Women’s organization in Syria’s Qamishli demands punishment for minor girls’ killers
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On Tuesday, a women’s organization in Qamishli, northeast Syria, called on the concerned authorities in the Autonomous Administration to hold accountable those involved in the killing of two minor girls under the pretext of “honor” and to be sentenced to the most severe penalties.
Last week, the killing of the minor, Eida al-Hamoudi al-Sa’ido, in the city of Hasakah, sparked a wave of anger, after a number of her family members shot her dead and documented the “crime” with video recordings.
In the video, a group of armed family members appeared taking the girl to an abandoned house in Hasakah countryside. The girl was begging them to be released before she was killed.
A statement issued by the Sara Organization to Combat Violence against Women at its headquarters in the city of Qamishli said, “This criminal and inhumane act targeted her right as a girl and violated human values.”
Sara is a civil women’s non-governmental organization that is active in northeast Syria and is concerned with issues of defending women’s rights and combating violence against women.
The statement called on the concerned authorities in the Autonomous Administration as well as local and international organizations and women’s organizations, “to punish the perpetrators of these crimes with the most severe penalties.”
Less than a week after the incident, the residents were surprised by the killing of another girl named Aya Khelefo in Hasakah, which was a great shock to women’s organizations and raised fears that these crimes would spread unless they were legally deterred.
“This crime is against humanity and childhood, and such heinous acts are the result of outdated customs, traditions and the masculine mentality,” the organization added.
“The murder of Eida turned into a motive that encouraged Aya’s family to kill her,” said Arzo Tammo, an official at the SARA legal office.
“Aya was raped and instead of holding her rapist accountable, she was killed by her father under the pretext of dishonor, and this shows the continuation of the tribal mentality in the region,” Tammo told North Press.
She pointed out that “the organization will play the role of a personal prosecutor in these two cases and will follow up the trial sessions of those involved in the killing of the two girls until the criminals receive their punishment and justice is done.”