What is the relationship between ‘honour killing’ and Islam?
The notion that Islam condones ‘honour killing’ is a misconception. While there are references to “cleansing men’s honour” in the Quran, murder in the name of honour is not prescribed by any interpretation of Sharia. In fact, many laws that excuse ‘honour killings’ (see below) do not trace back to Islamic law, but are rather derived from the Napoleonic code. Article 324 of the Napoleonic Penal Code states that murder committed by a husband on his wife is excusable in the case of adultery. This law, as implemented in many nations, has been misappropriated and entangled with various cultural notions of “honour”. As a result, such interpretations of an ‘honourable motive’ have been broadened by cultural context, and has served to perpetuate ‘honour killing’ and honour-based violence in these societies. Furthermore, reputable Islamic scholars and clerics have spoken out against the practice of ‘honour killings.’ As Katherine Zoepf reported in the New York Times, (September 23, 2007): “Gran
