An American Honor Killing: Remembering Noor Almaleki

Marie Claire:

In a quiet suburban parking lot outside of Phoenix, a father floors the gas on his Jeep Grand Cherokee and heads straight for his 20-year-old daughter. His goal: to protect his family's "honor." Yes, honor crimes have washed up on our shores.

Read the whole story: Marie Claire

Comments

[Jan Allen McDaniel]

10:09 PM on 08/15/2010

For the record--Islamic law:

Umdat al-salik:

"Who is Subject to Retaliation for Injurious Crimes"

"o1.2 The following are not subject to retaliation:
[...]
(4) a father or mother (or their fathers or mothers) for killing their offspring, or offspring's offspring"...

[dems08]

01:08 PM on 07/14/2010

honor killings have nothing to do with the Muslim religion

just like murder by Christians has anything to do with the Christian religion

[hmp49]

04:04 PM on 07/12/2010

To our resident Islamist apologist SJAP, who asks why this shows up under religion/Islam when 9 killings by Christian fanatics over seventeen years (most of which preceded Huffpo) don't show up under Religion/Christian:

"While Muslims are not the sole perpetrators of honor killings, a recent survey showed that 91 percent of honor killings worldwide are committed by Muslims, and 84 percent of honor killings in the United States were done by Muslims"

Muslims are only 2% of the US population, yet 84% of honor killings in the United States where done by Muslims. Does that clarify the issue?

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sioa-launches-honor-killing-awareness-campaign-freedom-taxis-hit-chicago-streets-98253919.html

Moreover, regarding the figure of 5,000 a year world wide from honor killings:

"Up to 17,000 women in Britain are being subjected to "honour" related violence, including murder, every year, according to police chiefs.

And official figures on forced marriages are the tip of the iceberg, says the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).

It warns that the number of girls falling victim to forced marriages, kidnappings, sexual assaults, beatings and even murder by relatives intent on upholding the "honour" of their family is up to 35 times higher than official figures suggest."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/a-question-of-honour-police-say-17000-women-are-victims-every-year-780522.html

[mommadona]

03:24 PM on 07/11/2010

IT'S RELIGION-BASED, CORRECT? (go ahead ~ tell me how 'loving' religion is in the hands of males ~ go on ~ tell me once again)

[lisalulu]

09:46 PM on 07/11/2010

Yep using religion as an excuse for tribal patriarchical sexist murderous behavior. A Zealot is a Zealot and Zealots are generally male: but then there is that Angler women - she is crazzzzzy!

[Richard Pearce]

01:00 PM on 07/10/2010

Strange to hear that 'honor crimes have washed up on our shores', when I remember growing up with stories about such honor crimes happening (but maybe that was only in Canada).

Of course, the people doing this horrific act were the Italians who had immigrated to Canada.

Later in life, when I got into the social work field, and learned the statistics about familial murder, and came to realise that the label was more political in nature than anything else, I came to understand what all the stories and public outrage were about.

Part of it was about having a politically correct way to express racism/xenophobia in public and be considered progressive for doing so, and most of the rest of it was a classic example of projection (taking an unattractive/unacceptable trait that you have and ascribing it as the defining characteristic of someone else).

So, for all those people expressing outrage at the religion/ethnicity of the person who committed this act of familial murder (and all the groups who use the term 'honor killing' only to describe those familial murders by those of that religion/ethnicity, and some other term when it is done by someone who doesn't fit that category) here is my question:

Are you doing it because it is a publically acceptable way to be xenophobic, or because you need to deny that behaviour amongst those you identify with?

[lisalulu]

09:47 PM on 07/11/2010

Thank you. Fanned. A man killed his beautiful daughter - not Islam.

[MrBwood]

11:26 PM on 08/15/2010

A man who feels shame from a direct result of the pressure put on him by his religion (Islam) kills his daughter . and you think that? wow

[terramartom]

09:15 AM on 07/10/2010

Why did God not save this young women?
Where is the miracle of God's mercy?
No where to be found because it does not exist!

