WUNRN

http://www.wunrn.com

http://abcnews.go.com/International/india-seeks-protection-honor-killings/story?id=10984060

INDIA - HONOR KILLINGS STILL TERRORIZE INDIA'S AT RISK YOUNG COUPLES

Even in Sophisticated Delhi, Police Are Slow to Acknowledge Honor Killings

By KAREN RUSSO

Delhi, India -  June 23, 2010

After a pair of gruesome attacks on young men and women – known as "honor killings" – shocked India's capital in the past two weeks, a group has asked the government to protect couples in socially-taboo marriages and relationships.

Police look at the bodies of Sunita Devi (bottom L), 21, and her partner Jasbir Singh, 22, after...

Police look at the bodies of Sunita Devi (bottom L), 21, and her partner Jasbir Singh, 22, after they were killed by villagers in an "honour killing" in Ballah village in the northern Indian state of Haryana May 9, 2008. After two gruesome murders ? known as "honor killings" ? shocked India's capitol in the past two weeks, a group has asked the government to protect couples in socially-taboo marriages and relationships.

(Reuters)

Shakti Vahini, a non-governmental organization, filed a petition this week in India's Supreme Court to ask the government to provide protection for couples who undertake inter-caste, inter-religious and "contentious" marriages.

The human rights group urged the courts to create safe areas in eight states where there have been a particularly high concentration of honor killings.

Honor killings are murders in the name of protecting the honor of a family or village. These killings often occur when young men and women choose a partner with whom their family disapproves – likely because they are from different religious backgrounds or castes – and the murder will somehow reverse or remove the shame or dishonor for the family.

================================================================
To contact the list administrator, or to leave the list, send an email to: wunrn_listserve-request@lists.wunrn.com. Thank you.