Honour Killing: Dilemma, Ritual, Understanding

by Amir H. Jafri

This book explores the various contexts in which men commit honor killing in Pakistan, and analyzes the discourses that deal with it. It undertakes the task of understanding the possible cultural, religious, historical and, increasingly, political reasons that create the dilemma, the exigency
for men to kill a female member of their own family.

160 pages, Hardcover

First published June 14, 2008

Reviews

[Dalia]

Jafri is an excellent writer with amazing rhetorical skill.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Jafri's discussion of the phenomenon of honour killing in Pakistan is very thought provoking and leaves me asking a number of questions, such as: If almost all mullahs and scholars in Pakistan do not condone honour crimes, then why do they still happen considering the fact that religious mullahs are highly inspirational? I appreciate that he took the time to clarify the scope and the limitations of his research. This is helpful to those doing research on the subject of honour killings because it informs them of the various types of honour crimes that occur globally and the different forms they take.



Jafri should have included more of a discussion on zina (fornication/ adultery) and zina laws in Islam. His section on Quranic interpretation is great but it needs to be a bit longer and more thorough. He merely provides one example of how mosque imams and mullahs distort the text. It is a very helpful example, but I think 1 or 2 more examples would have completed that section.

Overall, this was an eye opening book. I enjoyed it despite the sorrowful and highly tragic subject matter. Even though I am not doing my research on honour crimes in Pakistan, I found this book very helpful for my research on honour crimes in Muslim communities in the Western world because it includes a thorough analysis of the ritual of honour crimes, concepts of honour, the mentality of those who perpetuate such crimes, and masculinity.

[Muhammad Murad]

A very well written book on the subject of Honour Killing (Karo Karo). Jafri has mentioned at various places that Honour Killing is not an Islamic custom which he attempted to successfully prove during his discussion throughout the book. Jafri talked about various aspects of honour killing, the impunity with which it is practised, the role of religion (religious mullas), politicians and judicial system which in a way encouraged the honour killings. Jafri also points out that honour killings are not geographically bound but he narrowed down his focus on Pakistan only in this book. Overall, it was a thought-provoking and insightful read. However, the readers should be aware of the fact that the book was written in the early 2000s and published in 2008. The things have changed since then to a certain extent in regards to honour killing in Pakistan especially after the anti-honour killing laws (The Criminal Amendment Bill 2015). Although there is a question mark over the implementation of the law yet its presence as a law suffices the shift in the attitude against the barbarous killings in the name of honour.

[Sara Abed]

A very well written book on the subject though it is a bit concise and needed elaboration and more details in certain parts. The researcher applied a punch of really fancy theories with which I am a bit overwhelmed, but informed, and nonetheless better for reading about their applicability to this topic. What I admired most is his subtle way of defending Islam against condoning any killing, let alone honour related killings. He did it in a way that was rather casual and interwoven into his main argument and analysis of the phenomenon. If you are researching the issue, go for this book. It will leave you a better person!

[Muhammad Jahangeer Thaheem]

Brilliant writing, writer present the true picture behind this taboo.

[Sadiq Bhanbhro]

This book has covered major aspects of HK phenomenon but one of the most important factor 'culture' is not examined well.