Dr. Dawg explores the apparent strategy by Hasibullah Sadiqi to defend his killing of his sister and her fiancée in Ottawa as a matter of honour:
the defence team will concede that he indeed shot the couple, but argue provocation… It is not the eventual outcome of the trial that concerns me here. It is that such a defence is even permitted, based as it is upon patently false notions and premises. What’s next–the defence of necessity in a case of bride-burning? I shall be following this case with interest, and not a little anxiety.
Background on the case is provided by this article in the Ottawa Citizen. The Crown and defence, in the case, would seem to agree that the murders took place as well as that Sadiqi perceived them as honour killings: the question before the court is, does that justify reducing the charges to manslaughter?
It would be a disgusting state of affairs if the charge is lowered to manslaughter, it would open up a whole new can of worms. Canadian laws apply equally across the Nation, murdering someone because of your hurt feelings, (honour), is of no excuse.
Guelph,
I agree. I think there is more cultural and religious significance to the “hurt feelings” in this case, but that should not be allowed to override Canadian law.
“Honour killing” in this case is just code for violence against women. I think that it should be recognized as such.
Sadiqi is guilty of two counts of first degree murder and for such should receive life in prison. Perhaps the defence of honour is used in Afghanistan but has no place in Canada.
The incidence of honour killings across this continent is either increasing or we are more aware of them. There are cultural and religious practices that are simply barbaric by any standards of liberty and decency.Before anyone is allowed to immigrate to Canada they must be instructed as to our laws and system by which they must abide. When we are in their homelands , the same applies , or camel dung hits the fan.And upon arrival , their religious leaders must remind them that some practices ‘back home’ are completely unacceptable here.