Honor Killing: A Misclassification Under the Gender Nexus
Birdsong’s refugee law student Jessica Darnell has had the opportunity to work on immigration and refugee matters while a Barry law student. Ms. Darnell wil graduate in May 2009, and plans to spend her legal career devoted to work involving immigration, asylum and gender matters. Her research which Birdsong oversaw last semester concerns the phenomonem of “Honor Killing.” It is quite an interesting topic. Ms. Darnell argues in her paper, which she has given me permission to post here, that the threat of honor killing provides potential victims the opportunity to make asylum claims in the United States. Read and enjoy.
HONOR KILLING: A Misclassification under the Gender Nexus.
Jessica L. Darnell
Fall 2008
I. INTRODUCTION.
On August 20, 1997 Marzouk Ahmed Abdel-Rahim decapitated his daughter and paraded her head down a Cairo neighborhood street.[1] His daughter, Nora Marzouk Ahmed, had eloped and was enjoying her honeymoon. [2] Before surrendering to police Marzouk Ahmed Abdel-Rahim told onlookers, “Now, the family has regained its honour.”[3]
On April 6 1999, Samia Sarwar, died instantly when she was shot in the head close range while visiting her divorce attorney.[4] Samia had been married to her abusive cousin for ten years when she pleaded with her family for permission to divorce.[5] Samia’s family permitted her to return home but refused to consent to divorce.[6] In March 1999 Samia’s parents went on a pilgrimage to Mecca and Samia fled to a shelter and sought out an attorney.[7]
Samia’s family, like most traditional Orthodox Muslim families, considered divorce shameful.[8] When Samia
