Palestinian Honor Killings

[cerulean]

Here are a couple of links on the subject of Palestinian honor killings of women. This custom involves the obligation of men to kill their sisters and other female relatives if they engage in any behavior that is considered to denigrate the family honor.

http://www.library.cornell.edu/colldev/mideast/chastity.htm

http://www.merip.org/mer/mer206/ruggi.htm

Bush wants a Palestinian state, and Sharon wants a Palestinian state. Should there be any requirement that women have equal rights in such a state? Such a condition has been imposed on Afghanistan as a condition for aid, although I expect such a requirement will be honored much more in the breach than the observance.

[NewsGuy]

Originally posted by cerulean
Should there be any requirement that women have equal rights in such a state? Such a condition has been imposed on Afghanistan as a condition for aid, although I expect such a requirement will be honored much more in the breach than the observance.

You make some very good points.

I have never seen any restrictions ever on Arab so-called allies of the US to conform to any civilized norms.

For example, the Arab countries are all brutal and corrupt dictatorships who trample even the most basic human rights. Yet, the US never says a peep, nor do the EU countries who make a career out of complaining about every nuance of Israeli behavior that might hamper the Arab terrorists ability to mass murder Jews.

There has always existed a double standard, where Arabs are completely exempt from any civilized norms.

The lesson is that if you've got enough oil to keep the world happily driving its gas-guzzling SUVs, then you are automatically above international law.

[cerulean]

Originally posted by NewsGuy


The lesson is that if you've got enough oil to keep the world happily driving its gas-guzzling SUVs, then you are automatically above international law.

This is an interesting point. One question I was pondering today is what country is going to be the last one to run out of oil in the Middle East. When I was a kid, I kept on hearing oil reserves would be running out by set dates such as 2000, which clearly hasn't happened. The last country with significant oil, if alternative sources aren't fully in place, will essentially have a gun to the head of the Western world?

Around what time did US and European dependence on Arab oil become extreme?

One frequent issue has been whether gender-based discrimination should be grounds for refugee status in a Western country. Clearly, if being persecuted was sufficient, most women in the Arab world would qualify as refugees.

[cerulean]

A possibly biased article discussing Palestinian women's role in the ongoing conflict:

http://www.jpost.com/Editions/2002/02/11/Features/Features.43218.html

Note that the article mentions the girls who try to stab policemen as follows:

"Most of them had got into trouble with relatives because they had slept around, and were afraid their families were going to lynch them," says Kedar. "By attacking Israelis, they found refuge in jail, while turning into heroes for the general public."

Sounds like stabbing Israelis is a plausible alternative to suffering an honor killing for some girls.

It's also worth pointing out that the female suicide bomber in Jerusalem some days ago had been divorced due to infertility.

[NewsGuy]

Originally posted by cerulean
It's also worth pointing out that the female suicide bomber in Jerusalem some days ago had been divorced due to infertility.

Good thing. I'd hate to see the offspring of that woman.

[cerulean]

Originally posted by NewsGuy


Good thing. I'd hate to see the offspring of that woman.

Good point. The article fails to indicate, from my perspective, how toxic the Palestinian culture is and how any improvement in women's status would require a major overhaul in this respect.

[cerulean]

This article has an interview with a 21-year-old woman student in Gaza who takes great pride and inspiration from the female suicide bomber.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/women/chi-0202130319feb13.story?coll=chi%2Dleisurewomannews% 2Dhed

(I'm not sure how long the link will last).

As I was reading a few weeks ago, the Arab world has had mostly a steady decline in human rights, including women's rights, in the past 30 years. Progress is not advancing; the clock is being turned back.