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Jan 2004 - Issue 1

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Honor Killings - Zahida Perveen

The problem of ?honor killings? is not a problem of morality or of ensuring that women maintain their own personal virtue; rather, it is a problem of domination, power and hatred of women who, in these instances, are viewed as nothing more than servants to the family, both physically and symbolically.

"He came home from the mosque and accused me of having a bad character," the tiny, 32-year-old woman murmured through her veil as she awaited a recent court hearing in the case. "I told him it was not true, but he didn't believe me. He caught me and tied me up, and then he started cutting my face. He never said a word except, This is your last night.'"

Perveen's case is extreme in its disfigurement, but not in its basic elements. Thousands of Pakistani women and girls are stabbed, burned or maimed every year by husbands, fathers or brothers who believe they have brought dishonor by being unfaithful, seeking a divorce, eloping with a boyfriend or refusing to marry a man the family has chosen.

When the victims do not survive, the crime becomes an "honour killing," a term that has come to symbolize the cruel irony of a conservative Islamic society that purports to shelter women, yet often condones savage violence against them in the name of male and family honour.

Zahida Perveen, now with empty eye sockets, is totally dependent on family members since her husband tried to kill her. Zahida at 29, before the malicious attack by her husband. At the time of the attempted honor killing, she was six months pregnant.

Zahida Perveen, now with empty eye sockets, is totally dependent on family members since her husband tried to kill her.

Zahida at 29, before the malicious attack by her husband. At the time of the attempted honor killing, she was six months pregnant.
Zahida's husband brutally attacked her alleging she had been unfaithful & brought shame to the family. He cut off her ears, tongue, nose, eyes, & left her for dead. Zahida wore a cloth nose bandage to cover her disfigured face after the attempted honor killing

Zahida's husband brutally attacked her alleging she had been unfaithful & brought shame to the family. He cut off her ears, tongue, nose, eyes, & left her for dead.

Zahida wore a cloth nose bandage to cover her disfigured face after the attempted honor killing.
Zahida Parveen had reconstructive surgery in the United States after being badly disfigured by her husband. She received a prosthetic nose and ears and artificial eyes. International Herald Tribune, on 9 May, 2000's publication issued the news. This picture was taken from the same issue

Zahida Parveen had reconstructive surgery in the United States after being badly disfigured by her husband. She received a prosthetic nose and ears and artificial eyes.

International Herald Tribune, on 9 May, 2000's publication issued the news. This picture was taken from the same issue.
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