We condemn the brutal killings of Amina and Shawbo

international | gender and sexuality | other press Thursday June 07, 2007 12:22 by Houzan Mahmoud - Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq houzan73 at yahoo dot co dot uk 079 56 88 3001

Victims of so called “honour killings” in Kurdistan

It is unbelievable to hear the news about a 12 years old girl, brutally killed by her father because he suspected her of having a relationship with their 24-year-old male neighbour. Amina was killed on the 5th May 2007 by her own father in their house opposite the Ministry of Human Rights in Erbil, Kurdistan.

Amina’s father is said to be a PUK military official who has not been charged or even punished for killing his daughter up until now. It is said that Amina begged her father not to kill her, and that she kissed her father’s feet twice for mercy. He was cruel enough to ignore his 12 years old daughter’s innocent plea and killed her in cold blood.

Shawbo Ali Rauf, aged 19 years old, is another victim of the so-called “honour killings”. According to her father, her in-laws killed her on 12th May 2007. She was married to Hemn Mawlod Ali (known as Namr Mhamada Ali in Britain). Hemn has refugee status in Britain.

Women in Kurdistan need our support and international solidarity to strengthen their struggle against violence and terror against women and to put pressure on the Kurdish government to enforce a law that guarantees equality and dignity to all women. Also the British government is responsible to bring to justice the killers of Shawbo Ali who was killed by her husband and other two men who have refugee status in Britain.

Houzan Mahmoud: Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq- Abroad Representative
Payze Ahmed: women’s rights activist
Dara Ahmed: Writer and activist
Kurdish Women's Community-Kirklees
Kurdish Cultural Community- Kirklees
Eastern Kurdish Community-Kirklees
Western Kurdish and British Friendship association - Kirklees
Kurdish Refugees Community-Kirklees

For more information please contact:
houzan73@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: 079 56 88 3001


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