Indian court urges death penalty for 'honour killings'

[Turborama]

Source: AFP

– 3 hours ago

NEW DELHI — India's top court said Monday the death penalty should be given to those found guilty of so-called honour killings, calling the crime a barbaric "slur" on the nation.

India has seen an upsurge in such killings that mainly involve young couples who marry outside their caste or against their relatives' wishes and are murdered to protect what is seen as the family's reputation and pride.

"It is time to stamp out these barbaric, feudal practices which are a slur on our nation," the Supreme Court said.

There are no official figures on honour killings, though an independent study last year suggested that as many as 900 were being committed every year in the northern states of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i2d1tgM_eiQmuRVBrqCfOmmAAtlw?docId=CNG.c1abdfdf972345482d6ae381b79e6ce8.191

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Will this new law protect widows from being forced to jump into their husbands' funeral pyres?

I've read accounts with the mother-in-laws pushing the wives of their late sons into the fires.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

6. the law already penalizes that. nt

[Vehl]

8. This is probably 2 centuries too late

Ive never heard of this happening in the recent decades...it was a practice limited to fringe communities in the most backward of Indian states 200 years ago. If anything like this happened today its more than likely due to some conflict over the Will of the dead husband than some "practice".

[thelordofhell]

10. It happens here in the States

You only get 34 1/2 years for it though

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/15/arizona-honor-killing-iraqi-immigrant-sentenced_n_849999.html

[rayofreason]

11. "You say that it is your custom to burn widows."...

"Very well. We also have a custom: when men burn a woman alive, we tie a rope around their necks and we hang them. Build your funeral pyre; beside it, my carpenters will build a gallows. You may follow your custom. And then we will follow ours."

General Charles James Napier, Commander in Chief, British Army in India, 1843

[iandhr]

2. Honor killings are barbaric.

The fact that someone can kill a member of there own family.

But i do have a question.

The article notes

"There are no official figures on honour killings, though an independent study last year suggested that as many as 900 were being committed every year were being committed every year in the northern states of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. "

If there is no official tally how does one base an estimate?

[katsy]

3. They probably have an idea.

It is most likely that they won't publish it as an official total to avoid embarrassment.

Just my opinion, not meant as a factual statement.

[Turborama]

4. "Official figures" are usually obtained by officialdom

And an "independent study" is normally carried out by a non-governmental organization (NGO).

[BOG PERSON]

5. how can they abolish barbaric feudal practices like honor kilings

when they're too complaisant to abolish feudalism ??

[Vehl]

7. :)

What type of "feudalism" are you talking about?

One that allows women and the lowest of the castes to be heads of state? due to popular vote? one that allowed a so called "low caste" to write the constitution of the nation?

Ill talk about feudalism when the wall street lobbyists supporting big businesses and MIC funded candidates are abolished from the American democracy....not to mention the election of a female head of state. for anyone to complain about so called "feudalism"(pls clarify) about the biggest democracy in the world.

broad brush statements are fun, but are hardly factual

[BOG PERSON]

9. historically there's only been one way to abolish feudalism

and that was through comprehensive land reform. not through rewarding individuals from minority groups with positions of authority.