Aqsa Parvez-Victim of an "Honor Killing"
A few days ago in the Toronto area, a 16-year-old Muslim girl, Aqsa Parvez, was murdered by her father because she refused to wear the traditional hijab headscarf when she went out. Apparently, one of the girl's brothers actually lured her to her father's home where the murder took place. This is an example of so-called honor killings, carried out by a female's own family member when the girl violates traditional Islamic customs or defies her parents. It also happened in the US back in 1989, when a Palestinian Muslim father and mother in St. Louis viciously stabbed their 16-year-old daughter (Palestina Isa) to death for similar "offenses". Ironically, the FBI had the house bugged because the father, Zein Isa, was a member of the Abu Nidal terrorist cell. Thus, the murder was captured on audiotape. This murder in the parents' unremorseful eyes, was another example of an honor killing. Fortunately, our US court didn't see it that way. The parents were convicted and sentenced to death.
This raises a serious question in western countries with large Muslim immigrant communities: How do we deal with certain practices that are accepted in Muslim communities that are clear violations of US laws? How much can we demand of all of our immigrants that they assimilate into our culture? Europe is faced with the same problem. Germany and other countries have witnessed honor killings. In Holland, female circumcision has been carried out behind closed doors. People (like Theo van Gogh) have been murdered for "defaming" Islam. In other cases, Fatwas have been issued by Islamic clerics, to be carried out against people like Salmon Rushdie who live in Europe. This is clearly intolerable and must be addressed, both here and other countries in the West.
As I have said before, I welcome legal immigration, but I do feel that immigrants should make the decision to assimilate. They should especially accept that their children and grandchildren will assimilate even more, which is a natural process. They will be Americans, speak English, and will be exposed to all the American influences for better or worse.
When it comes to religion, we do not demand that immigrants give up their religion. It is their right to practice their faith. However, it is a natural process that the younger generations may choose at some point to become Christian, or Jewish or whatever. I don't have any empirical evidence, but I know from my own experiences with Asian-Americans that many of the younger generations eventually become Christian. In California, you will see numerous Christian churches with a predominantly Korean, Japanese or Chinese congregation. It appears that the Islamic community would not tolerate this kind of conversion.
So here is the dilemma: Should Muslim immigrants to America accept the possibility that their children and grandchildren will become Americanized and engage in social activities or dress that they disapprove of? Should they accept the fact that their children may decide to convert to another religion? Should they accept the fact that honor killings and fatwas are not tolerated here and will be severely punished? The answer is yes.
If Muslim parents want to protect their children from drugs, premarital sex, drinking etc., I say join the club of millions of concerned American parents (including me). If Islamic influence encourages young people to act in a moral and modest manner, I am fine with that. However, if even the more innocent forms of assimilation into Western society are unacceptable, then they should remain in their own countries.
6 comments:
I don't really understand all the hand wringing. As anyone who travels widely knows, any time one leaves his home country, he becomes subject to the laws of the land he's in.
But, in the case of "honor" killings, it seems to me a case of basic human rights. Since when has it become politically incorrect to be for those?
Ellen R. Sheeley, Author
"Reclaiming Honor in Jordan"
Ellen,
I'm not sure I understand your point. The "handwringing" in my post was over the murder of 2 young girls by their families in the US and Canada because they had no regard for the laws of the countries they had immigrated to, preferring instead to apply Muslim Shariah tradition.
I have traveled as widely as almost anyone and have lived in three other countries. I have always respected the local laws and recognized that they applied to me as well.
You are correct that "honor killings" are a violation of basic human rights. So are things like forced female circumcision, fatwas that order the killing of another and stoning of adulters. Yet, there are some who think they can bring those practices with them to the West regardless of human rights considerations.
That is what the "handwrining" was about.
I agree with you completely that immigrants must adhere to and embrace the laws of the new host countries. They should also speak the languague, assimilate and become productive members of their adopted countries.
In North American culture (and Western), we do not murder our women under the guise of amily "honor." Those who do should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and punished according to the laws of Canada, the U.S., Italy, Germany, Finland, etc.
Last I checked, Shariah law was not the law of the land in any of these countries. But if we in the West aspire to political correctness, or hide behind a veil of cultural and moral relativism, I'm not sure how few generations it might take for that to change.
Karen Tintori, author
Unto the Daughters: The Legacy of an Honor Killing in a Sicilian-American Family
www.karentintori.com
Karen,
Thank you for your comment. I agree with you that we must overcome this principle of political correctness that prevents us from speaking the truth.
Your book on a Sicilian honor killing sounds fascinating. I lived in Italy for 5 years (in Milan). I regret that I never got to Sicily, but I remember that old traditions still rule in terms of Sicilian females.
Gary,
Although Muslims ruled Sicily for among the shortest tenure of any of the many conquerers of that island, they left the most lasting imprint in terms of culture, customs and cuisine.
At the turn of the last century, when my great-grandparents left Palermo, women were not veiled but they could sit outside only if they faced the houses, backs to the streets.
They went nowhere unchaperoned except to church in groups of women, or together, twice daily, to empty the ceramic chamber pot the entire family used.
The whole issue of family "honor" was responsible for my great-aunt's murder in Detroit when she was 16 -- same age as Aqsa was. Aunt Frances' murder by male family members was a closely kept family secret for eight decades and is a tragic story.
I cannot help but speak out for other victims like the great-aunt lost to male vengeance.
Karen Tintori
Karen,
We appreciate your speaking out on this subject. Another issue that we must speak out on is the anti-Semitic hate speech that is spreading across US campuses by radical Muslim speakers sponsored by various campus Muslim student associations. A prime example is my campus at UC-Irvine.
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