Article January 17, 2005 Issue

DOORWAY TO FREEDOM

Marta Greenwood

When I saw the recent news story in The London Times, my heart went out to the young woman mentioned. The headline read: "Honour Killing." The story went on to reportthat 122 cases of teenage girls' deaths had been reopened to add to investigation on the rise of honor killings in the United Kingdom.

Honor killing is complex and involves the severe reaction taken against a family member who is thought to have brought shame upon the family. In the Eastern society where I come from (Iran), saving face and avoiding shame within your family are very important issues.

The Times story reported that 18 months ago, Heshu, from a Kurdish family living in the United Kingdom, was stabbed to death by her father. He did not approve of her Western dress and her Christian boyfriend. This story brought memories flooding back of my own girlhood.