tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16866866.post7648911880947078296..comments2008-12-30T17:48:36.011+00:00Comments on DumbOkie: ...But Murder Doesn't?Dumb Okiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16373657727997534585noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16866866.post-4641594540618452432007-09-19T20:22:00.000+01:002007-09-19T20:22:00.000+01:00Justice has been a long time coming for poor Surji...Justice has been a long time coming for poor Surjit. Bravo to the courageous witnesses for testifying and to Judge Forrester for handing down this sentence.<BR/><BR/>Actually, though, there are differences between crimes of passion and "honor" killings. Crimes of passion, as you imply, have occurred throughout time and across cultures. Generally, they result in some form of criminal penalty. <BR/><BR/>But "honor" killings are believed to have their origins in misinterpretations of pre-Islamic Arab tribal codes. Thus, although they are un-Islamic, they are associated with certain cultures. They are by definition intrafamilial (e.g., father against daughter, uncle against niece). In many countries in which they occur, there are actually laws on the books that offer leniency to the perpetrators. In Jordan, for example, they are considered only misdemeanors, and there are three penal code articles on the books that offer such leniency that the average sentence is six months.<BR/><BR/>Ellen R. Sheeley, Author <BR/>"Reclaiming Honor in Jordan"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com