[terramartom]

09:13 AM on 07/10/2010

Religion, all of them are a fraud and all who perpetuate this curable self serving sickness are frauds as well!

[lostfan13]

02:45 AM on 07/10/2010

One thing I never understood was how vociferously these guys attack each other. Even among different sects.. like Shia and Sunnis, they commit continual bloodshed.

It seems that these honor killings are more about pride than anything else.

[StephBr]

04:15 AM on 07/10/2010

Just as bad as we did, remember? Catholics vs protestants and all that?
They are just a few years behind.

[lisalulu]

09:50 PM on 07/11/2010

Bingo: Ego Tribal Mentality Ignorance Patriarchy Machismo - it exists in many cultures and religions.

[Manhajsadiqeen]

02:01 AM on 07/10/2010

Let me make it clear that honor killings is against Islamic law period! It is not in the shari'ah and it is a cultural event that dates backs prior to Islam; many people still cling to old cultural practices like this, which is wrong. Matter of fact, the father has no right to take the life of his daughter or any other human being, unless in self defense or in war! He would be put up in shari'ah court for murder!

[lisalulu]

09:51 PM on 07/11/2010

Thank you. fanned.

[Ghost Dance 2010]

10:00 PM on 07/09/2010

Religion is a just a handy excuse for abuse and indicates a dangerous underlying personality disorder in its staunchest adherents.

[StephBr]

04:16 AM on 07/10/2010

Amen

[Ghost Dance 2010]

09:42 PM on 07/09/2010

I hope they torture this b*stard to death.

Religion is the root of all_evil.

[Abdi S]

06:39 PM on 07/09/2010

As a muslim there is no such thing as honor killing in Islam ,and Huff post misleading the truth behind this murder case. Women's have rights in muslim community, and honor killing is created by hypocrite liar in order to keep their social status high in muslim community. If a women becomes too westernize that's her choice but murdering her for family honor has nothing to do with Islam at all.

[Captain Loud]

09:37 PM on 07/09/2010

No suicide bombers, no female genital mutilation, and no honor killings in the name of islam, right, got it.

[Ghost Dance 2010]

10:05 PM on 07/09/2010

All religion is_evil.

[lisalulu]

10:24 PM on 07/09/2010

Its not the religion or faith- they are the acts of men who twist the faith - it happens here too - remember all the clinic bombings, the murder of Dr. Tiller in his church, and now freak Sharon Angle with her horrible rape and incest comments: make lemonade.

Stop blaming the religion or using religion to justify good and bad behavior. Blind Faith is blind faith.

[LetsGoSteve]

07:01 PM on 07/10/2010

Easy to say with the mask of the internet that conceals your identify. Try stating to your fellow followers of Mohammad when you go to your Mosque for daily prayers, where of course tour women are segregated from the men.

[jayraye]

05:45 PM on 07/09/2010

The sooner women leave these patriarchial religions, the better off we will all be. Fundamentalist IslamChristianJewish, makes no difference. All based on domination of women, in the name of the Almighty One. Some books, written by men for men, are said to be "The Word Of God" and we are supposed to submit to "The Word." And for poor, Noor, it was Submit of Die. If this father wanted to murder his daughter without legal consequences, he should not have come to the US. We are not a Theocracy. At least not yet.

[SAJP]

01:31 PM on 07/09/2010

Noor Almaleki is the girl's name. She died -- killed by her father.

She was a young Muslim. Obviously, she did not share her father's values -- just as many young Muslims don't -- just like those in Iran right now who are rebelling against the mullahs don't.

We are not helping these young people by tying their entire faith into one bloody fundamentalist resurgence -- we are only serving to alienate them. This is not rocket science -- it is basic human nature.

So many gun-toting Christians screaming for blood in this country, so few actually following their own prophet in extending the hand of peace.

In BOTH regions of the world -- East and West -- the call is for blood and more blood. When and with whom is it going to end? Armageddon?

