Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09AMMAN2624
2009-12-06 13:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:
JORDAN: TWENTY FIRST REPORTED HONOR KILLING FOR
how-toVZCZCXRO8838 RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHAM #2624 3401325 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 061325Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN TO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC 0395 RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6413 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 002624
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2019
TAGS: PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN KJUS JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN: TWENTY FIRST REPORTED HONOR KILLING FOR
2009 AND IAF COMMENTARY
REF: A. AMMAN 02603
B. AMMAN 02324
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Lawrence C. Mandel for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 002624
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2019
TAGS: PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN KJUS JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN: TWENTY FIRST REPORTED HONOR KILLING FOR
2009 AND IAF COMMENTARY
REF: A. AMMAN 02603
B. AMMAN 02324
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Lawrence C. Mandel for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
1. (U) The twenty first honor killing for 2009 was reported
in the local press. On December 4, a 34-year-old woman who
was 9-months pregnant was stabbed to death by her older
brother. The perpetrator stabbed her 7 times and went to the
nearest police station, claiming family honor as his motive.
The press cited his initial police testimony and said that
his sister would often leave her husband's house and he "once
caught her committing adultery with another man." The
woman's husband had sent her to her family's home two weeks
before her death. Her brother, who had been monitoring her
activities, attacked her in a neighborhood alley when she
left the house for an alleged "unknown destination."
CONSERVATIVES SAY PRACTICE IS PART OF JORDAN'S "PERSONALITY"
--------------
2. (U) Islamic Action Front (IAF) leader Hamzah Mansour
told The London Daily Telegraph that the practice of honor
crimes is being exaggerated because the government is trying
to turn Jordan into a Westernized society and "giving up
(Jordan's) personality" to do so. While the IAF leader
insists that Islamic law does not support honor killings, he
does believe that there are "political forces standing behind
the issue" which are trying to destroy the Jordanian family.
3. (C) Comment: Much of the Jordanian public appears to
regard honor killings in a matter-of-fact manner. Addressing
so-called family disgrace is considered a normal part of
family life, and there appears to be no groundswell of
popular support on the street or widespread public outcry for
changes to the existing law. Hamzah Mansour's commentary
serves to highlight the disconnect between staunchly
anti-honor killing rhetoric on the part of the government and
a lack of progress or enthusiasm toward meaningful societal
change related to honor killings. End comment.
Mandel
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2019
TAGS: PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN KJUS JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN: TWENTY FIRST REPORTED HONOR KILLING FOR
2009 AND IAF COMMENTARY
REF: A. AMMAN 02603
B. AMMAN 02324
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Lawrence C. Mandel for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
1. (U) The twenty first honor killing for 2009 was reported
in the local press. On December 4, a 34-year-old woman who
was 9-months pregnant was stabbed to death by her older
brother. The perpetrator stabbed her 7 times and went to the
nearest police station, claiming family honor as his motive.
The press cited his initial police testimony and said that
his sister would often leave her husband's house and he "once
caught her committing adultery with another man." The
woman's husband had sent her to her family's home two weeks
before her death. Her brother, who had been monitoring her
activities, attacked her in a neighborhood alley when she
left the house for an alleged "unknown destination."
CONSERVATIVES SAY PRACTICE IS PART OF JORDAN'S "PERSONALITY"
--------------
2. (U) Islamic Action Front (IAF) leader Hamzah Mansour
told The London Daily Telegraph that the practice of honor
crimes is being exaggerated because the government is trying
to turn Jordan into a Westernized society and "giving up
(Jordan's) personality" to do so. While the IAF leader
insists that Islamic law does not support honor killings, he
does believe that there are "political forces standing behind
the issue" which are trying to destroy the Jordanian family.
3. (C) Comment: Much of the Jordanian public appears to
regard honor killings in a matter-of-fact manner. Addressing
so-called family disgrace is considered a normal part of
family life, and there appears to be no groundswell of
popular support on the street or widespread public outcry for
changes to the existing law. Hamzah Mansour's commentary
serves to highlight the disconnect between staunchly
anti-honor killing rhetoric on the part of the government and
a lack of progress or enthusiasm toward meaningful societal
change related to honor killings. End comment.
Mandel