Long overdue ....

International women’s day this year has roused women and men from the public and private sectors to call on the Jordanian authorities to do all that it can to rid our society of the scourge of so called honour killings; murder by any other name.

By marking this year as the year “women and men unite to end violence against women and girls” it is a reassuring and clear signal to all that actions taken by delusional members of the Jordanian society under the ruse of cleansing family honour, does nothing but cloak an entire nation, our extended Jordanian family, in shame and dishonour.

It has to stop. And that is it – a cultural scourge fed by egocentric machismo that has no foundation in religion or the modern nation state founded on the rule of law, unless we allow it. For indeed one of the observations of the Prophet Muhammad is this: "How does any of you beat his wife as he beats a stallion camel and then feel that he may embrace her?" (Bukhari)

"And among His signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves that you may dwell in tranquillity with them, and He has put love and mercy between your hearts; surely in that are signs for those who reflect.” (Quran 30:21)

The disconnect between misguided cultural attitudes, lack of adequate laws to assist the judiciary and true Qur’anic teachings must be addressed that we may indeed reflect properly and banish this evil once and for all …. it is long overdue.

J