Syria
Syria: Syrian Women Reflect on Rare Political Victory
Jailed activist writer Sarah Shourd filed this story in July, shortly before she was seized by Iranian border forces during a hiking trip in Iraqi Kurdistan. With the assistance of her mother, who reached out to Women's eNews, we are able to post the piece with staff updates.
NO EXCEPTIONS FOR 'HONOR KILLINGS'
Human Rights Watch
SYRIA - NO EXCEPTIONS FOR 'HONOR KILLINGS'
PENAL CODE CHANGE POSITIVE, BUT CALL FOR EQUAL
New Drive to Abolish “Honour Crime” Laws
(24-Oct-08)
Syrian leaders have recommended reforming laws under which criminals convicted of so-called “honour crimes” get lenient sentences.
Khalidiya
May 1, 2008
In Aleppo, Khalidiya, 23 years old and a mother of two was strangled to death by her brother Khaled who suspected her of having a relationship with another man.
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ZN
April 29, 2008
A 20 year old gir, ZN, was shot and killed by her 15 year old brother in the village of Jubania, Qaseer, west Humms. She had been in a relationship with MH and had become pregnant, so the killer is unlikely to face any severe penalty.
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Unnamed Girl
April 2008
Four members of the same family have been arrested for forcing their son to kill his sister because she had married a man from the city of Adlb through an 'urfi marriage.
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Zahra al-Azzo
September 2007
Sahar
May 2007
Sahar was 14 years old when she was married to a man, who was suffering from an illness which was believed to have rendered him infertile. He decided to undergo treatment and a surgical intervention, during which time Sahar became pregnant. Such a miracle would seem cause for celebration, yet Sahar’s relatives reacted only with suspicion. After persuading her husband that the child could not be his, and must have been conceived as the result of an extra-marital affair, Sahar was tried before the courts for “illicit relations”.