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HONOUR CRIMES AS GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN THEUK:
A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT
Nootash Keyhani*
Abstract – This article focuses on gender-based violence within the family, with an
emphasis on ‘honour killings’. These types of crimes are associated with the concepts of
‘honour’ and ‘shame’ within patriarchal societies. Until recently, such crimes largely
escaped national scrutiny, and it is argued, to some extent still do, because they are often
viewed as ‘traditional or cultural practices’, outside the scope of accepted state
intervention. This article takes a feminist perspective with the conceptual goal to reconcile
the feminist approach with multiculturalism, by removing the assumption that
multiculturalism is simply moral relativism. It concludes that 'crimes of honour' should be
treated as a violation of human rights and not as a religious or cultural practice.
A. INTRODUCTION
This article focuses on gender-based violence within the family with an
emphasis on ‘honour killings’. These types of crimes are associated with the
concepts of ‘honour’ and ‘shame’ within patriarchal societies. Until recently,
such crimes largely escaped national scrutiny and, it is argued, to some
extent still do, because they are often viewed as “traditional or cultural
practices”1, outside the scope of accepted state intervention.
This article takes a feminist perspective with the conceptual goal to
reconcile the feminist approach with multiculturalism, by removing the
assumption that multiculturalism is simply moral relativism. It falls into four
main sections. It will begin with an interrogation of the concept of ‘honour’
itself, by examining its historical and cultural connections,2 with a brief
overview of its significance today. The article then examines women's role
in ‘honour crimes’ within the wider context of domestic violence and
analyses the extent to which ‘honour crimes’ should be interpreted as
gender-based or, alternatively, as a cultural tradition. The article warns
against the inherent dangers of “categorising honour-related violence as
*
LL.B. (Sussex), LL.M. (UCL), Litigation, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP.
1
Radhika Coomaraswamy, ‘Violence Against Women and Crimes of Honour’ in Lynn
Welchman and Sara Hossain, ‘Honour’: Crimes, Paradigms and Violence Against
Women (Zed Books 2005).
2
Sharon K Araji, ‘Crimes of Honour and Shame: Violence Against Women in Non-
Western and Western Societies’ (2000) The Red Feather Journal of Postmodern
Criminology 22-23.
, Honour Crimes as Gender-Based Violence in the UK
primarily cultural,” 3 through a feminist perspective. However, it also
acknowledges that to completely dismiss any cultural aspect is severely
problematic and therefore calls for a more balanced approach, which takes
into account the benefits and detriments of both the cultural and the gender-
based arguments.4
The article later examines the ways in which male defendants in the
English courts invoke culture as a defence, exploring what problems this
poses for the victimised women.5 An analysis of leading legal judgments
illustrates that, although the “judiciary are inclined towards viewing
‘honour’ as primarily cultural rather than patriarchal, in some cases they
have begun to take a more gender-based or ‘mature multiculturalism’
approach.” 6 Despite an alarming judicial comment, 7 overall, the English
courts have resisted accepting the cultural argument as an acceptable
defence.8
In the final part, this article looks at the arguments of ‘mature
multiculturalism’ put forward by feminists such as Okin. It has been argued
that, “in the United Kingdom, crimes in the name of honour are rooted in
cultural traditions, not religious beliefs.” 9 It is often perceived that the
Muslim faith is responsible for these practices. This article argues that this is
a simplistic interpretation of the problem. It concludes that 'crimes of honour'
should be treated as a violation of human rights and not as a religious or
cultural practice. A number of recommendations are put forward, such as
raising awareness to change attitudes, educating the judiciary and the police,
employing the media and the option of introducing legislation in this
sensitive area of law, and analyses the shortcomings of such proposals.
B. 'CRIMES OF HONOUR' AND 'HONOUR KILLINGS'
In the UK, “a number of recent high-profile cases of so-called ‘honour
killings’ have received unprecedented media attention and have caused
much debate on the subject of how to prevent and punish such crimes.”10
3
Rupa Reddy, ‘Gender, Culture and the Law: Approaches to “Honour Crimes” in the
UK’ (2008) Feminist Legal Studies 305-321, 305.
4
ibid, 306.
5
Anne Phillips, ‘When Culture Means Gender: Issues of Cultural Defence in the English
Courts’ (2003) 66 Modern Law Review 510, 511.
6
Reddy (n 3) 305.
7
R v Shabir Hussain [1997] EWCA Crim 2876.
8
Phillips (n 5) 525.
9
United Nations General Assembly (2012), Report on the Special Rapporteur on
Violence Against Women, its Causes and Consequences [A/HRC/20/16].
10
Reddy (n 3) 306.
256
, UCL Journal of Law and Jurisprudence
However, before such discussion emerges, we must first be clear on the
definition of the ever-evolving terms; ‘crimes of honour’ and ‘honour
killings’.
1. Definition: ‘Crimes of Honour’
The definition of ‘crimes of honour’ is by no means straightforward 11,
because it encompasses a wide range of crimes, which may be culture
specific. The definition may involve
“one of a range of violent or abusive acts committed in the name of
‘honour’, including emotional, physical or sexual abuse and other
controlling and coercive behaviours, such as forced marriage and
female genital mutilation, which can end, in some extreme cases in
suicide or murder.”12
The value and meaning of ‘crimes of honour’ is examined in some depth by
Sen, who warns against western hypocrisy.13 According to Sen, the purpose
of ‘crimes of honour’ is to “remove from a collectivity the stain of
dishonour, both gendered and locally defined, through the use of emotional,
social or physical coercion over a person whose actual or imputed actions
have brought dishonour.” Indeed, Chakravarti argues against using the term
‘crimes of honour’ because it “mask[s] the violence in the abuses and
because the violence becomes associated with the uniqueness of Asian
cultures”. 14 Furthermore, the imprecision of its use is more reason for
caution in the use of the phrase.15
2. What are ‘Honour’ Killings?
An ‘honour killing’ is where a woman is killed to “either prevent or repair
perceived violations of male or familial honour.”16 Amnesty International
defines ‘honour killing’ as usually committed by male family members
against a female relative, when they believe she has brought shame on the
11
Lynn Welchman and Sara Hossain, ‘“Honour”, Rights and Wrongs’ in Welchman and
Hossain, ‘Honour’ (n 1).
12
Hannana Siddiqui, ‘There is no ‘Honour’ in Domestic Violence, Only Shame!
Women’s Struggles Against ‘Honour’ Crimes in the UK’ in Welchman and Hossain,
‘Honour’ (n 1), 263.
13
ibid.
14
Uma Chakravarti, ‘From Fathers to Husbands of Love, Death and Marriage in North
India’ in Welchman and Hossain, ‘Honour’ (n 1), 308.
15
Welchman and Hossain (n 11) 4.
16
Reddy (n 3) 306.
257
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