Honor Killing:  Deaths Should Be an Interfaith Call to Action

by Sheila Musaji

First published as Honor Killing: The Death of Aqsa Parvez Should Be an Interfaith Call to Action in 2007, and updated as an ongoing resource for cooperative action.

Earlier this year (2007) there was a National Declaration by Religious and Spiritual Leaders to Address Violence Against Women, which has been signed by more than 2,000 clergy and religious leaders from Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Baha’i traditions, among others.  The declaration stated:

We proclaim with one voice as national spiritual and religious leaders that violence against women exists in all communities, including our own, and is morally, spiritually and universally intolerable.

We acknowledge that our sacred texts, traditions and values have too often been misused to perpetuate and condone abuse.

We commit ourselves to working toward the day when all women will be safe and abuse will be no more.

We draw upon our healing texts and practices to help make our families and societies whole.

Our religious and spiritual traditions compel us to work for justice and the eradication of violence against women.

We call upon people of all religious and spiritual traditions to join us.

To date there are 2,264 individuals of all religious backgrounds who have signed on to this document, including myself.  When people of faith join with other community leaders to address domestic violence, we will see ancient roadblocks turn into resources that save lives and bring healing. Please join other people of faith in signing the Declaration. 

Perhaps if enough of us think about this issue and the issue of domestic or family violence in general we may be able to do something to stop this terrible epidemic.

Just this week, Aqsa Parvez was murdered by her father for not wearing hijab.  A young life cut short senselessly.  Although this certainly is a case of domestic violence, some are referring to this as an example of an “honor” killing.  The facts are not in yet as to whether or not this is the case.  And, as with all forms of domestic abuse, domestic violence and family violence, “honor” killings are not only a Muslim problem, and there is no “honor” involved.  Muslim sites have been responding in shock to this case (e.g. Achelois, Muslim Matters) and many others.

It takes minimal research to find hundreds and even thousands of cases of conflict, abuse, family violence, and even murder between parents and teens in families that have been here for generations, who may or may not profess any particular religion, and who share common cultural values.  Even though some of these acts are carried out by members of religious communities and sometimes the violence is “justified” in religious terms or religion is claimed as the reason for the actions – the fact is that anyone making such a claim terribly misunderstands whatever religion they are claiming in defense of the indefensible.

In a study of more than 8,000 homicides in large urban counties,  the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) said 16 percent involved murder inside the family, in four out of ten of them a spouse killed a spouse.  Offspring were killed by their parents at twice the rate that offspring killed their parents.  The study further noted that 20.9% of family murders were of parents killing their children.

Muslims have discussed this topic as much as everyone else (e.g. Islam the Modern Religion, and leading Muslim groups such as the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Islamic Social Services Association and the Islamic Society of Toronto are all urging “zero tolerance” for domestic abuse and violence against women. The Muslim Women’s League published a position paper on honor killings.  Jewish, Muslim, Christian writers have produced a handbook to give religious leaders tools to help victims of violence. 

And yet, the violence continues - somehow we are not getting through to the population in general.  We are not being good shepherds.

It has been noted that:  Religious teachings or scripture are sometimes misinterpreted, distorted, and misused to suggest that domestic violence is acceptable or even God’s will among Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Although, some who are quick to see the mote in their brothers eye have categorized this crime as a Muslim crime, a symptom of what’s wrong with Muslims, or as “proof” that somehow the religion of Islam is to blame. 

This is not a Muslim problem because it crosses all religious lines, but it is a Muslim problem because it also exists in our community.  As the late Shareefa Alkhateeb pointed out:  “An authoritarian family structure predisposes many Muslims in America to be abused in some way and possibly to become the victims of violence. Generally, the greater a husband’s dominance in the family structure, the more likely wife and child abuse become. In the most abusive homes, the father believes and socializes his wife and children to believe that whatever he wants the family to do is the same as what Allah wants them to do. He, in effect, makes himself into something of a god.” 

The rate of domestic abuse in the Muslim community is about the same as in the general population—about 18 percent, according to a 2000 study performed by Oakland University in Rochester, Mich., a rate comparable to the national average. It tends, however, to be more hidden, says Dorria Fahmy, WAFA’s founder and executive director. 

