Women Organizations protest against honour killings in Syria’s Qamishli
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On Tuesday, women’s organizations in the city of Qamishli, northeast Syria, held a vigil against the recent killings of women under the pretext of “honour” in the regions of northeast Syria.
Weeks ago, the killing of the minor, Ida al-Hamoudi al-Sa’eedo, in the city of Hasakah, sparked a wave of anger after a number of her family members shot her dead and filmed the crime.
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 prohibited.
The vigil was held under the slogan “My voice is with yours.. No to killing women” in the central market neighborhood in the city center of Qamishli. Other slogans included “Stop violence against women,” and “Woman is life… Do not kill life.”
Among who participate in the vigil were activists from Sara Organization, Shawshka Association, and Women Peace Leaders Network, which are local civil non-governmental organizations concerned with issues of defending women’s rights and combating violence against them.
“There is no such thing as an honor killing,” Nada Malki, a legal advisor at the Sara Organization for Combating Violence against Women, said in a statement.
She added that “honor is the homeland, the land and the morals,” wondering: “Why is honor limited to a woman’s body only?”
She pointed out that women’s organizations will not tolerate with such crimes and will continue holding such activities every week so that all women in northeast Syria take part in them.
Over the past weeks, a women and human rights organization called on the judicial authorities of the Autonomous Administration to hold those involved in these crimes accountable under the pretext of “honour.”