"The
value of this book lies not only in the fact that Husseini brings to light an
unspeakable and rampant atrocity but also in the way she tells her own story
and how she shows the reader the step-by-step process of her investigations.
A powerful and important book."—Booklist, Starred Review
"Rana is utterly inspiring. She is a young woman of courage,
committed to the principles of truth and justice...If enough people read this
book, maybe the next time a young woman is being stoned to death fro having
fallen in love, someone will intervene to save her life." —Jane
Fonda, actress, writer, and political activist
"Rana Husseini has almost single-handedly brought this crime to
public attention through her newspaper articles and campagins, and her
acheivements in journalism and human rights have been internationally
recognized. She has produced a brilliantly researched and passionate attack
on honor killings around the world. A powerful, heartfelt and important book."—HM
Queen Noor of Jordan, international humanitarian activist
"Disturbing, informative and readable, Murder in the Name of
Honor tackles one of the mose shocking crimes of the 21st Century. A remarkable
insight into a horrifying crime and a call to action for everyone who cares
about human rights. A must read."—Kerry Kennedy, founder of the
Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights, and chair of the Amnesty
International USA Leadersip Council
In this new
provocative first hand account, MURDER IN THE NAME OF HONOR, Rana Husseini
chronicles the many stories behind cases of so-called honor killings that she
has uncovered during years of international investigative reporting. Taking
us from the narrow alleys of Old Amman to the war-torn region of Baghdad,
from the bustling streets of Derby in the UK to the quiet suburbs of St
Louis, USA, Rana uses her journalistic ability to meticulously reconstruct
each crime scene, seeking not to shock but to humanize each murder, to help
readers understand the multiple contradictions, which allow these horrendous
crimes to occur.
Through Rana’s interviews, many never before published, we hear from women
who have survived their attempted murders and are now in jail, as it is the
only place they can be protected from their family. We hear from convicted
murderers; some of whom are repentant for their crimes, others who are not.
We hear from parents who put their sons to the tasks of killing their
daughters. And we hear from countless government officials, neighbors and
police- those who have enabled these crimes and those who seek to stop them.
Along the way Rana tells the moving story of her own personal journey from
being a young naïve journalist, stumbling across these incomprehensible
crimes to becoming a powerful advocate, dedicated to exposing every murder
she hears about. She describes the countless rallies, letter writing
campaigns, protests, and court-cases she has organized and attended and the
successes she has had using the media to affect change against many odds.
Rana’s story is personal but also grounded in years of extensive research
from dozens of countries, where so-called honor killings have been reported
including Pakistan, Jordan, Sweden, the UK
and the US. Rana describes what is being done in specific
locations and what still needs to be done on a social, political and economic
level to get this issue the attention it deserves. She delves into the very
complicated issue of these crimes occurring in migrant communities across
Europe and North America and explains the links between so-called honor crimes
and other forms of discrimination occurring against women worldwide.
At once chilling, gut-wrenching, inspiring, and informative, MURDER IN THE
NAME OF HONOR is the most comprehensive and accessible resource on this issue
and a call to arms to all those who believe in the equal rights of women, the
power of the media to make a difference, and their obligation as citizens of
an international community to fight for the justice for all.
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