JORDAN: TEN HONOR KILLINGS TO DATE IN 2009;

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 001318 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL KWMN SOCI JO SUBJECT: JORDAN: TEN HONOR KILLINGS TO DATE IN 2009; OPPONENTS CALL FOR ACTION REF: A. AMMAN 471 ¶B. 08 AMMAN 3280 ¶C. 08 AMMAN 3123 ¶D. 03 AMMAN 6027 Classified By: Ambassador R. Stephen Beecroft for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d) ¶1. (S) Summary: Recent honor killings continue to spark efforts to end the practice and adequately prosecute perpetrators. Outraged by the recent killings, the King has stated he will push for legislative changes to strengthen judicial sentencing. A new book on honor crimes raises awareness on the subject. The King Hussein Foundation's Information and Research Center plans to launch a media campaign in August and the Mizan Legal Center is preparing a national project with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders to protect women-at-risk. End Summary. Tenth Honor Crime in 2009 -------------- ¶2. (U) In the tenth honor crime this year, a 30-year-old mother of six was reportedly stabbed to death with a switchblade by her brothers after they questioned her "disappearance from her husband's home." Following the stabbing, the brothers went to the nearest police station and turned themselves in, claiming to have killed to cleanse their family's honor. In 2008, there were eighteen reported honor killings but activists believe that many, especially those outside large cities, go unreported. King Outraged By Recent Crimes -------------- ¶3. (S) The King has pledged to drive much needed legislation through the tribally-conservative Parliament, according to Chief of the Royal Court Nasser Al-Lozi in a March 24 meeting with Ambassador. (Note: The King was especially incensed by the case of a 19 year-old girl who was allegedly killed by her father and brother for wearing makeup and deviating from an errand route. End Note.) Lozi said the government will take swift action to amend articles to the Penal Code that often result in "honor crime" perpetrators receiving sentences as light as six months. (Note: Over the past several months, Ambassador discussed with government authorities reports of each new "honor crime" and instances of light sentencing. End Note.) ¶4. (C) Provisions under the Penal Code, specifically the "fit of fury" or "crime of passion" clause, are used by judges to justify sentences between three months and two years. Stricter sentencing guidlines for the "fit of fury" clause is part of a large package of penal code amendments sent to Parliament for an Extraordinary Session beginning on June 11. The Minister of Justice and Criminal Court Attorney General personally assumed leadership roles in the drafting of amendments to strengthen honor crime sentencing, while quietly consulting with civil society activists. (ref A) Activists Expand Community Outreach and Awareness Programs -------------- -------------- ¶5. (U) On June 2, Rana Husseini, human rights activist and reporter for the Jordan Times, released her first book "Murder in the Name of Honour" addressing honor crimes in the region. Husseini said some in Jordan objected to the book, saying it portrays Jordan in a poor light. She, however, believes the book will make people aware of these crimes, put pressure on the government, and change perceptions because "there should be no place for honor killings in 21st century Jordan." ¶6. (U) Husseini and a handful of women's rights activists are joined in the fight to change societal attitudes by a group of university students. A small group at Yarmouk University in Irbid, initiated by a student who became interested in honor killings after witnessing such killings in his community, has expanded to include universities throughout Jordan. In the fall, the students plan to start an "Awareness Caravan," where they will travel back to their own local communities, including tribally conservative areas, during breaks to talk with people there about honor crimes and women's rights. This summer, the students will complete training about community outreach and engagement. The students will base their presentations on the historic role of women in the region and their role in religion, both of which demonstrate no justification for such crimes. Honor Killings And Societal Factors -------------- AMMAN 00001318 002 OF 002 ¶7. (SBU) To better understand the causes of honor killings, the King Hussein Foundation's Information and Research Center is conducting a study to examine socio-economic trends for victims and perpetrators. The director told Poloff on May 19 that she believes the study will show that the victim's income, employment, and education levels are factors. For instance, a victim who generates income for the family is unlikely to be killed. The study will be released at the end of August in a ceremony accompanied by a roundtable discussion addressing three themes: religion, social issues, and the media. The Center will also launch a twelve-month media campaign to include a five-part television documentary series on the subject of honor killings. ¶8. (U) Societal pressures were also raised in PolOff's discussions with young Jordanians. Dating is still very restricted and many couples must be formally engaged in order to see each other socially. Restricted interactions between the genders lead some young Jordanians to seek clandestine ways to meet. If discovered by family members, this can lead to accusations that their behavior has been "dishonorable." ¶9. (U) The perceptions of young girls are also cited as a factor when discussing honor killings in Jordan. According to the Director of the King Hussein Foundation's Information and Research Center, around 15 percent of honor crime victims in Jordan are girls under 18. Jordan's Personal Status Laws discriminate against girls and activists believe more protections are needed, especially given the young age of the victims. National Project for Women At Risk on the Horizon -------------- -------------- ¶10. (U) Additionally, MIZAN Legal Center outlined their plan to open a shelter with the Ministry for Social Development to assist women who are at risk, especially those who have been raped and are pregnant. MIZAN hopes that several governmental and non-governmental organizations will cooperate to provide a range of services, such as legal, medical, and educational. Comment -------------- ¶11. (C) While work is being done on many fronts to end honor crimes, there is no groundswell of public opinion in opposition and there is resistance to reforms, especially in the tribally-dominated Parliament. Even more puzzlingly, the government stated in its official response to the United Nations Human Rights Council that there is no such thing as honor crimes under Jordanian law and that acts committed in the "heat of passion" are occurring less frequently due to a collective effort by parliamentarians and the royal family to raise awareness. While this GOJ response is overly optimistic, we do note progress in the new efforts by governmental bodies and civil society to increase public awareness, study the phenomena, institute judicial reforms, protect women at risk, and strengthen women's rights. Post, drawing upon an action plan to combat honor crimes, is exploring ways to quietly support civil society efforts and will continue to monitor proposed amendments to the penal code as well as planned judicial reforms related to the prosecution of honor crimes cases. Visit Amman's Classified Website at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman Beecroft