Citation

Lakhan SE. Medscape J. Med. 2008; 10(6): 140; author reply 140.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Medscape)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

18679545

PMCID

PMC2491676

Abstract

Haqqi reported on the persistent issue of honor killings in Pakistan. However, the letter contains an omission and an error. Although she lists several countries where such murders have been reported, India is not noted. Honor killings, however, have been practice in India since its ancient history and continues to modern day. Moreover, a large portion of this practice is independent of Islamic influence. In fact, due to inadequate dowries, more than 5000 newlywed women die each year in India. Even more common, an assembly of elders called a panchayat may order the death of couples who are engaged in an intercaste or intra-gotra (clan) relationship or marriage. This elaborates on the error contained in the letter, which claims that women are “always the victims.” It is reported that the man in such a relationship is almost always spared from death if he is of upper-caste birth, otherwise both partners may be killed. The Indian government even instituted measured to financially reward individuals who marry beneath their caste in an effort to break the segregation and diminish discrimination. We must call for the end of honor killings in the world's most populous democracy with integration, education, policing, and justice.

Language: en