Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2000 01:45:02 -0400
From: “Dr. Riffat Hassan” [email protected]FRIENDS, PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS URGENT MESSAGE AS WIDELY AS POSSIBLE.
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED IN GENERATING SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT FOR THE LAW
AGAINST “HONOR KILLINGS”. OPPOSITION TO THIS LAW WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE
ANNOUNCED ON APRIL 21 IS MOUNTING IN PAKISTAN, ESPECIALLY AMONGST
RELIGIOUS GROUPS. THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE, WITH
REGARDS, RIFFAT HASSAN-------- Original Message --------
Dear Members and Friends,
We have just been informed by INRFVVP Member Farhat Naz Rahman
(Karachi Pakistan) that the government of Pakistan is intending to pass
a law against “honor killings” on April 21, 2000.
Here it is to be noted that the first ever conference on Human
Rights and Human Dignity is to be held at the Fazaldad Institute for
Human Rights in Islamabad on April 21 and 22, 2000, and will be
inaugurated by General Pervez Musharraf, Chief Executive of Pakistan.(
This Institute has been established in honor of Mr. Fazaldad Wahla, a
Pakistani who grew up in California and was on a visit to Pakistan when
he was killed on September 24, 1999, when he was trying to save a
village girl who was about to become a victim of an “honor killing”.
This tragic story was put on the INRFVVP listserv on October 19, 1999,
and is being re-circulated) Information about this conference may be
obtained from www.pakhumanrights.org
A number of religious groups and leaders have begun to protest
against the law which is being formulated. Their contention is that
“honor killings” are permissible in Islam - a contention strongly
opposed by the INRFVVP. On the other hand, the voices of women - either
as individuals or through NGO’s, are not being raised in visible support
of the government initiative. This is something that causes great
concern to the INRFVVP.
Whatever the reservation of any Pakistani may be to the present
military-led government of Pakistan, it must be recognized that by
taking a decisive stand against “honor killings,” this government has
taken a huge step forward toward putting Pakistan on the right moral
track. No previous government of Pakistan has had the political will or
the moral courage to confront the issue of violence toward women as a
national issue of the highest importance.
It is certain that given the negative attitudes and ideas
toward women pervading the cultural environment id Pakistan, opposition
to the new law against “honor killings” will mount as the time for its
official announcements comes closer. IT IS A MATTER OF THE HIGHEST
PRIORITY THAT ALL INDIVIDUALS AND AGENCIES WHICH OPPOSE “HONOR
KILLINGS,” SEND A MESSAGE OF STRONG SUPPORT TO
THE GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN. THE GOVERNMENT OF GENERAL PERVEZ MUSHARRAF
NEEDS AND DESERVES OUR WHOLE-HEARTED SUPPORT FOR THE INITIATIVES IT IS
TAKING TO PROTECT WOMEN FROM VIOLENCE AND DISCRIMINATION. IF WE REMAIN
SILENT AT THIS TIME WE WILL LOSE A VERY PRECIOUS, HARD-SOUGHT,HARD-WON,
OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN THE WAY TO REAL REFORM IN PAKISTAN.
Please address your email messages of support to GENERAL
PERVEZ MUSHARRAF, Chief Executive of Pakistan, or ZUBAIDA JALAL,
Minister for Women’s Development, and send them to the following email
addresses:
- [email protected]
- [email protected]
- shoaib.isb.sdnpk.org
- [email protected]
Also, please send copies of your messages to your local and national
leaders and legislators and to human rights organizations known to you.
I thank you in advance for your contribution to very
important struggle, and remain.
With my best wishes and regards,
Riffat Hassan.
There's no such concept of 'honour killing' in Islam. Rubbish!
Who says nothing is impossible? I've been doing nothing all my life!
I just sent a Nasty e-mail to everyone mentioned above (including CE). Honor killings is not only an outrageous violation of any human or civil rights, it is downright low. Those who commit such acts are the scums of the earth. The problem with passing legislation such as this one is that when one tries to illegitimatize certain acts they become an “issues’ that can be "litigated". Honor Killing is a social phenomenon and I believe that NO LAWS should be written to address cultural idiosyncrasies. What Pakistan needs to do is to deal with such crimes as it deals with other Murders. Punish the guilty just as he will be punished if he killed someone else (for honor or not).
Pakistani politicians, mullahs, army, and other policy makers are idiots of the first class. Once they shit out bigotry and ignorance from their bodies, there is hope that they will start making the right policies.
There is a film song on honor killings
Tum agar mujhko na chaho to koi baat nahin
Tum kisi aur ko chahogi to mushkil hogi
---Snip-----
decided to withdraw the post!!
[This message has been edited by Adbulmalick (edited April 20, 2000).]
I hope the following situation coming from Taliban’s Afghanistan will spur the passage of law against ‘honour killing’:
The Taliban have killed 5 girls for not marrying men chosen for them by the Taliban. Pls read the article posted today 4/21:
http://www.pak.org/gupshup/Forum1/HTML/001735.html
Honour Killings are disgusting and despicable. There is no place for such acts in any civilised society. People carrying out such acts are simply committing murder and should be dealt with as such. These MCP's should be shown no mercy. I hope that Musharraf implements the announcement he has made on honour killings.
Laws are useless unless they can be ENFORCED!
I hope the readers press for enforcement of the law along with legislation!