'Honour' attack numbers revealed by UK police forces UK police recorded at least 2,823 so-called honour attacks last year, figures from 39 out of 52 forces show. A freedom of information request by the Iranian and Kurdish Women's Rights Organisation (Ikwro) revealed that nearly 500 of these were in London. Among the 12 forces also able to provide figures from 2009, there was an overall 47% rise in such incidents. Honour attacks are punishments on people, usually women, for acts deemed to have brought shame on their family. 'Mutilations' Such attacks can include acid attacks, abduction, mutilations, beatings and in some cases, murder. Ikwro said its research, carried out between July and November, is the best national estimate so far of the extent of honour violence in Britain, although the charity says the figures do not give the full picture. Continue reading the main story Case study In 2006, Iraqi Kurd Banaz Mahmod, 20, from Mitcham, south London, was strangled on the orders of her father and uncle because they thought her boyfriend was unsuitable. They believed she had brought shame on her family after she left her violent husband and began the relationship. Weeks before her death, Miss Mahmod had warned police her family were trying to kill her. Cousins Mohammed Saleh Ali and Omar Hussain, both 28, were jailed last year for a minimum of 22 and 21 years respectively for killing their relative. The victim's father Mahmod Mahmod and uncle Ari Mahmod were jailed for life in 2007. They found that eight police forces had recorded more than 100 honour-based attacks each in 2010. The Metropolitan Police had the most at 495, followed by West Midlands (378), West Yorkshire (350), Lancashire (227), Greater Manchester (189), Cleveland (153), Suffolk (118) and Bedfordshire (117). Of the 12 police forces able to provide 2009 comparison figures, nine recorded a rise in attacks and three saw totals fall. The biggest rise was in Northumbria, which saw figures leap by 305% from 17 in 2009 to 69 in 2010, followed by a 154% jump in Cambridgeshire from 11 to 28. A quarter of police forces in the UK were unable or unwilling to provide data and communities have often been reluctant to talk about the crime, Ikwro said. Its director Diana Nammi said families often tried to deny the existence of honour attacks and those who carried them out were "very much respected". She told the BBC: "The perpetrators will be even considered as a hero within the community because he is the one defending the family and community's honour and reputation." She added that there was not enough support for victims, and many needed continuing help and protection. "For some cases, police and some organisations just help them up to a length of time, then they will stop," she said. "With honour-based violence, the threat may be a lifetime threat for them." 'Significant number' Ikwro's report said: "This is the first time that a national estimate has been provided in relation to reporting of honour-based violence. "The number of incidents is significant, particularly when we consider the high levels of abuse that victims suffer before they seek help." Diana Nammi says she suspects the real picture is "far darker" than figures show The Metropolitan Police said its domestic violence training for officers included the issues of honour-based violence and forced marriage. The force said that in addition each of the 32 London boroughs had a community safety unit, with a total of more than 560 specially trained officers. A spokesman said: "The Metropolitan Police Service has been on a significant journey regarding how we police honour-based violence over the past decade, and has played an instrumental part in developing work in this field. "We have used our organisational learning over the years to inform our current policies, staff training and operating procedures. "We know that like other hate crimes, honour-based violence is under-reported however, and remain very concerned about this." The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) published a strategy in 2008 aimed at gauging the scale of the problem and recommending that all English and Welsh forces start recording the number of honour incidents. Of the UK's 52 forces, 45 have now done that, although there is no national guidance in Scotland. The 52 comprise 39 in England, four in Wales, eight in Scotland, and the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Commander Mak Chishty, the Association of Chief Police Officers lead for honour-based violence, said he was satisfied the 2008 strategy was being implemented. "We're now in consultation on a new strategy. All front-line staff have received awareness training and every force has a champion on honour-based abuse. "Acpo is confident that any victim who comes to us will receive the help they need." A Home Office spokesman said: "We are determined to end honour violence and recognise the need for greater consistency on the ground to stop this indefensible practice. "Our action plan to end violence against women and girls sets out our approach to raise awareness, enhance training for police and prosecutors and better support victims." **** is wrong with some 'people'?
That was the one that caught my eye. If, when my daughter gets older, she ends up with a wrong'un I might go as far as hitting him a few slaps.
I've worked with Asian girls who've said they wouldn't dare get with a bloke from toutside their community for fear of their dad beating the **** out of them.
Can't see the problem myself, I think these Asian fathers have got it sorted. Ok maybe killing your daughter is a tad extream but the reasons for punishment are valid.
They would probably get battered for going out with people from inside their community too This isnt about race.
Definately more culture than anything else, or rather cultures Although some of the stories tend to be a little 'hyped' if that is the right word I know killing someone is extreme but having worked with domestic violence the stats generally are as bad, with the main reason for the abuse being affairs etc The biggest undealt with sufferers of DV are police officers partners.
And there I was thinking that these incidents of 'honour' were against the common laws of THIS country. On a personal basis I don't agree with this honour business - wherever it occurs, but the laws of the land should prevail - hence you can get whipped, stoned or executed in various countries of the world. Honour killings are still murder -I don't see the victims looking at it as a life style nuisance.
I know it's not about race. One that I spoke to said any fella she went out with would need to firstly be Muslim, but also originally from the exact same area of India her family came from. Even then they'd still need to be approved by her dad.
TBH none of that actually makes sense, and I will explain why If she is indeed a muslim from India then her going out with anyone would be seen as bad fullstop. Regardless of who the fella was and where he was from Not saying she didnt say that to you, just either she is very confused or making it up as she goes along, of course I could be wrong about her specifically however it just doesnt sound right, the dating/going out bit I mean. For marriage most of that seems correct You see the pakistani muslims tend to go for region as well as religion etc Indians actually have marriage bureaus. of course exceptions apply The current media hoohaa around the issue is a bit strange imo as the main case they highlighted was turkish, the turks being the most 'westernised' of muslim countries The second case was a Indian sikh woman, and then they interviewed the head of an organisation specifically dealing with Kurds and Iraqis These are three totally seperate nationalities, religions etc
I think these people are Daft. I love my family, but if my parents tried to kill my girlfriend, i would take action. Why can't these clowns realise that as human beings, we have a choice of who to be with, and that arranged relationships are more dated than early episodes of knight rider.
This isnt about 'arranged relationships' the cases highlighted are at the extreme end of things and as I mentioned earlier happen generally. They are not as race/nationality etc specific as they are made to sound some are horrific no doubt let me give you a true example from stoke. 2 workers for stoke city council got married, both quite senior managers. The bloke went on a training course came back to find his mrs shacked up with a co worker. She kicked him out. He came back later that evening stabbed the fella and beat her All white, english born and bred and nothing about arranged marriage etc. Honour? Now imagine the same scenarion but them being asian, honour now?
Thats different in that there were three parties involved. Some (albeit not all) honour killings happen because they hooked up with the wrong person. Two people who fell in love and families become involved because they are not of the right caste/form of islam/family.
its Culture. Hell, I know some families would rather have their child marry a non-member of their religion as long as he is from the same place vesus a white dude who is the same religion.
