WUNRN
JORDAN - STUDY: ABOUT HALF OF TEEN
BOYS THINK "HONOUR KILLINGS" ARE JUSTIFIED
Agence
France-Presse - June 20, 2013 - AMMAN // Belief that so-called honour
killings are justified is still common among Jordanian teenagers, a Cambridge
University study revealed today.
The study by researchers
from the university's Institute of Criminology found that almost half of boys
and one in five girls interviewed in Amman believe that killing a daughter,
sister or wife who has "dishonoured" or shamed the family is
justified.
"Researchers
surveyed over 850 students, and found that attitudes in support of honour
killing are far more likely in adolescent boys with low education
backgrounds," a statement said, adding that the research is published in
the criminology journal Aggressive Behavior.
"Importantly, the
study found that these disturbing attitudes were not connected to religious
beliefs."
Between 15 and 20 women
die in so-called "honour" murders each year in Jordan, despite
government efforts to curb such crimes.
The main factors behind
these crimes "include patriarchal and traditional world views, emphasis
placed on female virtue and a more general belief that violence against others
is morally justified," according to the study.
"We noted
substantial minorities of girls, well-educated and even irreligious teenagers
who consider honour killing morally right, suggesting a persisting society-wide
support for the tradition," said Professor Manuel Eisner, who led the
study with graduate student Lana Ghuneim.
In all, 33.4 per cent of
all respondents either "agreed" or "strongly agreed" with
situations depicting honour killings.
"Boys were more than
twice as likely to support honour killings: 46.1 per cent of boys and 22.1 per
cent of girls agreed with at least two honour killing situations in the
questionnaire."
Sixty-one per cent of
teenagers from the lowest level of educational background showed supportive attitudes
towards "honour killing", as opposed to only 21.1 per cent where at
least one family member has a university degree, said the study.
And 41.5 per cent of
teenagers with a large number of siblings endorsed at least two
"honour-killing situations", while this was only the case for 26.7
per cent of teenagers from smaller families.
"While stricter
legislation has been introduced — despite conservative fears — cultural support
for violence against women who are seen as breaking norms has remained widespread,"
it added.
Murder is punishable by
death in Jordan, but in "honour killings" courts can commute or
reduce sentences, particularly if the victim's family asks for leniency.