Iraq: the assassination of a blogger by her father brings up the issue of honor killings
Women's rights activists demonstrate in Baghdad on February 5 after the death of 22-year-old blogger Tiba Al-Ali, killed by her father.
REUTERS - AHMED SAAD
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
After the official announcement of the death of the Iraqi blogger Taiba al-Ali on Friday, a wind of indignation blew in Iraq.
Twenty demonstrators gathered on Sunday, February 5, in front of the Baghdad court to demand a heavy sentence against the perpetrator of the crime.
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With our correspondent in Baghdad,
Marie-Charlotte Roupie
“
There is no honor in a crime against a woman!
There are few of them before the Baghdad court.
But the death of videographer Taiba el-Ali puts article 409 of the Iraqi penal code, which defines the penalties for so-called honor killings, in the sights of the demonstrators.
The main suspect, the father of the 22-year-old young woman, reportedly surrendered to the police claiming, according to official sources, to have strangled his daughter to wash away the shame of the family.
The young woman lived alone in Turkey against the advice of her family, who also rejected her relationship with her fiancé.
The penalties for these crimes are too low, say women's rights organizations.
"
This article allows murderers to kill women under the pretext of honor killing, and they can be released after six months, that's all
," said Tamara Alaa, one of the activists present.
The maximum penalty is three years.
Ali el-Jouraïssi is a lawyer.
He campaigns alongside this organization to change the law: "
I ask that this sentence be extended or that it be replaced by that provided for in article 406 which concerns premeditated murder and can go up to 15 years in jail or more.
»
According to Ala Talabani, Kurdish parliamentarian and activist for women's rights, today it is less about punishing than about protecting women upstream.
A bill is under study in Parliament, to propose emergency accommodation solutions, in particular.
But the text does not yet have the necessary support.
The deputy considers that it is difficult to change the mentalities of Iraqi society, which is still structured by a tribal system.
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Iraq
Womens rights
Crime