Beyond the Viral Photo: The Harsh Reality of Honor Killings in Pakistan

30-11-2023

Eleonora Bruno

Pakistan Researcher, 

Global Human Rights Defence

Last Tuesday a young girl in Pakistan's Kohistan region was allegedly killed in an "honour killing," orchestrated by her father and uncle on the orders of a tribal council, known as a jirga. The victim, seen in a viral photo with a man, that police suspect was doctored, faced death threats after her image circulated on social media. Peshawar Police in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa arrested the father of the girl, while her uncle is on the run. The man in the picture is now in protective custody, even if the jirga also wanted him dead. [1] The police had requested a 10-day physical remand, but a judge approved a seven-day remand for further investigation. The police are actively investigating the case in the Barsharyal village of Kohistan's Palas region, where the crime occurred. [2] Investigations are underway also to identify those behind the doctored images, as the police stated that the images seemed to be manipulated using Photoshop and were shared on counterfeit social media profiles. 

Kohistan, a conservative region, has seen a rise in honour killings, where relatives justify violence in defense of family honour. Despite legal amendments in 2016 mandating life sentences for honour killing perpetrators, justice remains elusive. In Pakistan, hundreds of women are still killed for the most trivial reasons every year. Human rights groups state that the most common reasons for "honour crimes" are that the victim may have refused an arranged marriage or experienced rape or sexual assault. However, murders can also be committed for dressing in a manner deemed inappropriate or displaying behavior considered disobedient. This incident recalls, for example, a 2011 case where Kohistani women were killed for singing and clapping at a wedding. Calls for stronger law enforcement persist in combating these crimes. [1]

Sources and further readings:

[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67551554 [Accessed 30 Nov. 2023]

[2] https://tribune.com.pk/story/2448293/father-of-girl-killed-for-honour-arrested-in-kohistan [Accessed 30 Nov. 2023]