The past two weeks have witnessed heated discussions on ‘honour’ killings in Pakistan following several high-profile cases such as the Qandeel Baloch murder case. What makes these acts worse is their legality in Pakistan. If the family members of the victim (or the victim herself/himself) ‘forgive’ the perpetrators, then the culprits are free to walk away, along with getting their validation for restoring family’s ‘honour’.
A screening of the Oscar-winning documentary ‘A Girl in the River’, directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, was hosted by the Foreign Office on Wednesday, the 20th of July. ‘A Girl in the River’ follows the true story of Saba Qaiser, an eighteen years old girl who survived an honour killing attempt by her father and uncle.
The screening was part of the Foreign Office’s campaign to highlight the pervasiveness of honour killings and help create opportunities for it to be discussed more openly in Pakistani society and government. Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif, who watched the film in Pakistan, emphasised on the importance of this film and its message.
Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, and Afghanistan are among the top countries that deal with numerous cases of honour killings every year.
Forced marriage is closely linked to honour-based violence. The trigger for an honour crime or honour killing is often resistance to a forced marriage, marrying for love without the approval of family, or fleeing a forced marriage after it has taken place.
At the screening, director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy said, "The documentary has galvanized Pakistan and initiated a national conversation to pass the Anti-honour killings bill which will no longer allow forgiveness in honour killing cases. Screening this documentary at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in the UK will send out a strong message that this practice is not a part of our culture or religion."
The UK’s dedicated Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) leads efforts to combat forced marriages both at home and abroad. Jointly run by the Home Office and the Foreign Office, the FMU provides assistance including safety planning to prevent forced marriages (both in the UK and abroad), supporting victims to return from overseas, and in extreme circumstances rescuing victims held against their will overseas.
Joanna Roper, Director of Consular Services at the Foreign Office, said, “This screening was to raise awareness about this important issue to show there is no honour in honour killings. That’s why the FCO hosts the Forced Marriage Unit, whose work is vital in working to eradicate forced marriage and associated honour based violence.”
