ABSTRACT
The world of human beings, where every individual desires to live a life of dignity or honor, To protect this so called honor, they can go to any extent; they can even take someone’s life, whether they are their loved ones or not. Even though, in this technological phase of development, patriarchal society still prevails, the male community dominates in every part of the world. In a very patriarchal society, the word honor is not measured by the worth of a man, but by a woman who is controlled by a man. Females are considered property, and they are restricted to live their own life as they wish to by the so called ‘male ego’, ‘honor’. Females got killed by their male counterparts or relatives for the sake of reputation, honor, and the status of the family in the society, but little they know a killing is killing, a murder is murder, and no one can protect their honor by committing an offense. The heinous crime of honor killing is largely committed by the male members against the female members, whose actions tainted their family’s honor.
KEYWORDS
Honor, Honor Killing, Patriarchal society, Dishonor, Religion, Custom, Society, Caste.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The methodology of this research on the social concept of honor killing is highly descriptive and based on secondary research methods. It includes a detailed and comprehensive analysis of current literature, practices and case studies on honor killings in India. The aim of this study is to provide an overview of people’s narrow-mindedness towards honor killings, identify the reasons and propose possible ideas to increase awareness of the importance of one’s own life.
One of the most alarming forms of violence, honor killings, have drawn the attention of scholars exploring the motivations underpinning these crimes, which due to their suspension in time and space manifest most acutely. Methodological Approaches to Studying Honor Killings Methodology also contributes in large to understanding the nuances of honor killings. Insights concerning the basis of these crimes and best means of prevention may be achieved by studying the practices which have been applied in the research on honor killings. Honor killings have attracted the interest of researchers across multiple disciplines including sociology, psychology, criminology, and gender studies. This enables the topic to be viewed from an interdisciplinary perspective to better comprehend how honor killings are socially or culturally nurtured, as well as, investigating the factors which can push individuals to undertake an honor killing. Honor killing-specific researchers often use a cross-disciplinary forum for speaking with one another to make an unnatural visit image sourced from fields, for example, sociology, brain research, criminology, and sex contemplates. The interdisciplinary perspective enables the in-depth understanding in societal norms, cultural beliefs and individual motivation playing a crucial role in honor killings. These techniques allow the researchers to identify the crowd of the selected societies, which help in a more in-depth understanding of the topic. Legal frameworks, social policies, cultural practices Comparative research methodologies allow scholars to examine the influences of legal frameworks, social policies, and cultural practices on attitudes towards honor and violence.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Throughout the world there are countless such instances of honor killings particularly against women (who have allegedly sinned a holy or a smaller crime) and have therefore brought “shame” to their family or community. Scholars and researchers have carried out various researches to disclose the Code of Honor- an antiquated tradition that has culture stifled with violence and repression. This catalogue enlightens us about typical customs, social attitudes, family patriarchies, and revivalism etc. pressing for modification of honour killing. Research has underscored the systematic nature of these crimes within cultural leans and societal hierarchies that are patriarchal and traumatizing in nature. Academics argue that legal changes and social measures are necessary to safeguard potential victims of HBV, insisting on the need to confront deeply rooted and unaddressed inequalities, injustices and manifestations of shame-based violence.
INTRODUCTION
Everything which is in existence had an evolving history; some finds their roots in customs, some in religion, etc. the term honor killing had a long history and a widespread concept which found its roots in the customs, which are further based on religions, caste, socio- economic status in the society. The first person, who coined the term “honor killing” in 1978, was an expert at Leiden University, Arie Nautain. The honor killing was in practice before the Islamic era. It happens when the parents or guardians are very orthodox or have bigoted thinking. And they can’t see their child’s happiness. Rather they choose about their respect in so called society.
The act of honor killing can be defined in simplest words as, a killing of a family member who brings shame to the family. The human rights watch defines such killings as an act of violence, usually murder, committed by male family members against female family members who are perceived to have brought dishonor upon the family. Another definition of honor killings is as follows: “the murder of a female relative who brought shame to the family, usually through sexual activity prohibited by religion or tradition.”
From the above mentioned definitions two things becomes very clear and these are:
- Whosoever brings shame or dishonor to the family will be killed by other family members, and
- The honor, dishonor of the family depends on the actions of the female members, as they are inferior to the males and considered property of theirs. This is the patriarchal society.
