom, Basma Amawi, Luai Qunash, Maro Calis Sahouri, Nadia Naffa, Tala Abu Taha, Sadouf Faraj, Lana Saman, Rula Abu Taha, Alia Nusseibeh, Rania Abu Hijleh, Fatima Issawi, Hala Khalaf, Dima Fayyad, Sultan Abu Maryam, Yasmin Naber, Sally Shalabi, Jan Sherdan, Alex Naber, Cherien Dabis, Amy Amahl Khouri, Aseel Sawalha, Ani Orfali, Alida Orfali, Maha Ghannoum, Samer Nasser, Aline Orfali, Lara Damarjian, Fairouz Abu Ghazaleh, Hala Ghosheh, Reem Hejjawi, Hala Muhaisen, Tala Al Mauge, Jumana Salti, Hala Ghatas, Taroub Khoury Kalis, Lina Sharaiha, Zahra Taher, Mays Shakhshir, Dana Tarawneh, Lara Dajani, Njoud Haddad, Corky Huffine, Kate Wilson, Heidi Elger, Maryum Saifee, Rama Ishaq, Amani Khatib, Arto Baghdayan, Amber Ridden, Nadia Oweidat and Nisreen Alami.

I am also indebted to my editors and colleagues at
The Jordan Times
for adopting the cause of so-called honour crimes and other human rights issues. Special thanks go to my former editor-in-chief, Jennifer Hamarneh, who was always supportive and made it possible for me to focus on finishing this book, and my former editors-in-chief George Hawatmeh, Rana Sabbagh-Gharghour,
Ayman Safadi, Rami Khouri and the late Abdullah Hassanat, from whom I also learned a great deal.

I would like to thank my current editor-in-chief, Samir Barhoum, who constantly encouraged me to work on this book. I would also like to recognize other colleagues who had a great impact on my career, including Walid Saadi, Ellia Nasrallah, Ica Wahbeh, Lamis Andouni, Ara Voskian, Alia Shukri Hamzeh, Dalia Dajani, Ghalia Aloul, Francesca Ciriaci-Sawalha, Ranjana Usta, Victoria Macchi, Paul Tate, Dina Wakeel, Saeda Kilani, Nermeen Murad, Maryam Shahin, Taylor Luck, Mahmoud Abed, Natasha Twal and Jeff Tynes. To these people and other staff members I owe all the good things that happened in my life while working at
The Jordan Times
. It is due to their constant guidance and support that I have reached the stage where I am today. Other colleagues at local media outlets were also instrumental in supporting me: Randa Habib, Musa Kilani, Tareq Masarweh, Ali Abunimah, Cynthia Atrash, Atef Itmeh, Nabil and Yousef Gheishan, Hala Boncompagni, Linda Maayeh, Suhair Tel, Caroline Faraj, Shafika Mattar, Aroub Soubh, Qais Elias, Eman Abu Qaoud, Khalid Nueimat, Ahmad Kreishan and Reem Zumut, to name only a few.

I also thank the forensic medicine team at the Jordanian National Institute of Forensic Medicine represented by its director Dr Mumen Hadidi, and pathologists Isra Tawalbeh, Ali Shotar, Hani Jahshan, Mahmoud Shreideh, Ahmad Bani Hani, Ahmad Odeh, Muwfaq Muti, Azzam Haddad, Ibrahim Obeidat, Iwad Tarawneh, Hussein Abul Samen, Mahmoud Hirzallah and the rest of the pathologists working there who employed their expertise and scientific knowledge to help end so-called honour killings in Jordan.