Britain holds memorial day for victims of ‘honour killings’

BRITAIN will hold a memorial day today to remember the victims of so-called honour killings.

Honour-based violence is done to punish those – usually girls and women – deemed to have brought shame on their family or community by not conforming to traditional expectations.

Infringements may include having a boyfriend, rejecting a forced marriage, interfaith relationships, seeking a divorce and behaving or dress- ing in a way that is considered inappropriate.

Here are some facts on honour killings and honour-based violence (HBV).

The Day of Memory is held on the birthday of Shafilea Ahmed who was murdered by her parents in 2003 when she was 17 after suffering years of abuse for becoming “too Westernised”.

There are about 5 000 honour killings worldwide every year, according to the United Nations.

It has been estimated that there are 12 honour killings a year in Britain, but campaigners believe the number is higher.

Honour killings also take place overseas after victims are told they are going on a family holiday.

Contract killers are sometimes used.

Other forms of HBV include emotional abuse, beatings, threats of violence, being held against your will and forced marriage.

Girls advised to

off detectors

The number of cases of HBV recorded by police in Britain increased from 3 335 in 2014 to 5 105 in 2016.

Police referred 200 HBVrelated cases (excluding forced marriage cases) to prosecutors in 2016-2017, down from 216 the previous year.

There were around 90 convictions in both years.

In Britain, HBV is predominantly associated with communities originating from the Middle East and South Asia.

Organisations campaigning on honour violence also say abuse by families may push girls and women to suicide.

South Asian women in Britain are up to three times more likely to commit suicide than their Caucasian counterparts.

A helpline run by Karma Nirvana, a charity tackling HBV and forced marriage, received 12 935 contacts last year.

Around 70% identified their immediate family as the perpetrator and half identified their mother.

Men can also be victims of HBV if they are thought to have “dishonoured” a woman or are believed to be homosexual.

Ahead of the mid-year school break, campaigners have been advising any girl who fears she is being taken abroad for marriage or other reasons against her interests, to hide a teaspoon in her underwear.

This is so that it sets off airport metal detectors, allowing her to inform officials away from her family. – Reuters/ African news Agency (ANA)