Home Latest News Pakistan Ulema Council Declares ‘Honor Killing’ Un-Islamic

Pakistan Ulema Council Declares ‘Honor Killing’ Un-Islamic

by Newsweek Pakistan
CII member Tahir Ashrafi. Photograph by Minhaj Ahmed Rafi for Newsweek

CII member Tahir Ashrafi. Photograph by Minhaj Ahmed Rafi for Newsweek

Umbrella organization of Muslim clerics and scholars says killing in the name of honor has nothing to do with Islam.

The Pakistan Ulema Council, led by Maulana Tahir Ashrafi, on Friday issued a fatwa declaring so-called “honor killings” un-Islamic and inhuman.

Reacting to the brutal murder of a 25-year-old pregnant woman, Farzana Iqbal, in an “honor killing” outside the Lahore High Court, the umbrella group of Muslim clerics and scholars said the “killing of girls in the name of honor or dignity is terrorism and viciousness—which has nothing to do with Islam.”

“The government and judiciary have the responsibility to punish in the harshest possible way those guilty of committing this crime,” it said, adding that “these people are not only guilty of committing murders but also spreading mischief on Earth.”

The organization will issue a detailed edict on the issue during a joint conference of leaders of all sects on June 5, it added.

Farzana was attacked by over two-dozen family members, including her father and brothers, for marrying against their wishes. Her father surrendered to police after she had been beaten to death with bricks, claiming it was an “honor killing” and he had no regrets.

Last year 869 women died in so-called “honor killings” according to the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. Conviction rates are very low due to Pakistan’s blood-money laws, which allow kin to forgive perpetrators, usually family members in such cases.

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4 comments

syed aqeel May 31, 2014 - 1:50 pm

One sensible response from an otherwise heretic, noisy cleric.

Reply
JAVAID BASHIR May 31, 2014 - 7:51 pm

The clerics association has done the right thing by declaring honor killing Un-Islamic act. No one can condone such a heinous crime. We condemn it. Her sacrifice should not go unpunished. Her assailants should be brought to Justice and pay for their crime.

Violence against woman has been rising in the country, it must be controlled. No civilized society can allow such criminal behavior. We support the clerics’s edict..

Reply
Dr.Salim Haidrani May 31, 2014 - 8:22 pm

At least better than Mr.Nawaz Sharif and the ruling elite of Pakistan who are protected day and night by the security forces and the Police from unknown dangers but common people, intellectuals, writers , journalists and women largely are facing deaths and death – threats from blasphemous laws in Pakistan.

I hope one day out of about 1 Million lawyers and Foreign – Returned Barristers, only one or two lawyers will take up the case of Human Right Lawyer from Multan who was killed protecting Junid Hafeez, a local university teacher imprisoned due to blasphemy laws in Pakistan.

I wait to see who will take the courage to save these people from the fear of state, the police and the bigots.

Reply
ASC June 1, 2014 - 5:28 pm

We welcome the ruling, but we need to confirm if he was sober at that time.

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