Dictionary

honour killing en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

Compound of honour + killing.

Meanings

1. (euphemistic) A typically Middle Eastern and South Asian cultural practice whereby a family member, usually female, is murdered by other family members, the act being justified as retribution for a (usually sexual) slight upon the family's honour.
   • Such honour killings are justified by quoting Sura 4:15. A man who kills his wife, mother, daughter or sister for sexual indiscretion or for eloping (both acts that are regarded as bringing dishonour to the family) is either lightly fined or immune from prosecution. 2009, John Azumah, My Neighbour's Faith: Islam Explained for African Christians, WordAlive Publishers, unnumbered page:
   • The prevailing patriarchal and misogynist practices prevailing in Muslim countries have created an association between Muslim countries and honour killing in the public mind. However, according to UNICEF, the practice of honour killing is an ancient one and involves men killing female relatives in the name of family honour for forced or suspected sexual activity outside marriage, even when the women have been victims of rape. 2008, Riaz Hassan, Inside Muslim Minds, Melbourne University Press, page 200:
   • What is true of forced marriages is also true of the horrific practice of ‘honour’ killings, a term that acts as a fig leaf for the (often premeditated) murder of young women who have supposedly brought ‘shame’ to the honour of families. 2011, Ali Rattansi, Multiculturalism: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, page 55:

Forms

Relateds

honour violence · honour killer

Translations (60)

pt morte de honra (murder as a cultural practice) · bn সম্মান রক্ষার্থে হত্যা (murder as a cultural practice) · zea eerwraek (murder as a cultural practice) · bg убийство на честта (murder as a cultural practice) · nb æresdrap (murder as a cultural practice) · tr namus cinayeti (murder as a cultural practice) · hi सम्मान हत्या (murder as a cultural practice) · ml അഭിമാനക്കൊല (murder as a cultural practice) · ro crimă de onoare (murder as a cultural practice) · la homicīdium honōrābile (murder as a cultural practice) · sv hedersmord (murder as a cultural practice) · fy earwraak (murder as a cultural practice) · sh у̀бо̄јство збо̏г части (murder as a cultural practice) · sh ubistvo zbȍg časti (murder as a cultural practice) · ja 名誉の殺人 (murder as a cultural practice) · pl zabójstwo honorowe (murder as a cultural practice) · cmn 榮譽謀殺 /荣誉谋杀 (murder as a cultural practice) · sh убиство збо̏г части (murder as a cultural practice) · fy earmoard (murder as a cultural practice) · fa قتل ناموسی (murder as a cultural practice) · it delitto d'onore (murder as a cultural practice) · ko 명예 살인 (murder as a cultural practice) · cmn 名譽殺害 /名誉杀害 (murder as a cultural practice) · de Ehrenmord (murder as a cultural practice) · pt homicídio de honra (murder as a cultural practice) · sh ùbōjstvo zbȍg časti (murder as a cultural practice) · da æresdrab (murder as a cultural practice) · az namus qətli (murder as a cultural practice) · ur ناموسی قتل (murder as a cultural practice) · pa ਅਣਖ ਖ਼ਾਤਰ ਕਤਲ (murder as a cultural practice) · tr töre ve namus suçları (murder as a cultural practice) · fa جنایت ناموسی (murder as a cultural practice) · ml ദുരഭിമാനക്കൊല (murder as a cultural practice) · ka ღირსების მკვლელობა (murder as a cultural practice) · uk вби́вство че́сті (murder as a cultural practice) · uk уби́вство че́сті (murder as a cultural practice) · hu becsületgyilkosság (murder as a cultural practice) · cmn 名譽殺人 /名誉杀人 (murder as a cultural practice) · zza cınayetê namusi (murder as a cultural practice) · nl eerwraak (murder as a cultural practice) · wa moude d' oneur (murder as a cultural practice) · nn æresdrap (murder as a cultural practice) · eo honormurdo (murder as a cultural practice) · te పరువు హత్యలు (murder as a cultural practice) · tr onur suçları (murder as a cultural practice) · fr crime d'honneur (murder as a cultural practice) · pt assassinato de honra (murder as a cultural practice) · cmn 榮譽殺害 /荣誉杀害 (murder as a cultural practice) · hi सम्मान हेतु हत्या (murder as a cultural practice) · cs vražda ze cti (murder as a cultural practice) · he רֶצַח עַל חִלּוּל כָּבוֹד הַמִּשְׁפָּחָה (murder as a cultural practice) · ru уби́йство че́сти (murder as a cultural practice) · es crimen de honor (murder as a cultural practice) · zza qetlê namusi (murder as a cultural practice) · ta கெளரவக் கொலை (murder as a cultural practice) · nl eermoord (murder as a cultural practice) · es asesinato de honor (murder as a cultural practice) · ar قَتْل الشَّرَفِ (murder as a cultural practice) · ar جَرِيمَة الشَّرَفِ (murder as a cultural practice) · fi kunniamurha (murder as a cultural practice)