Over a period of time honor killing become an integral part of patriarchal society. It is always related to the female member of the family. There are number of cases all over the world of a girl being murdered by her own father or brother for the sake of their honor of the family just because she married a person she love, who is of another class, caste or religion. There can be number of reasons for the occurrence of the honor killings but the most common reason is the marriage out of the class, caste or religion. If a boy does the same the family accepts and the society do not consider as a shameful act. This shows the gender biasness of the society.
Using the honorific word for crimes is somewhat misleading because it implies that these crimes are “normal”. At the same time, he manages to plant the answer that these crimes are a theoretical product of the general culture, customs and traditions that affect a society or religion. Associating such crimes with old ways of correcting them between territories and communities does not justify the crime of murder. Taking a person’s life in the name of honor is a terrible thing. No one is authorized to violate established legal procedures, and such persons must remain within the jurisdiction. There is no honor in killing one’s own human beings to feel comfortable and bound by the traditions of customs. Honor killing is an act of killing because you can kill people with murder.
Reasons of honor killing (Indian context):
It is very clear that the person who brings dishonor upon the family will be punished by taking their lives. This can happen due to millions of reasons, few are listed below:
- If a person fall in love with the person of other class, caste or religion.
- If a girl dressed in that particular manner which is not acceptable in the family or in that particular society.
- Doing an act which is considered as shameful in the family.
- Dissolving the marriage arranged by the family.
- Being indulged in any homosexual activity, etc.
The above mentioned reasons differ from family to family, society to society. In India, where the hierarchy is based on the caste, diversification in the religions, marrying someone out of their caste (specially), or religion, is considered a dishonor act. There are number of cases in which family members of a girl killed her just because she married or fall in love with someone outside the caste, they were brutally murdered just to protect the “so called” honor of the family.
In the Indian villages, it is prohibited to marry in the same clan or within the village. In the case of Manoj and Babli, where Manoj and Babli both belong to the same and fall in love with each other, eloped and married each other. The family members, when they found out, got angry and found the victims. The family took the case to the khap panchayat, which initially said that any person who contacts the victim will have to pay 25,000, so no one should contact them. After learning their whereabouts, the family took them before the khap panchayat, which was also against the marriage.
They decided against the victim because the victims belonged to a different caste. The decision was a religious caste based for the benefit of society. Khap panchayat was also an accused who was involved in killing the victim out of respect for the family. Babli’s relatives were involved in the murder, because Babli’s grandfather was a khap leader. Despite this, they robbed and killed the victims. However, when the matter came up in the Karnal district court, the five assailants involved in the killing were sentenced to life imprisonment. This was the first case of honor killing, resulting in a large verdict in which the perpetrator was sentenced to life imprisonment. The driver involved in the kidnapping was sentenced to seven years in prison. Honor crimes are considered the most heinous crimes.
People got killed just for the sake of honor of others, just to protect the useless norms created by the society. Those who kill their loved ones are very narrow minded people, according to them societal norms, class, status, caste or religion has more importance then the life of some human being. Our ancestors used to say that this life is given to us by the almighty, he has full right over this, and on the other hand they like to control lives of others by creating some useless logic less norms or customs. If the almighty has given us this life then only he has right to take it backs not the humans for some fake honor.
Is Honor Killing an “Honor”??
A killing is killing; there is no honor in killing or committing any offense against anyone. A thief is not honoured for committing a crime, theft brings dishonor upon a person, same goes with the killing, killer can’t be honoured in this world; killer will always be seen as a killer because it became a watermark on the killer’s life.
How do people kill their own child? Do the caste and status is above someone’s life? Can a parent still feel honoured after killing their own child just for the temporary status or for a human made caste system? Where honor killing is defined as “killing for honor”, people unknowingly “killing honor in the name of honor killings.” Cases like Aarushi Talwar’s case, Sheena Bura’s case, Tandoor Murder case, Madhumita Shukla case, and many more. In all of these cases, female as a daughter as a wife got murdered by their loved ones just on a suspicion of having an affair. They all gave up on their life; sacrifice their life for the honor, status of their family members in this unforgiving society. It rarely happens when the matter got disclosed and few cases go to the court. And the issue is people are ready to go to court in these matters because they are very proud of it that they have killed someone and from now onwards nobody is going to do any love marriage because they know what the consequences are. The families are very open to take the responsibility of the killing of other person who is from different community.
People really need to understand taking someone’s life is not honor, even you will get even more dishonor in this society, for which you which killed someone. This society made so called rules set some norms. It is indeed true that some rules are necessary to monitor human behaviour, but no rule says to kill someone just for so called honor.
