An "honor killing", also called a shame killing, refers to murder that is committed, typically by members of the victim's family or intimate partner, with the motivation of preserving or recovering the "honor" that the victim is perceived as having violated or lost as a result of their actions, which may be a source of shame in their society. Most cases of honor killings happen within the form of femicide, ultimately they are likewise a frequent manifestation of violence against women in regions of the world where there are traditional or legal norms that greatly restrict women's rights and freedoms. Moral standards in a community tend to be based on different codes of behavior for men and women, particularly with regard to women's sexual freedom. In many families, the "family honor" motive is used by men as a pretext to enforce the restriction of women's rights, and honor killings are performed in communities with the intent to punish violations of social, sexual, religious, or general familial norms or hierarchies. Communities in which honor killings occur impose social rejection and social exclusion on dishonored families, with the only way to save face being to kill whoever brought the dishonor upon the family. While the behaviors and actions that lead to honor killings can vary by the established societal norms of a region, they are most often choices of an intimate nature, such as refusing to enter into an arranged or forced marriage; seeking a divorce or marital separation; or engaging in premarital or extramarital sex. However, several non-intimate personal choices may also result in honor killings as well, such as converting to another religion; associating with others outside of one's caste; or dressing in a way that is regarded as diverging from sexual norm (e.g., a man wearing women's clothing) in the community. Furthermore, it is also common for people to be targeted for honor killings if they become victims of rape or sexual assault; or for having a taboo characteristic such as not identifying as heterosexual or for having a disability. These killings are condemned by international conventions, including by legally binding documents like the Istanbul Convention, and by human rights organizations worldwide. Even so, they remain widespread and some religious and cultural communities continue to justify and encourage them wherever these communities hold influence. Each year approximately 5,000 people are reported as having been murdered in the name of honour. Honor killings are primarily associated with the Middle East and North Africa and South Asia, but they also occur in other regions, such as the Philippines, East Africa, Chechnya, Latin America, and historically in Mediterranean Europe. Because of this, they also appear among the diaspora communities of these groups, even in countries whose broader social norms do not condone the practice. Though honor killings are often linked to rural and tribal areas, they occur in urban areas, too.
Characteristics Human Rights Watch defines "honor killings" as follows:
Honor crimes are acts of violence, usually murder, committed by male family members against female family members who are perceived to have brought dishonor upon the family. A woman can be targeted by her family for a variety of reasons including, refusing to enter into an arranged marriage, being the victim of a sexual assault, seeking a divorce—even from an abusive husband—or committing adultery. The mere perception that a woman has acted in a manner to bring "dishonor" to the family is sufficient to trigger an attack. Men can also be the victims of honor killings, either committed by family members of a woman with whom they are perceived to have an inappropriate relationship; or by members of their own families, the latter often connected to homosexuality or disability diagnosis. Many honor killings are planned by multiple members of a family, sometimes through a formal "family council". The threat of murder is used as a means to control behavior, especially concerning sexuality and marriage, which may be seen as a duty for some or all family members to uphold. Family members may feel compelled to act to preserve the local reputation of the family and avoid stigma or shunning, particularly in tight-knit communities. Perpetrators often do not face negative stigma within their communities, because their behavior is seen as justified. According to Israeli Arab Ibrahim Adas, who murdered his sister, "your honor often depends on what the women in your family do...In Arab society, there is no such thing as a woman being with a man without him first coming to the family and asking for her hand in marriage. If something like that happens to a family, they lose their honor in the eyes of the entire village. The only way out is to earn their honor back." Methods of murdering include stoning, stabbing, beating, burning, beheading, hanging, throat slashing, lethal acid attacks, shooting, and strangulation. Sometimes, communities perform murders in public to warn others in the community of the possible consequences of engaging in what is seen as illicit behavior. Often, minor girls and boys are selected by the family to act as the murderers, so that the murderer may benefit from the most favorable legal outcome. Boys and sometimes women in the family are often asked to closely control and monitor the behavior of their siblings or other members of the family, to ensure that they do not do anything to tarnish the 'honor' and 'reputation' of the family. The boys are often asked to carry out the murder, and if they refuse, they may face serious repercussions from the family and community for failing to perform their "duty".
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