Allah’s Apostle, said: “Every one of you (people) is a shepherd. And every one is responsible for whatever falls under his responsibility. A man is like a shepherd of his own family, and he is responsible for them.” This Hadith is reported by both Bukhari and Muslim.

We must be good shepherds.

Just a few days ago The Republican reported that domestic violence deaths have reached record numbers in Massachusetts where there have been 38 deaths from domestic violence, and 12 suicides by perpetrators this year alone. 

Murders of pregnant women are rising across the country.  “A year-long examination by The Washington Post of death-record data in states across the country documents the killings of 1,367 pregnant women and new mothers since 1990.”

People have killed themselves because of some perversion of religion like the Heaven’s Gate mass suicide.  and like Jim Jones and the People’s Temple, or the Solar Temple Murderers have killed others to fulfill some “religious” nightmare.

Children of Thunder, three Mormon young people killed innocent people to defeat Satan?

Sikh and Hindu “honor” killings are still prevalent in India.  Jaswinder Kaur Sidhu, a young Sikh Canadian girl was murdered at the order of her own family in 2003.  A Christian Palestinian girl was murdered by her family in an honor killing   and in fact this problem is widespread in Palestinian society no matter the religious affiliation.  Rabbi Shlomo Arar committed an honor killing when he murdered a boy who was involved with his daughter.

A Christian father starved his infant son to death because of a “vision” from God.  A Christian mother killed her baby to give her child to God.  Parents have killed their children because they thought they were gay, for stealing to buy drugs, over a video game, to avoid paying child support, because of worry over gambling debts, because they were autistic and hard to care for, over a fight with a spouse.  Andrea Yates, Deanna Laney , and Lawshaun Harris  (devout Christians) killed their children because “God told them to”.  Constance & Larry Slack (devout Christians – Jehovah’s Witnesses) beat their daughter to death for   being disobedient.  A pastors son killed his mom and shot his dad.

The list goes on an on and would take up volumes to list.  The truth is that family murder is ‘too awful to contemplate’, and yet we must contemplate this crisis and find ways to reach distressed families before any more lives are lost.  The idea found in some cultures that somehow if a families “honor” is damaged, they can restore that “honor” by taking some violent action against the individual or individuals perceived to have been the source of that loss of honor, is only one of many possible justifications for such reprehensible and evil acts.  There is no “honor involved” because such acts of violence are simply dishonorable.

It has been noted that: “Women who kill their children commonly cite God, the devil and other religious influences for their actions. Although the mothers are also often found to be severely mentally ill or psychotic, the recurring theme of religiosity begs the question: Is religion to blame?  Theologians, sociologists and psychiatrists generally say no. They say religiosity is a common theme among psychotics because hallucinations and delusions usually take familiar forms.  “Most of the people in nut houses are religious because most Americans are religious,” said Rodney Stark, a social sciences professor at Baylor University. “We know what causes schizophrenia and it isn’t going to church. It’s biochemical.”  

One article about the Aqsa Parvez case had the title “Girl’s death puts Islam in hot seat”—if that is true, then all the other deaths must also put Christianity, Judaism, Sikhism, Hinduism, etc. all in the hot seat.  We have a serious problem in our society, and members of all faith communities need to work together to attempt to find solutions, and to educate our own faith communities in the actual teachings of our various belief systems.  Although individuals may attempt to justify their actions on the basis of some distortion of religious teachings, there is no justification for this behavior.
   
In attempting to see this as “their” problem and not “our” problem, and pointing the finger of blame elsewhere, we take away any chance of working effectively together to get at the root problems and stop this from ever happening again. 

UPDATE 12/2007

Twenty Canadian Muslim Organizations Urge ‘Zero Tolerance’ for Domestic Violence after the tragic murder of Aqsa Parvez.

