Murder in the Name of Honor Read Online Free Page A

even though it was clearly recorded by the court that she was raped. This lenience was made possible by Article 98 of the Penal Code which permits those acting in a ‘fit of fury’ to benefit from reduced penalties.
    I couldn’t understand the verdict. I immediately sought out one of the tribunal’s three judges. Many judges had already heard of me and I had managed to build up relationships with some of them, and so one of them agreed to an interview. I had to be extremely careful about how I discussed any issue with the members of the judiciary; as a rule, no doubting, blaming or questioning was allowed. Judges were and still are considered to be among the most respected authorities in the kingdom. It was going to be extremely difficult for me to hold my tongue.
    The judge was welcoming, and ordered us some mint tea. As soon as it had been poured I took a deep breath and started the interview. ‘How do you explain that Sarhan received only six months when the case clearly does not qualify under the fit of fury clause as stipulated in Article 98 of the Penal Code? The girl was raped and it was not her fault,’ I said. Yasmin had turned herself in to the police for protection. Before the authorities released her, her father signed a guarantee that she would not be harmed. Obviously – to me, at least – the ‘fit of fury’ argument should not apply in the court’s consideration of the case, since, plainly, the murder was planned and coldly executed.
    The judge took a sip of mint tea. ‘The rape happened within the family, so it was clearly a family affair. Sarhan killed his sister after family encouragement, so this murder was a product of our culture.’
    â€˜But what about Yasmin? Who should then defend her? She was also a victim. Was her life worth nothing?’
    The judge looked at me and said nothing. For a fleeting second, I felt that my argument had had an impact on him. But it was time for me to leave; the judge told me he was a busy man. I had pushed too hard.
    Inam Asha, a social worker and activist who had seen Yasmin at the police station, offered me further details. The head of the station told her about the interrogation that took place. Yasmin had arrived at the station with her brother-in-law, the rapist, and he had asked her to claim that someone else raped her to cover up his crime. Yasmin tried to obey but because she was scared she kept getting the story wrong. Finally, after one of the interrogators slapped her across the face, she collapsed and told the truth.
    My courtroom encounter with Sarhan was not the last. He was repeatedly interviewed by many local and international media agencies, some of which I worked for as a mediator. On one occasion, after Sarhan had finished an interview, I asked him if he regretted what he had done. He said that the murder had ruined his life. Today, he said, no woman wants to marry him. He had tried to seek the hand of eleven women in marriage, but they all refused, including a cousin whose father had encouraged him to kill his sister.
    â€˜They all refused for fear that I might kill them or my daughters one day. But if I were put in the same situation again I would kill my sister and any other sister who goes through the same thing. This is our society, this is how we are brought up and it will never change.’
    He nostalgically told me he was treated as a hero in prison. ‘All the men who were with me for the same reason in prison were treated as heroes by everybody.’ Once he was back in the real world, he was ignored and felt worthless.
    Sarhan kept telling me how much he loved his sister, even though he ended her life. ‘She was so close to me. She was the one who resembled me the most. I had to kill her, I had no other choice.This is what our society wants. It is better to sacrifice one soul than to sacrifice my whole family.’
    But he insisted his sibling died unjustly. ‘I am sure of