The murder of Pakistani social media star Qandeel Baloch has put a face to heinous ‘honour’ killings and sent shock through the country. Multan police have arrested Baloch’s brother, Mohammad Wasim, for the killing. Wasim has confessed to the crime, saying he killed his sister for honour after her objectionable videos, mostly posted on Facebook. He told police he drugged his sister and then strangled her.
Baloch, whose real name was Fauzia Azeem, became a star on social media for her provocative selfies and videos. Some said she was breaking down walls and taboos, while conservatives frowned upon her methods. While there are many ‘honour’ killings in Pakistan every year, Baloch’s murder has drawn anger from social activists, who said the fight for women’s rights in a male-dominated society has suffered a setback. The killing is a sign of an epidemic of violence against women.
So-called honour killings down the ages stem from tribal norms. The lack of education and awareness trigger these barbaric acts. The law comes down hard on killers, but sometimes the implementation is found lacking. In Pakistan, for example, killers walk free because of a law that allows the victim’s family to forgive the murderer — who is often a relative. But in Baloch’s case her father filed a police complaint against his son accusing Wasim of killing her for honour because he wanted her to quit showbiz.
‘Honour’ killings are not restricted to one part of the world — these murders occur in many places. There must be a social movement highlighting these brutal killings, illiteracy must be eradicated, awareness must be spread and most importantly law enforcement must be toughened. Unless these measures are taken honour killings will continue unabated. This is a scourge that must be wiped out.
