Jordan: Lawmakers Again Reject Penalty For "Honor Crimes" - Brief Article

WIN News, Spring, 2000

UN WIRE (Feb. 27, 2000): http://www.unfoundation.org

"Jordan's lower house of parliament, the end of January, rejected for the second time in two months a draft law that would impose harsher sentences on men who kill women perceived to have shamed their families, reports the Associated Press. According to AP, lawmakers did not cite a reason for turning down the proposal, 'which reflects the overwhelming indifference toward honor killings in Jordan's male-dominated society.'

The draft was approved by the parliament's upper house last month, when it revoked an article in the penal code that allowed men convicted of killing female relatives to be jailed for a maximum of one year. Deleting the article would make the so-called 'honor killings' equal to other murders, with sentences up to life in prison.

Under parliamentary rules, the 80-member lower house must meet with the 40-member upper house for a final vote on the bill, but no date has been set. Each year, at least 25 women are killed for dishonoring their families by talking to a man, dating or having sex outside marriage. Being raped can also be seen as disgracing the family in Jordan."