Criminal Prosecutor Ali Abu Zeid on Saturday charged a 43-year-old farmer with premeditated murder in connection with the shooting death of his female relative over the weekend, official sources said. The suspect, who was not identified by officials, reportedly shot his 16-year-old niece with a machinegun at her home in Deir Alla on Friday, a senior official source said.
…The pathologists also established that she was hit by over 30 bullets that penetrated her head, chest and back, according to the source. The suspect was also charged with possessing an illegal weapon and Abu Zeid issued orders for him to be detained for 14 days at a correctional and rehabilitation centre pending further investigation into the case. [source]
This is an utterly disgusting and brutal honor crime. One would think that these stories would cease to amaze or surprise us with time, but an uncle spraying his niece with 30 bullets to cleanse family honor? And this was after the family “crisis” had been “resolved”? Moreover, Jordan really needs to start getting serious about gun control. There are far too many people who own weapons, especially illegally. This is a country where the most common sound is that of rapid gun fire at night, commemorating some sort of celebration, and despite the act being illegal, it is a small indication of the level of gun ownership in the Kingdom. Bullet control anyone?
On the bright(er) side – if such a contrast exists – a 20 year old man received a 10 year sentence for killing his sister by slitter her throat with a knife. The only positive thing about this sentence was that it may indicate the beginning of more stricter sentencing in the judicial system when it comes to honor crimes.
The court rejected the defendant’s claims that he should benefit from a reduction in penalty because he killed his sister to defend his family’s honour. “Article 340 stipulates that the defendant should catch the victim committing adultery and this condition does not apply in this case,†the court ruled. [source]
That’s somewhat of a rare outcome for a crime that would have usually seen the man getting no more than 24 months only a few years ago. Naturally, ten years is not nearly enough for the crime, but it’s a noticeable sign of improvement from the judicial system.
Aaaah the sweet smell of biased misogyny in the air.
Jordan’s “Honour crimes” laws will never change completely even thought the judges have declared a murder is a murder. The laws will not be reformed until the Dinosaurs in government, and illiterate representatives of tribes learn the simple fact “There is No honour in killing a defenceless female” and most of the honour killings it has been proven the girls are virgins, and/or the men killed them for the inheritance. No male relative has a right to come in to your house and shoot your sister, that is basically what the prevalent laws are condoning.
Seriously Twisted are we when we stand back and say, and this I have heard with my own ears: “This only goes on in rural areas not in our society!” WTF even rural areas are part of our society, actually they are more part of the society than the so-called 1%…
Anyway the more we discuss the more changes can be made hopefully.
What Jordan needs to do is to punish this criminal and others like him. This criminal should spend the rest of his life in prison.
@Walid: such statements are an attempt to cast off rural jordan as being backwards and lesser-than its counterparts. if i’m not mistaken, most of these crimes happen in urban areas and not rural.
Guns, laws… Islam?
الأسلام هو الØل؟ No?
maybe a 20 JD bullet is the solution … as for the majority of the firearms being illegal is a big exaggeration …
“the majority of the firearms being illegal is a big exaggeration …”
not at all. i’d wager on it.
“if i’m not mistaken, most of these crimes happen in urban areas and not rural”
That is correct, this year at least, most of the crimes have taken place in or around Amman.
I agree with Walid; rural or urban, society is wholesome, just as justice is wholesome. Addressing these crimes, and more importantly the ideologies/beliefs/narratives that sustain them, is part and parcel of seeking a more just society and more accountable government/judiciary.
As you said “Naturally, ten years is not nearly enough for the crime” . If they would sentence someone for life, people will start thinking twice. If I was not against capital punishment i would say if the government sentenced someone to death, then people would learn. Mothers and fathers would learn not to condone such acts…
I wonder, where were this girl´s parents? and grandparents.? uncles? aunts? .. are they happy now? did they clean the family´s honour? is the uncle deemed a man now that they killed a girl..a silly kid? is this the price of manhood?
and anyway What does an uncle have to do with her? what will the government do? sentence him to ten years? it is pathetic that is what it is… pathetic!
Why does the government, do nothing against that? What about Queen Rania? She should speak against those horrible actions. I can not understand why such those stupid men act like devils,… so unislamic. Where is the ra7ma (mercy) ? They have mental-health problems. A “normal” person never act like this, this is sick, so sick!! May she rest in peace, InshAllah.
I gave up on people, I gave up on the Parliament. I gave up on Rana Husseini (God bless her and the great effort she’s done). I gave up on women’s associations. I gave up on the educated and the ignorant. It has to come from the King. Unless it comes from up there, nothing will change. The King has to change the law.
regarding your point about gun control… A friend of mine was chased down by a car with four young men with guns because he overtook him. He called the police and one of the guys kept yelling out that he was the son of a general or some bs so they had to all go to the station to get the shit figured out.. He almost got shot for over taking a general’s son who probably isn’t worth an expired credit card
On a side note.. i am in amman over the summer and I will not cease to be amazed by how aggressive some young drivers are especially in west Amman…
Are we living in a a ‘to each his own’ country where we can no longer rely on medical and emergency services for protection and primary health care ?
Hareega ,, the king has no time for this but has time for this and that