Field Update
On last Sunday (M. J), 21, from Northern ‘Asirah village, north of Nablus, was killed in Tubas village on grounds of family honor. The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) calls upon the Attorney General to investigate into the crime circumstances and take the necessary legal proceedings.
According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 13:00 on Sunday, 21 April 2019, (M. T. J), 21, from Northern ‘Asirah village, north of Nablus, sustained serious wounds after being hit with sharp tools at his head and upper part of his body inside a house in Tubas. It should be noted that (M. T. J) was assaulted by a man, who found (M. T. J) in his house along with his wife. The woman’s husband surrendered to the Palestinian police in Tubas and told them about what happened. The Palestinian police immediately headed to the area and closed it. (M. J) was then taken to Tubas Turkish Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds.
This crime is considered the first to be recorded on grounds of “family honor” in the West Bank during 2019. Moreover, six Palestinian civilians, including four women, were killed last year in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (oPt) on similar grounds.
PCHR expresses the utmost concern over the continued murders on grounds of “family honor” in the Palestinian society and calls for taking the necessary measures to stop such crimes and consider them like other criminal offenses.
On 15 May 2011, President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decision with the power of law, abolishing the eased sentences issued against the crimes committed to maintain “family honor”. PCHR hopes that this decision would be a step towards the elimination of these crimes, as those who commit these crimes enjoy the immunity granted to them through the issuance of eased sentences against them (maximum of 3-year imprisonment). Although 8 years have passed following the issuance of this decision, it has been non-deterrent.
PCHR calls upon the competent authorities to prosecute the perpetrators of “family honor” murders. These murders must be dealt with in the same manner as other crimes of willful killing, taking into consideration international human rights standards.
PCHR calls for making more community efforts, including civil society efforts, to end this crime and raise awareness on its risks in the Palestinian society.
On 15 May 2011, President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree with the power of law annulling leniency in sentences against perpetrators of murders related to “family honor.”