UPDATE 7/2008

In January 2008 -  a Hindu man in Chicago set a fire that killed his pregnant daughter, his son-in-law and his 3-year-old grandson, prosecutors said, because he disapproved of his daughter’s marriage.  -  In Sioux City Iowa two young girls were allegedly murdered by their stepfather during what police say was a Satanic ritual.  -  Amina and Sarah Said were murdered by their father in Texas. -  ABC did a news story “Mothers and Fathers Who Murder” because of the recent increase in such murders. 

Imam Zaid Shakir has practical suggestions for attempting to root out this barbaric practice from the Muslim community:

Practical steps include the following:

1. Emphasize that such killings have no sanction in the Qur’an, the Prophetic practice, or in Islamic law.
2. Declare anyone guilty of involvement in honor killings to be a cold-blooded murderer.
3. Encourage judicial authorities to enact the harshest penalties possible for anyone accused of involvement in such killings.
4. Educate our Muslim communities, especially in the West, about the un-Islamic nature of honor killings, and the pressures, nuances, challenges and complications facing young Muslims, male and female in the West.
5. Work to eliminate the double standards, and to expose the hypocrisy that exist in our communities, generally, concerning attitudes and standards relating to the indiscretions of males as opposed to females.

Subhash Chander (Hindu) has been charged with killing his pregnant daughter, her husband and their 3-year-old son in a weekend arson fire in Chicago.  At least one report says they were killed because his daughter had married into a lower caste.  1/08

Amina and Sarah Said murdered by their father in Texas 1/08

UPDATE 10/2009

The Islamic Society of North America ISNA has published a statement The Islamic Response to Domestic Violence

UPDATE 10/2010

The Muslim Consultative Network prepared a pledge 10,000 Muslim Men Against Domestic Violence

UPDATE 1/31/2012

The guilty verdict in the tragic Shafia family “honor killing” case in Canada brings this issue to the fore again.  It is good that the perpetrators of this gruesome crime are behind bars for life.  It is a shame that no one noticed a problem before the murders happened. 

Gerald Caplan wrote an excellent article Honour killings in Canada: even worse than we believe which is worth reading in full.  Here are a few key points

For some reason, the term honour killings seems to be reserved for murders committed by male family members against daughters or sisters in South Asian or Middle Eastern communities. These unimaginable crimes have been receiving much high-profile notoriety in the Canadian media, as they surely deserve. All Canadians must now know of the tragic murder of 16-year old Aqsa Parvez of Mississauga, strangled to death three years ago by her brother and father.

But I’m confident that not one in a million is aware that in Ontario alone, from 2002 until only 2007 (the latest data), 212 women have been killed by their partners. That’s 42 every year, compared with 12 so-called honour killings in all of Canada in the past eight years. Women killed by partners are known as domestic homicides, and, unless especially gruesome, are barely worth a mention in the media. Maybe there’s just too many of them to be newsworthy.

The data comes from the Ontario Domestic Violence Death Review Committee, which I didn’t even know existed until it was recently cited in the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ Monitor. I’ve never come across these figures anywhere else.

...  What accounts for the high profile of these relatively small number of murders in Canada? Why do we know little or nothing about the larger epidemic of women killed, almost routinely it sometimes seems, by boyfriends or husbands? Is it less terrible to be strangled to death or shot or have your throat slit by them than by family members? Is it just too commonplace to bother paying attention to? Do we still harbour that sneaking suspicion that women murdered by partners have somehow brought it on themselves?

Yet both kinds of murders have a common root. Both are honour killings, reflecting a twisted, pathological male sense of honour. Both are executed by men who feel they haven’t received their due deference, men who consider “their” women, whether daughter or partner, to be their chattel, to do with as they choose. Have we smug white Canadians forgotten that you don’t have to be a Muslim or South Asian to regard women this way?

Or do we focus on so-called honour killings precisely because the victims are Muslims, or South Asians, or Middle Easterners? By giving such prominence to these communities and their cultures, are we not denigrating them? For all our ostensible acceptance of multiculturalism, are we not feeding our lingering prejudices against certain specific minorities among us? Look at it purely statistically. If so-called honour killings are in fact culturally approved by their communities, as is often charged, shouldn’t we expect far more than 12 in the entire country in eight years? And if the rest of us truly embrace a culture that repudiates violence against women, why are so many of them still being murdered?