Well, you religious nuts can have your Armageddon -- most of the world will watch you, wondering if it was merely genetic destiny, or just mother nature cleaning house. Have fun.

[david penner]

02:49 PM on 07/09/2010

For someone who claims to be a non-believer, you certainly seem to be quite the apologist for Islam's failures.

Perhaps you're just a Christian-hater.

You cling to a few examples of "Christian" bad behavior to somewhat downplay the thousands of heinous acts committed by even moderate Muslims in the name of Allah.

[SAJP]

03:38 PM on 07/09/2010

I am not a "Christian-hater" or a "hater" of any kind -- I do despise all that useless emotional superstitious goo called religion, but I tolerate it. Have to don't I?

Anyway, right now the Islamic world feels about the same as you do about them -- and in a way they've got a pretty good reason to feel the way they do because there are *in their minds* over one hundred and fifty thousand Christians with guns shooting Muslim people in an Islamic country. Of course our troops are not really all Christians -- but I do hope some mullah over there is talking to his people in the same way I am trying to talk to you. Don't you think that would be a good thing?

When that Apache Hellachopter (I wish they hadn't named it that, but we injuns weren't asked about it) shot up all those innocent people there -- you know -- that video that was leaked by wikileaks or something? Well, they were all Muslim kids. So now there we have an entire nation believing that there are thousands of heavily armed 'Christians' murdering their kids. Is that a good thing for them to believe?

And here you go arguing that Muslims kill more people than Christians do. You and I may know the subtle, semantic differences in the number descriptions but they see it as opposite of the way you see it. It only takes a small imagination to see it from the

[lisalulu]

04:07 PM on 07/09/2010

What thousands of heinous acts committed by even moderate Muslims . . .

Care to elaborate?

I reviewed SAJP's posts below and he listed quite a few of christians home grown zealots.


For me both christianity and islam have a diverse following with a range of belief from extreme to moderate. We can point the finger at Islam for this horrible killing of this beautiful woman but is this the real issue for me no:

This killing was about a Man (a father) with a tribal mentality born of ego, extremism and patriarchy. As I argued on another thread on HP about Muslims - its not the religion but the person committing the heinous act using faith in a twisted and wrongful interpretation.

[Godisfemale]

02:55 PM on 07/09/2010

You equate Muslim violence with Christian violence and then tell us we have to disregard the Muslim part. Just about every single post you keep bringing in Christianity when it has nothing to do with the story of how a girl was murdered by her own father for not following Islam according to his wishes.

Before you start going after me as a Christian...I am not one. Quoting the bible wont work either

[tselby]

09:11 PM on 07/09/2010

You should read the story before you post. He did not kill her for not following Islam according to his believes,he killed her for not following his tribal traditions. Reading its a wonderful thing.

[SAJP]

11:24 AM on 07/09/2010

It is very sad and disappointing that Huffington Post equates the actions of this fundamentalist madman with all of Islam by reporting it in the "religion" section of the website.

It is true that the Qur'an is filled with ancient social remedies that include unspeakable violence, but so does the Christian bible, yet we do not condemn all Christians for the actions of a few Christian fundamentalists -- like the abortion clinic bombers and murderers of doctors and clinic security guards.

It is this sort of biased, ill-advised reporting that will help lead this country into a terrible, disastrous war with the Islamic world -- first stop Iran.

[LivingDebtFree]

12:54 PM on 07/09/2010

How does posting it here show that they are equating it with all of Islam? Especially when they specifically say it isn't.

[LivingDebtFree]

12:57 PM on 07/09/2010

Secondly, the Christian bible of the Old Testament did. During that time, they were Jewish and not Christians. Jesus changed the rules as stated in the New Testament. Where after Jesus was introduced does it speak of "unspeakable violence"?

[KLovesFreedom]

03:32 PM on 07/09/2010

How about these passages?

1. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. Matthew 10:34
2. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 13:41- 42
3. But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. Luke 19:27
4. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. Revelation 2:23

I guess the question turns on your definition of "unspeakable violence"...