Warning, really horrific story. Three teenage girls murdered in 'honour' killing...

[combustiblelemon]

Pakistani MP defends 'tradition' in Parliament. Here.

[ForeverOptimistic]

Jeez. And we think we have problems with our government.

[donnie]

Thank God my dds do not live in a place like that.

Bitterly ironic that torturing and murdering women is 'honourable'. Killing is fine. Yet allowing women a tiny bit of free thought and independence of mind is evil and wicked.

Christ, the irony. The horror.

[ClairePO]

Terrible

[tiredemma]

Fucking hell.

its like something out of the Dark Ages.

How bloody awful

[Hulababy]

Awful.

Governments should be able to pull sanctions over other coutnries that permit such barbaric acts to occur.

[Carmenere]

Oh FFS,

[combustiblelemon]

Unfortunately Hula I don't think our government would want to rock the boat when they need co-operation from Pakistan over it's Afgan border.

[handlemecarefully]

It is astounding and unbelievable isn't it. How can Pakistani MP's defend it - presumably the MP concerned is an educated man.....

[bobthebuddha]

Bloody hell..wondering whether this is going to go the way of the Afghan jails thread however.

[FranSanDisco]

It's OK because it's a tradition I can't begin to understand how frightened these girls must have been

[bobthebuddha]

I've seen some of the pictures distributed by the Iran Liberty Association of stonings and they are pretty grim too. Terrified women buried up to their necks and then their 'betters' let loose. But hey, the West has supported them, etc etc.

[evangelina]

I'm rubbish with links, but here goeswww.timesonline.co.uk/tol.news/uk/crime/article4749183.ece

If my link didn't work, it's an article in the Times (dated 14 September) which caught my eye about Sharia law being officially adopted in the UK through the back door means of arbitration tribunals. (I wonder if the reverse happens in Saudi Arabia).

It seems to have going on for a while with regard to Jewish law, but really Sharia law?? Women in OUR country, the home of female suffrage etc, being subject to these doctrines. We support gay rights, disabled people but would allow legal decisions that give women official second class status?

I'm wondering if there is any point in voting any more, what with 80% of our laws decided in Europe and religious courts taking over the rest.

[evangelina]

It didn't work . I'm having a computer lesson next week...

[onager]

Some of that kind of thing goes on here (though I've not heard of one so horrific)

It is worrying that with our government so keen to 'respect tradition' they might not be eager to stop it.

Evangelina was this the link you wanted?
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article4749183.ece

[evangelina]

Yes, thanks a lot onager.

[Poohbah]

There have been honour killings here! They barely get mentioned in our so politically correct press. My colleagues neighbour was stabbed and killed by her father and brothers for wanting to be with another Asian man not of their religion or choice. She said the police wouldn't come initially and speak to them even though they had heard the screams and were oh so politically correct when they did, the father was allowed to go to Pakistan the next day. The community were left disgusted and left to sanction the family themselves by refusing to use their shop.

It is pretty demoralising for those families who have integrated into British life.

Who is protecting Asian girls???

[platypussy]

I detest the term 'honour killings'.

[ummadam]

there is no honour in murder.

[ummadam]

btw - this isn't anything to do with islam - this is cultural crap.

[LucyJ0rdan]

How awful ,poor girls .

[evangelina]

I don't know too much about Islam or the Koran, but I feel very strongly that the UK needs to give full equal legal rights to all the women living here and not allow any encroachments into this via religious courts. I'm not aware of too many Muslim countries accommodating our laws. There was a big uproar when Archbishop Williams suggested that Sharia courts would inevitably operate here, but it seems to already be happening.

[Poohbah]

I think that the cultural pressure that families extert on many Asian women and also young Asian men means that a Sharia Court in this country would mean that the rights of individuals are not respected. This government does not understand this. People would be forced to accept the Sharia ruling in order not to shame their families or live lives in exile from their extended family and or fearful of their safety.

[Monkeytrousers]

"Who is protecting Asian girls???"

Good question. One we constantly need to keep asking and making a fuss about. These girls are more important than any religion or ideology.

[Monkeytrousers]

"Some reports said that two older relatives of the girls had tried to intervene, but they too were shot and buried with the girls while still alive."

"a local journalist in Baluchistan with Pakistan channel KTN, said that the villagers were scared to talk openly about the crime"

If this is true it is exactly why we need to keep bringing it into focus with the privledge we enjoy here