No, honor killing is not honourable at all. An honor killing is the homicide of a member of a family or social group by other members, due to the perpetrators’ belief that the victim has brought shame or dishonor upon the family or community, usually for reasons such as refusing to enter an arranged marriage, being in a relationship that is disapproved by their relatives, having sex outside marriage, becoming the victim of rape, dressing in ways which are deemed inappropriate, engaging in non-heterosexual relations or renouncing a faith. Most often these acts are carried out not in the name of honour, but in the name of cultural norms. Most countries consider honor killings to be illegal and a serious crime in their laws. It is also important to note that these actions are illegal and discriminatory and should never be accepted. All this happens in the name of their reputation; here if we talk about honor killing they kill their kids or any relative to show an example in public that they cannot go one step ahead from their caste and community.
A Duty Killing the common belief in honor challenging a global issue Honor, sometimes attached to self-respect and good character can be perverted to justify violence and killing. The very use of the term “honor killing” calls into question how killing is somehow considered an honourable thing to do. These practices exist worldwide and mainly affect women, who are viewed as bringing dishonor to the family. The patriarchal foundation and control over women has been legitimized by some to maintain family honor – teaching (in) famous honor killings as means of preserving an external image. There is also psychological impact of honor killings, including the after effects on victims, the opportunistic victim blaming, and the insufficient legal protection. Getting out of predisposed norms require unlearning, unlearning that the society believes in an honour and the basic foundation of human life – equality for all human beings
We must remember that real honor means defending the honor of the human beings with dignity and nobility, never through butchery. In order to put an end to these terrible incidents of honor killings, it is necessary that people should be educated and made aware and the laws should be made even for this so that every human life is respected and his honor and life are equally considered.
Honor killings and Human rights:
Honor killing is a tradition, seen in some societies, of honor killings in which individuals, usually women, are killed by others, such as their own family members, as a result of the belief that the murdered person has brought shame. These acts are not only inhuman, but also against the principles of dignity, respect of every individual. Human rights are indivisible rights and every person is entitled to these rights as a human being (IN SERVICE, n.d.). Honor killings contravene these rights, continuing to perpetuate violence and suppression. This issue needs to be handled with a human rights perspective, ensuring the protection of every human life with the feeling of discrimination-free future. Honor killings originate, at least in part, from an ancient and culturally authentic request that puts group honors before the convenience of the individual, a particularly blatant detriment to women under such strict social norms.
Honor crimes are serious violations of women’s human rights, and the government has a responsibility to protect women from such violations. However, in many countries crimes of government inaction are legalized or protected as a matter of legal procedure. As a result, the police did not investigate these crimes and there were no prosecutions. In the rare cases where men are prosecuted, the woman’s actions, not the perpetrator’s crime, are the focus of the trial.
Women who suffer daily discrimination based on gender and who live in poverty and illiteracy are not prepared to challenge the norms that allow honor killing to continue. It is the government’s responsibility to end discrimination, both in law and in practice. It is the responsibility of governments to prevent violence against women and to provide redress for failure to prevent violence. However, according to women around the world, the violence continues.
SUGGESTIONS AND CONCLUSION
Even today some cultures continue to support honor killings because of deeply rooted beliefs and traditions that value family honor and reputation over individual rights and autonomy. Disobeying, behaving in a manner deemed promiscuous, or marrying in contravention of family expectations all bring dishonour upon the family, punishable by actions including so-called honour killings. A number of social norm play their part to continue it, along with patriarchal structures and fear of social stigma. Education, awareness and legal protections must be universally adopted in order to prevent these harmful practices and ensure human rights remain for all individuals. The day this caste system still exists we cannot get totally rid of all the honor killings, rapes and dowry crimes etc. They are not ashamed of killing somebody and they admit it boldly. Lawless, No Law Can Scare Them. This issue disturbs us so much that separate laws should be created to prevent that happening; otherwise more and more people will become like that.
In our view, acts of violence, threats or harassment are strictly illegal, and anyone who commits such acts should be severely punished. This is a free and democratic country, and when a man is of age, he can marry whoever he wants. If the parents of a boy or girl do not want intercaste or interfaith marriage, the most they can do is to cut social ties with their son or daughter, or it will make the bearer of that type of harassment enter religious marriage. This gendercide must be tackled by a revision of all laws.
“Killing is killing, and placing the word ‘honor’ in front of it should never be justification enough for allowing its escalation.”
DIKSHA CHOPRA
University Institute of Legal Studies; Panjab University.