Let me again emphasize that I have no illusions about these dark issues. According to the United Nations, there are a staggering 5,000 instances annually of women and girls being shot, stoned, burned, poisoned, buried alive, strangled, smothered or knifed to death by family members. I can barely write the sentence without getting sick to my stomach. The killers are fathers, brothers, sons, uncles, and yes, even mothers. The disgusting deeds are carried out in the name of preserving or protecting family honour. Most such murders are indeed carried out in the Middle East or in the countries of South Asia – India, Bangladesh, Pakistan – or by South Asians or Middle Easterners living elsewhere. These terrible crimes can never be “understood,” justified or condoned. They must be stopped, wherever they happen.

But terrible things still happen to women everywhere, as the domestic violence figures for Canada demonstrate. No nation, religion, class or ethnic group has the monopoly on misogyny. Honour killings should be seen not as uniquely evil but as the most extreme and perverse proof of this truth. That’s why it’s encouraging that women’s equality groups have been so vocal in their denunciations of all violence against women and are supporting women in minority communities to give them the strength to stand up for their rights.

Despite the remarkable progress women have truly made in the past half-century, clawing for every inch of it, the struggle for women’s equality can never rest. It simply has too many enemies, always fighting to keep women in their place, where they belong, dead or alive. Young women who dismiss feminism as irrelevant or outdated are, I’m afraid, dead wrong. The struggle is never over.

On Islam also published an editorial nothing that

Canadian Muslims are joining an international campaign to fight domestic violence in their country.

“We are hoping the raise awareness about domestic violence in Canada with the White Ribbon Days,” Afaun Mandol, a spokesperson for Muslim Presence Toronto, told OnIslam.net.

“The White Ribbon Campaign is a means to start the conversation in our community to challenge everyone to speak out, and think about their own personal beliefs, language and actions.”

The WRC aims to empower men and boys to speak out against all forms of violence against women.

The campaign gained momentum among Canadian Muslims following a call by Muslim groups and leaders to end domestic violence in the country.

“Domestic violence and, in the extreme, practices such as killing to “restore family honour” violate clear and non-negotiable Islamic principles, and so we categorically condemn all forms of domestic violence,” the Muslim groups said in a statement titled “Call to Action to Eradicate Domestic Violence”.

...  As part of the campaign, imams across Canada gave sermons on December 9 condemning domestic violence and honour-based killings.  The following day, the White Ribbon campaign, in which men undertook a pledge against domestic violence, was launched in Toronto’s Muslim community.

The campaign was also taken to the “Reviving the Islamic Spirit Convention”, which ran from December 23 to December 25 in Toronto.

Professor Tariq Ramadan, one of the world’s leading Muslim intellectuals, added his voice to the campaign during his speech at the convention with strong and forceful words condemning domestic violence.

“Domestic violence is unacceptable; stop it,” said Ramadan. “You who are beating women and listening to these talks, if you don’t stop it, then this is all for nothing.”

Attendees at the convention were also asked to take a personal pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women and girls and wear a white ribbon to signal their commitment to the campaign.

“We were particularly interested in reaching out to men and boys during the convention,” Mandol told OnIslam.net.

The campaign is also planned to be launched among the Muslim communities in the cities of Ottawa and Montreal to coincide with the International Women’s Day on Thursday, March 8.

Other Islamic organizations are planning educational programs on family issues.

A Toronto-based web portal, TorontoMuslim.com, has also partnered with the Muslim Presence Network to launch a site that will list resources and links to local agencies and centres that provide support to victims of domestic violence in the Greater Toronto Area.

“Our mission is to raise awareness, to educate, to advocate and to take action to end domestic violence, as part of our pledge to the Call to Action to Eradicate Domestic Violence statement,” stated TorontoMuslims.com.

