Pakistani ‘honour killing’ in Italy condemned
-22/08/06
The Roman Catholic Archbisho
Pakistani ‘honour killing’ in Italy condemned
-22/08/06
The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Lahore has condemned the “honour killing” of a young Pakistani woman in Italy after she refused an arranged marriage ñ reports The Universe newspaper in the UK.
Womenís and human rights groups have also joined in the protests as the incident became public.
Italian police are said to believe that 20-year-old Hini Saleem had her throat cut by her own father on 11 August 2006 after he became angry when Ms Saleem refused a marriage. Instead, she moved in with her 30-year-old Italian boyfriend.
Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha declared: “There is no justification of such killing for the sake of the family’s ëhonourí. It is an old and unjust feudal practice in Pakistan that denies women the right to make decisions on their own. Once they reach a certain age, freely choosing one’s spouse is a fundamental right and we cannot deny it.”
He continued: “This type of incident is earning Pakistan a bad name. People who go to foreign countries should accept [that they] live in an international culture, adher[ing] to international values based on universal human rights.”
It is believed that honour killings, along with controversial blasphemy laws affecting non-Muslim citizens, was among the concerns raised by Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams with the Pakistani president on his recent visit to the country.
Many Muslim and other community leaders inside and outside Pakistan are also outraged by so-called ëhonour killingsí and have sought to outlaw the.
Human rights activists and womenís groups argue that the government should be doing much more.
[Also on Ekklesia: New call to end Pakistan blasphemy law; Taliban religious appointee raises Afghan human rights concerns; Pakistani Christian accused of text message blasphemy; Pakistani Christian woman charged with blasphemy is bailed; Pakistani churches to fast and pray against blasphemy law; Pakistani Christians fear passport identification; Afghan Christian faces death sentence; Archbishop of Canterbury to visit quake-hit Pakistan; Methodist Church supports ecumenical day of prayer for Pakistan; Archbishop of Canterbury calls for Pakistan blasphemy review; Pakistani churches to fast and pray against blasphemy law; Pakistan government apologises for attacks on churches; Bishop opens up a debate with ‘Christian society’ claims; Muslim writer says Mary may help bring religions together; Archbishop remembers Mumbai victims and denounces religious-backed]
Pakistani ‘honour killing’ in Italy condemned
-22/08/06
The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Lahore has condemned the “honour killing” of a young Pakistani woman in Italy after she refused an arranged marriage ñ reports The Universe newspaper in the UK.
Womenís and human rights groups have also joined in the protests as the incident became public.
Italian police are said to believe that 20-year-old Hini Saleem had her throat cut by her own father on 11 August 2006 after he became angry when Ms Saleem refused a marriage. Instead, she moved in with her 30-year-old Italian boyfriend.
Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha declared: “There is no justification of such killing for the sake of the family’s ëhonourí. It is an old and unjust feudal practice in Pakistan that denies women the right to make decisions on their own. Once they reach a certain age, freely choosing one’s spouse is a fundamental right and we cannot deny it.”
He continued: “This type of incident is earning Pakistan a bad name. People who go to foreign countries should accept [that they] live in an international culture, adher[ing] to international values based on universal human rights.”
It is believed that honour killings, along with controversial blasphemy laws affecting non-Muslim citizens, was among the concerns raised by Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams with the Pakistani president on his recent visit to the country.
Many Muslim and other community leaders inside and outside Pakistan are also outraged by so-called ëhonour killingsí and have sought to outlaw the.
Human rights activists and womenís groups argue that the government should be doing much more.
[Also on Ekklesia: New call to end Pakistan blasphemy law; Taliban religious appointee raises Afghan human rights concerns; Pakistani Christian accused of text message blasphemy; Pakistani Christian woman charged with blasphemy is bailed; Pakistani churches to fast and pray against blasphemy law; Pakistani Christians fear passport identification; Afghan Christian faces death sentence; Archbishop of Canterbury to visit quake-hit Pakistan; Methodist Church supports ecumenical day of prayer for Pakistan; Archbishop of Canterbury calls for Pakistan blasphemy review; Pakistani churches to fast and pray against blasphemy law; Pakistan government apologises for attacks on churches; Bishop opens up a debate with ‘Christian society’ claims; Muslim writer says Mary may help bring religions together; Archbishop remembers Mumbai victims and denounces religious-backed]