Not Honor but Disobedience Crimes

"Honor crimes are usually related to 'women's sexuality.' When a woman is killed, people automatically think 'she either had sexual relationship,' or 'was raped.' But a woman can be killed because she did not comply with the rules of her family or because she did not obey her father, husband or brother. As in, 'a woman, who acts outside rules may be killed.'"

This is how Naime Kardas, a founder of the Diyarbakir Women's Center (Ka-Mer), describes honor crimes.

Kardas is also the coordinator of Ka-Mer's "Project to Prevent Honor Crimes."

When talking about the killing of the 14-year-old Nuran Halitoglu with a family decision in Istanbul, Kardas said: "Honor crimes have always existed."

"With the efforts of women and non-governmental organizations, these honor crimes are now being heard of," said Kardas.

The migration to big cities also made honor crimes more visible. The fact that the media is allotting more time to honor crimes has raised awareness."

When a woman is killed.

Kardas said 70 women, who feared that they would be killed, applied to the Emergency Help Line of Ka-Mer between the years of 1997 and 2003.

Semse Allak, who was stoned to death by her family, and Kadriye Demirel, who was stabbed to death by her brother, were among women who could not reach Ka-Mer. Ka-Mer volunteers took care of Allak and Demirel at hospital. Allak for seven months, Demirel for three days.

"When the family decides to kill a woman, they want to get this decision approved. In that case, we look for someone whom the family would listen to. We sometimes form a group, which could include a lawyer, a party head or a local official, and meet with the family," said Kardas.

"There's a need for women's shelters"

If it is impossible to change the family's decision, the only way out is to take the woman away from them. Ka-Mer directs such women to shelters or helps them start a new life in another place.

Kardas said their biggest problem was the shortage of women's shelters." Not immigration, religion or economy, but the male-dominated society"

Kardas said women between the ages of 18 and 45 with different levels of education applied to Ka-Mer.

"It is mostly the married women of 18-25 who apply," she said.

"The pressure of society on the families is too great. If the society thinks that the purity of a woman has been stained, the family is excluded and insulted if they don't kill her. When the woman is killed, the family regains its dignity," said Kardas.

She objects to relating honor crimes to migration, religion, poverty or lack of education. According to Kardas, "these elements only maximize the violence created by a male-dominated system." (BB/EA/YE)