SEE ALSO:

A distressing statement from NOW-NY, Hussein Rashid http://www.altmuslimah.com/a/b/gva/2983/
A Family Affair: Afshan Azad’s Assault http://muslimahmediawatch.org/2010/07/a-family-affair-afshan-azads-assault/
A Perspective on Domestic Violence in the Muslim Community, Salma Elkadi Abugideiri http://www.faithtrustinstitute.org/downloads/article_from_salma__final_with_copyright_notice_for_web.pdf
A test of faith, Fatima Cash http://www.infocusnews.net/content/view/39879/135/ 
Abuse, asylum and America: violence against women, Rafia Zakaria http://www.altmuslimah.com/a/b/spa/3216/
ALLAH Does Not Allow Domestic Violence, Imam Abdullah El Amin http://muslimmedianetwork.com/mmn/?p=1728
American Muslim Women’s Organizations as Innovators in Domestic Violence Policy http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/2/3/8/3/6/p238368_index.html
American Muslims Call For Swift Action Against Domestic Violence, Dr. Hesham Hassaballa http://www.godfaithpen.com/2009/02/american-muslims-call-for-swift-action.html
An Imam says Islam, family violence don’t mix; goes on hunger strike
An Imam’s Guide to deal with domestic violence, Abdul Malik Mujahid http://www.soundvision.com/Info/socialservice/violenceimamwest.asp
An Imam’s Guide for dealing with abusive men, Uzma Mazhar http://www.crescentlife.com/psychissues/imam_dealing_with_abusive_men.htm
Baitul Salaam Shelter Network http://baitulsalaam.net/linkshelters/ 
Book review: “Honour Killing: Stories of Men Who Killed”: A disturbing look into a killer’s psyche, Asma Uddin http://www.altmuslimah.com/a/b/reva/3147/
Bureau of Justice statistics of family murders
Community Pressure as a Deterrent to Injustice, Uzma Mazhar   http://www.crescentlife.com/articles/islamic%20psych/community_pressure_deterrent_injustice.htm
Constructing the Notion of Male Superiority over Women in Islam, Dahlia Eissa http://www.wluml.org/english/pubs/pdf/occpaper/OCP-11.pdf 
The Death of Aqsa Parvez Should Be an Interfaith Call to Action, Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_death_of_aqsa_parvez_should_be_an_interfaith_call_to_action/
Death By Culture?:  How Not to Talk about Islam and Domestic Violence, Zareena Grewal http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/death_by_culture_how_not_to_talk_about_islam_and_domestic_violence/ 
Does the Qur’an tolerate domestic abuse: interview with Laleh Bakhtiar on Qur’an 4:34   http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Islam/2007/07/Does-The-Quran-Tolerate-Domestic-Abuse.aspx
Domestic Abuse by Muslim Men?  Is the 18% Statistic Too Low?, , by Dr. Robert Dickson Crane
Does a bullet kill less than a blade?, M. Junaid Levesque-Alam http://www.altmuslimah.com/a/b/gva/2950/
Domestic violence within the Muslim American community, Karamah
Domestic Violence: The Numbers, Mother Jones. 
Domestic Violence and abuse in the Muslim community - Resource collection http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/violence_and_abuse_in_the_family/ 
Domestic violence, an Islamic perspective http://www.themodernreligion.com/women/w_dv.htm 
Domestic Violence Prevention & Education in Faith-Based Communities - a resource collection http://new.vawnet.org/category/Main_Doc.php?docid=837
Domestic Violence and Women of Color http://www.faithtrustinstitute.org/index.php?p=Domestic_Violence_%26_Women_of_Color&s=369
Domestic violence hurts Muslims too: Stop the hurt now,  Aneesah Nadir, MSW, CISW http://www.soundvision.com/Info/socialservice/stopdomesticviolence.asp
Domestic Violence in the Muslim Community, New Star Family Center http://login.npwebsiteservices.com/starfamilycenterorg/DomesticViolence.asp
Domestic Violence in Muslim Families, Dr. Jeremiah McAuliffe http://www.crescentlife.com/psychissues/domestic_violence_in_muslim_families.htm
Domestic Violence within the Muslim American Community, KARAMAH http://www.karamah.org/domestic_violence.htm
Don’t Hold All Muslims Responsible for Men Who Misuse Quran, Beat Women, Summer Hathout http://www.mwlusa.org/topics/violence&harrassment/domesticviolence.htm
Ending Domestic Violence in Muslim Families, Sharifa Alkhateeb
