Yasmeen Baloch
The killing of any innocent human being is not permissible in Islam but in the name of honour, killing of innocent women is seems like that it is now part of our tribal centric customs in Balochistan. It resulted, killing hundreds of innocent women and destroyed lives of several families. This trend is deeply flowing in the veins of our tribal system like the blood that on tiny matters they do not hesitate to deprive the female members of the family from her right to live.
Instead of so many sacrifices for the family our women always suffering in different kinds of problems, they are deprived to decide their life partner, do not have right to take part in socio-economic activities freely, access to the good education seems like day dream for them. In some cases, parents by force arrange their daughter’s marriages without their consent and this thing again starts a new phase of domestic violence for the already suffered female folk.
Being a mother, being a daughter, being a sister or being a wife woman has a very pivotal role in our lives. In the name of honour killing of women is just a selfish and foolish practice by some tribal elders. Such taboo is mostly affected lives of women in rural areas of Balochistan.
According to some NGOs 115-600 cases of honour killing reported in Balochistan in the year 2008. On August 2008, five women were buried alive in Naseerabad by a tribal man in the name of honour. More shocking is this about 75 honour killing cases were reported only two division of Balochistan, Sibbi and Naseerabad, respectively. Instead of these reported incidents of honour killing we cannot deny that the number of such inhumane practices is far more than reported one.
In other parts of Balochistan, the standard of women is not much better than the prior mentioned situations. In Mekran division women are also facing such kind of discrimination, where in some areas women are deprived of the basic amenities of life. The male members of some respective families treat their women as like they are the animal.
If women in our society dare to raise voice against domestic violence and do not obey the false traditions of her society, resultantly beaten by the male member of the family or divorced by her husband and throw like a thrash to suffer her entire life or they kill her in the name of honour.
Recently, a model girl Qandeel Baloch is also killed by her brother in the name of honour. In the name of honour, the killing of women is not justifiable in Islam as well as in other religions.
The women in Baloch’s society are also facing gender discrimination, assault, murder, acid attacks and infamy in the name of honour. When a woman refuses to obey the illicit practices by elders then it supposed as defame of family and they slaughter her further justify it as the matter of their honour. The reprehensible customs in our society have always muted the women and compelled them to tolerate the man made rules.
A victim in this context, Khalida Brohi stood up against them when her friend was assassinated by some tribe men because they liked each other and about to get marry. After denial of these customs she faced many difficulties, she was forced to leave her town and move to Karachi.
Nonetheless, she succeeded to show the world the darkest context of her society. We are living in a patriarchal society where rights of women are suppressed by tribalism. Women are deprived of their due rights. The appropriate laws not existing to curtail honour killings in our country and so-called cultural restrictions are imposed on women to suppress their rights.
The women must be given their due rights. They are also the important part of this society and empowerment of women would pave the way of progressive and prosperous life in our society if they would be treated equally. As Sheryl Sandberg says, “We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women’s voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored.”
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article are those of the author and Balochistan Voices not necessarily agrees with them.
Share your comments!
