Comments on: On Honor Killings

By: Dosanjh

Dosanjh — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 17:09:34 +0000

"To begin with, it remains the law in America… that if a spouse — who will usually be the husband — kills the other spouse shortly after discovering the spouse’s adultery, the killing may be classified as a manslaughter rather than a murder. Manslaughter is generally treated as a far less severe crime, with far lower penalties."
^ Well yes because American Law (as well as Canadian, Australian and Indian law) is based on English common law and in the English system (Note : 'English' NOT 'British', because Scotland, although part of Britain, has a more European / French system of Law)…in countries using the English common law system killing a spouse shortly after finding out he / she had committed adultery may well fall under the category of diminished responsibility…in which case the mens rea of 'intent' needed for murder cannot be proven.
Diminished responsibility is a phrase that can just about sum up honour killings. If the perpetrators sat back for one moment and thought about what is right and wrong…if they thought straight…they would not do what they do.

By: Pritpal

Pritpal — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:57:06 +0000

Movies, songs, novels and any other type of media that can influence these people to know they are wrong, is what is needed..Not Bollywood dancing around trees, but gutsy filsm, be they in Punjabi, Hindi or whatever…and genuine action by the state

By: Sher

Sher — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:52:04 +0000

Much worse in haryana, western Uttar pardesh and Rajsthan.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Honour-k...

Almost everyday here in North India you read headlines "Young couple slain in honour killings"

where is 'honour' in killing helpless youth by lynch mobs?

Situation in Haryana getting worse as Khap caste panchayats of jats now issuing, shall i say, 'fatwas' against intercaste, intergotra marriages and ordering killings in cold-blood. Punjab is still better.

By: Roop

Roop — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:42:30 +0000

honour killings disgust me..fact, it not sikhi that encourages, or any other religion, it is the general Punjabi pcyche, thus Punjabi culture of male dominence that allows it..read Harjit Atwal's novel Southall

By: liz

liz — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:26:57 +0000

so sad

By: Publius

Publius — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 21:47:21 +0000

Jaspreet, many thanks for your excellent comment. An example of an extant distinction in Sikh society based on gender: Harmohinder Kaur Sanghera was dating this man and, after learning that he was married to and had impregnanted another woman, she killed the other woman — not the man. This despite the fact that it was the man who admitted that he was the one who was responsible for any shame.

Regardless of the law and the possible universality of “honor killings”, the Sikh community retains its own obligation to declare that, in its society, such killings are not tolerated — irrespective of the gender of person who has allegedly brought shame on a family or to another person.

By: Jaspreet

Jaspreet — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 18:50:59 +0000

When are we going to kill a man for cheating on his wife and thus call it an honor killing? Adultery, when it happens, in the punjabi sikh community seems to be more acceptable when a man commits the sin, rather than when a woman is blamed for the same. Sikhism is a progressive religion, it is the punjabi culture that holds us back. When we, as a community, stop being sexist in every aspect, that is when khalsa raj will prevail.