Art and culture

Killing for Honor in Pakistan

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Pakistan

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January 29, 2016 20:49 EDT
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In Pakistan, around 1,000 women die in honor killings every year.

Since becoming an independent state, the young nation of Pakistan has been plagued by lawlessness, corruption and inequality. It is the third worst country in the world to be a woman, with over 90% of women in tribal areas suffering from domestic violence and oppression on a daily basis. In these tribal belts, women rarely go out and are confined to jobs that can be done in the house.

A framework of restrictions places the family’s honor on the shoulders of its female members, and any violation is punished severely. Local research suggests that around 1,000 women die in honor killings every year in Pakistan.

Vice News investigates the story of five young women from a remote village in Kohistan who were allegedly killed by their family for appearing in a cellphone video that showed them clapping and singing. Three elder brothers of the men who also appeared in the video were shot dead days later, while another brother has been on the run since the incident in 2012.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Fair Observer’s editorial policy.

Photo Credit: Natasha D.H.

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