Women’s Rights: Religious and Cultural Intolerance in the Tribal Areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan

Dr Niaz A ShahLecturer in Law n.shah@hull.ac.uk

Overview

Violations of women’s rights Is it religion or culture? Misconceptions at domestic and international

levels

Violations of women’s rights

Honour killing Forced marriages Lack of property rights

Violations of women’s rights

Limited access to education, employment etc: Probably very limited in the tribal zone

Harmful traditions, e.g. male child preference over female

Honour killing

Traditionally it is called ‘Karo Kari’. Karo means ‘a black man’ and Kari ‘a black woman’

Honour killing

In common parlance ‘a black man’ and ‘a black woman’ are those who are guilty or suspected of illicit sexual relationship thereby defiling man’s/family honour

Honour killing

Man/family is responsible for restoring/revenging family honour

It is not only women who are killed. Men get killed too.

Naseerabad, Baluchistan Case 2008

Senator Israrullah Zahri of Baluchistan 2008

Is it religion or culture?

Islamic law prohibits honour killing: Islamic law prohibits sexual relations outside marriage; Punishment only after a fair trial, not by family members Killing for honour is a cultural norm

Pakistani Christian couple 2008: Saira and Ismail of Sindh

Misperceptions

Practices such as honour killing have created misperceptions at domestic and international levels regarding Islam and Islamic law

Main causes

Ignorance of religion Lack of education Poverty/lack of economic development

Solution/s

Islamic education can prevent the violation of women’s rights in many areas

Economic development can play an important role