Imam Mohammed Fadel on honor killings
Family tragedy no time for cultural warfare, Haroon Siddiqui
“God, religion, and family violence”
interfaith resource guide on “Family violence and religion”
FATWAS - Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah issues fatwa condemning honor killings and calling them “repulsive acts” - 40 scholars in Pakistan issue fatwa against honor killings http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1168265536796&pagename=Zone-English-News/NWELayout
Honor killing, a crime against Islam http://www.islamawareness.net/HonourKilling/honour_killings.pdf
Honor killing and Islam, Kamran Pasha http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kamran-pasha/honor-killing-and-islam_b_168401.html
Honor killing: condemnations are not enough, Shahed Amanullah http://www.altmuslim.com/a/a/a/2086
Honor killing from an Islamic perspective http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503543392
Honor killings among Hindus in India http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Honour-killings-and-dowries-continue-to-claim-victims-in-India-18793.html
Honor Killing: Is Violence Against Women a Universal Problem, Not an Islamic issue?, John Esposito http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-l-esposito/violence-against-women-a_b_705797.html
Honor killings and Islam, is there a link?, Omer Subhani http://www.altmuslimah.com/a/b/a/3240/
Honor killings: always wrong and never Islamic, Rosemary Pennington http://muslimvoices.org/honor-killings/
Honor Killings (and Their Fallout) Come To Britain, Zahed Amanullah http://www.altmuslim.com/a/a/b/1830/
Honoring Aasiya, Muna Ali http://www.altmuslimah.com/a/b/gva/2988/ 
Honoring women, Ameena Jandali http://www.illumemag.com/zine/articleDetail.php?Honoring-Women-13224
Islam and Honor Killings. By Imam Zaid Shakir
Interfaith Group Takes New Approach to Domestic Abuse, Rebecca Rosen Lum http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/interfaith_group_takes_new_approach_to_domestic_abuse/
Islam and Honor Killings, Imam Zaid Shakir http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/islam_and_honor_killings/ 
Islamic Perspective on “Honor Killings” and domestic violence, MWL http://www.mwlusa.org/topics/violence&harrassment/hk.html
Fatwa against domestic abuse by Sheikh Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah http://arabist.net/hatshepsut/?s=domestic+violence
Aasiya Zubair Hassan, Domestic Violence and Islam, Pamela K. Taylor http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/pamela_k_taylor/2009/02/aasiya_hassan_domestic_violenc.html
Honor Killings, Mohammed Fadel PhD, JD http://www.islamawareness.net/HonourKilling/honor1.html
Just Another Honor Killing in the News, Nancy Shehata http://www.patheos.com/blogs/muslimahinprogress/2012/01/just-another-honor-killing-in-the-news.html
The Killing of Aasiya Hassan:  An Open Letter to the Leaders of American Muslim Communities, Imam Mohamed Hagmagid Ali http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_killing_of_aasiya_hassan_an_open_letter_to_the_leaders_of_american_musl/0017187
Khutbah by Sh. Hamza Yusuf http://blog.beliefnet.com/cityofbrass/2009/02/khutba-on-domestic-violence-by.html 
Moving beyond the slogans, Asma Uddin http://www.altmuslim.com/a/a/a/2934/
In the name of honor, Zeenat Umar http://www.illumemag.com/zine/articleDetail.php?In-The-Name-of-Honor-12780
Murder of Aasiya Hassan: - American Muslims Call For Swift Action Against Domestic Violence, Dr. Hesham Hassaballa http://www.godfaithpen.com/2009/02/american-muslims-call-for-swift-action.html  -  PFP Condemns Beheading of Aasiya Hassan, Wife of Bridges TV Founder http://www.peacefulfamilies.org/pressrelease090214.html
Muslim Women, Domestic Violence and the Role of Education and Awareness Programs, Altaf Husain, MSW, LSW http://www.crescentlife.com/articles/islamic%20psych/muslim_women,_domestic_violence_and_education.htm
Muslims Working Against Domestic Violence, Imam Johari Abdul Malik http://imamjohari.wordpress.com/2008/01/06/muslims-working-against-domestic-violence/
