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45 Denv. J. Int'l L. & Pol'y 457 (2016-2017)
Honor Killing and the Indigenous Peoples: Cultural Right or Human Right Violation

handle is hein.journals/denilp45 and id is 485 raw text is: HONOR KILLING AND THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES: CULTURAL RIGHT OR HUMAN RIGHT VIOLATION? Sarah Alsabti* I. INTRODUCTION Many sources define honor killing as the premeditated murder of a girl or a woman.' The murderer who commits this crime is usually one of the girl's or woman's family members like her brother, father, or a combination of male agnates.2 The murderer commits this crime to restore the family's social reputation.' The killer believes he is preserving the family's honor by using methods like shooting, stoning, burning, burying alive, strangling, smothering, and knifing the victim to death.' This premeditated murder is the result of the woman's unacceptable behavior. An example of unacceptable behavior would be an extra-marital sexual relationship.' Another example would be a pre-marital relationship with a male that is not approved by the family for the single woman.6 Honor killing is not a new phenomenon. In fact, honor killing has existed since Ancient Roman times.' Since that time, honor killings have been recorded in many countries.' This global phenomenon has occurred in developed countries as well as developing countries.' Honor killings have taken place in many countries such as the United States, Afghanistan, Brazil, Israel, Egypt, Pakistan, Palestine, and Jordan. 0 Unfortunately, honor killing is not just part of human history; it still exists in the current century. In 2000, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Sarah Sabti Alsabti, Teaching Assistant in Law and Political Science College at King Saud University. 1. AMIR H. JAFRI, HONOUR KILLING DILEMMA, RITUAL, UNDERSTANDING 18 (2008). 2 Id. 3 Id. 4. Impunityfor Domestic Violence, 'Honour Killings' Cannot Continue - UN Official, U.N. NEWS CENTRE (Mar. 4, 2010), http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?News[D=3397 1&Cr-violence+against+women&Crl#.VwyD61 -cGDt. 5 AMIN A. MUHAMMAD, PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF SO-CALLED 'HONOUR KILLINGS' IN CANADA 2 (Dep't. of Justice Can., 2010). 6 Id. 7 Id. at 18. 8. Id. at 17. 9. Id. at 18. 10 Id. at 17-20. 457