(Ankara, Turkey) Last year, the Turkish government performed a major revision to its penal code to meet minimum standards required for the country to join the European Union. As an example, it's now
that murders committed to preserve a family's honor will result in an automatic life term in prison. Previously, honor killings were committed with lenient or no punishment imposed.
Sounds good but, unfortunately, there are 70 million Muslims in the country who have accepted honor killings as a traditional and historic fact of life. In my estimation, it will take a generation or two at least to see any substantive departure from the infamous practice.
However, one troubling fact about the new legislation is that it contains a provision for mitigating the life sentences for honor killings if the perpetrator is provoked. Turkish courts have used this provision in the new law to reduce sentences.
As a consequence, the Turkish Supreme Court of Appeals was asked to weigh in on the subject.
"Bad tradition" is an understatement. I'd call it barbaric. Nevertheless, at least some top-down pressure from an authoritative body is being placed on the citizens of Turkey to change their thinking.
1
Re: "Bad tradition"
As long as they're moving in the right direction I won't quibble over terminology - yet.
Posted by: Oyster at March 25, 2006 10:40 AM (MkwVi)
2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honor_killings Here is a link to the wikipedia article on "honor killings" Honor killings are forbidden by sharia law although any exta marital sex is punishable by harsh penalties.
Posted by: john Ryan at March 25, 2006 11:23 AM (TcoRJ)
3
The decision is an improvement, but will it have any real impact? One of the ways islamic families residing in europe get around the laws is to ship the relative to another islamic country where the deed can be done with little or no repercussions. With Turkey bordering Syria and Iran, it's possible that this will become the preferred method.
Posted by: Graeme at March 25, 2006 11:50 AM (5+rGF)
4
Turky: Allies in the War Against Terror!
Is Bush bad
yet guys, or is he going to have to name Zarqawi as his chosen heir to the presidency before you guys get it that he's botched the entire WoT up pretty bad?
Granted, he botched it
less than Kerry would have, but thats not saying a whole lot.
Posted by: MiB at March 25, 2006 12:12 PM (XRlh2)
5
It is a positive step (albeit a small one) in the right direcion. History is a good ruler and Honor Killings are not so foreign in our own culture. 300 years ago things of this nature were common all over western europe, often times conducted in the name of GOD. This is a country with a significant Muslim population and you can't just assign a US Constitution and call it a day. There would be rebelion of the highest order, Muslim Clerics would win in the aftermath of the fall of the deposed secular government, and you would have another Theocracy like Iran. Don't push your luck.
Posted by: The Gunny at March 25, 2006 01:57 PM (UItaE)
6
then of course you get the ever popular "It's Bush's fault" comment. Come on, hippie, if you going to keep giving the guy credit for everything in the world doesn't that kind of defeat the saying that he doesn't know what is going on? Your making no sense.. "Bush did it because he is evil hahaha...Bush doesn't know what is going on anywhere he is dumb...Bush planned the whole thing...Bush is dumb...Bush mastermined 9/11...Bush is dumb"
MAKE UP YOUR MIND, HIPPIE.
Posted by: The Gunny at March 25, 2006 02:16 PM (UItaE)
7
Honor killing law (milder sentences for honor killing) was abrogated in Italy at the end of the seventies.
When these laws are abrogated, the social change is already in the way.
And Turkey will entre in the UE not before than 20 years.
Posted by: Mirco Romanato at March 25, 2006 02:24 PM (zIHiB)
8
Honor killings are more of a cultural driven occurrence then a religion driven problem. Blaming honor killings on Islam is like blaming Christianity for high murder rates. 4 out of 5 of the countries which have the highest rates of murder are heavily Christian http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/cri_mur_percap Columbia, South Africa, Jamaica, Venezuela the 5th highest is Russia. Buddhist Thailand came in with a disappointing number #14 about twice more then even the United States
Posted by: john Ryan at March 25, 2006 03:02 PM (TcoRJ)
9
Whether honor killings are islamic in nature is neither here nor there. When Islamic clerics and fanatics use Islam as justification for it is when it becomes an issue. Every time a man kills his wife for cheating on him it's an honor killing no matter where it is. The difference is whether it's found acceptable by a culture which uses religious doctrine (right or wrong) to legitimize it. In the numerous cases in the Middle East their common theme is that Islam permits it. The Koran condemns rape too, but Muslim men often use Islam as justification for it,
"She was not properly veiled."
Posted by: Oyster at March 25, 2006 03:19 PM (V9juS)
10
I'd consider the jump from honor killings to the War on Terror as lacking logic. Unless I'm missing something, they are entirely different issues. And how President Bush got roped into the discussion is beyond me.
Frankly, I think the post could have been about cooking lamb kabobs and MiB would have found a way to ctiticize and blame the President.
Posted by: Mike at March 25, 2006 06:33 PM (g7eZx)
11
Mike, Bush is Satan. Haven't you heard?
All sarcasm aside, hardly a discussion comes up that Bush isn't somehow responsible in the eyes of some.
Posted by: Oyster at March 25, 2006 07:02 PM (YudAC)
12
Stll pretty backwards are,nt thay?
Posted by: sandpiper at March 26, 2006 02:57 PM (slksM)
13
I think what you guys are doing in Turkey is VERY WRONG. Killed for being pregnant, stupid. Genocide will never cease!
Posted by: Dee at May 12, 2006 04:44 PM (cwwGA)
Hide Comments
| Add Comment
(Ankara, Turkey) Last year, the Turkish government performed a major revision to its penal code to meet minimum standards required for the country to join the European Union. As an example, it's now mandated that murders committed to preserve a family's honor will result in an automatic life term in prison. Previously, honor killings were committed with lenient or no punishment imposed. 