Muslim Council of Britain statement against honor killings
Muslim Women’s League Position Paper on “Honor Killings”
National Declaration by Religious and Spiritual Leaders to Address Violence Against Women   http://www.faithtrustinstitute.org/petition/petition.php 
Pakistan The Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2009, Zubeida Mustafa http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-Protecting-women-qs-10
Peaceful Families Project PFP Condemns Beheading of Aasiya Hassan, Wife of Bridges TV Founder http://www.peacefulfamilies.org/pressrelease090214.html 
Qur’an and Hadith on Right to Fight Against Abuse and Violence http://www.crescentlife.com/islamic%20rights/fighting_abuse.htm 
Reflections on Aasiya Hassan’s Murder and Domestic Violence, M. Junaid Levesque-Alam http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/reflections_on_aasiya_hassans_murder_and_domestic_violence/ 
Religiosity Common Among Mothers Who Kill Children 
Religion and family violence research team
Religion and Domestic Violence 
Religion and Domestic Violence Statistics
Religious extremism article collection
Reflections on Aasiya Hassan’s Murder and Domestic Violence, M. Junaid Levesque-Alam http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/reflections_on_aasiya_hassans_murder_and_domestic_violence 
Rifqa, the Reverend and apostasy, Salam al Marayati http://www.altmuslim.com/a/a/a/3263/
The shame of honor killings in the Muslim world, Hesham Hassaballa http://www.altmuslim.com/a/a/a/2309/
Slowly, Muslims Wake Up To The Reality Of Domestic Violence, Shahed Amanullah http://www.altmuslim.com/a/a/b/1662/
Strong in Faith and Numbers, Interfaith Domestic Violence Coalition Plans Capitol Hill Briefing http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/strong_in_faith_and_numbers_interfaith_domestic_violence_coalition_plans_ca/ 
Teen’s death prompts imam to go on hunger strike
There is no honor in domestic violence, Sikander Ziad Hashmi http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/1123878—there-is-no-honour-in-domestic-violence
This cruel sickness, Saraji Umm Zaid http://www.altmuslim.com/a/a/a/2745/
What does Islam say about domestic violence? http://www.themodernreligion.com/women/w_abuse1.htm#say
Who’s Afraid of Shariah?, Sumbul Ali Karamali http://www.illumemag.com/zine/articleDetail.php?Who-s-Afraid-of-Shariah-13288
Why Muslim Families Should Be Free of Domestic Violence (brochure) http://www.utoledo.edu/centers/eberly/docs/Islam%2520brochure.pdf
Wife Abuse in the Muslim Community, Kamran Memon http://islam.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=islam&cdn=religion&tm=87&gps=148_11_979_638&f=00&tt=14&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.zawaj.com/articles/abuse_memon.html 
Women in chains, Irfan Yusuf http://www.altmuslim.com/a/a/a/2274/

list of fatwas against extremism

SOME RESOURCES:

Muslim Women’s Resource Center
Apna Ghar a domestic violence shelter
An Imam’s Guide to dealing with domestic violence
Stand! Against Domestic Violence
Shalom Bayit: Bay Area Jewish Women Working to End Domestic Violence
Faith Trust Institute
Peace and Safety in the Christian Home
Muslim Womens League
Peaceful Families Project. 
Violence is not our culture demands an end to violence against women justified in the name of ‘culture’, ‘religion’ or ‘tradition’.

There are a number of organizations working to stop this epidemic, and there is a list of Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and other resources available on the Religion Newswriters site.

QUR’ANIC VERSES

And no soul, as bearer of burden, bears (and is made to bear) the burden of another; and if one weighed down by his burden calls to (another for help to) carry it, nothing of it will be carried by that other, even if he be his near of kin. Qur’an 35:18 This verse makes it clear that no one is responsible for the actions of another.

For that reason, we ordained for the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul for other than murder or spreading corruption in the land, it is as if he has killed the whole of humanity… Qur’an 5:35

originally published 12/14/07