“Honor Killings and Suicides” Video
As featured in this month’s End Violence against Women newsletter, the video “Honor Killings and Suicides,” brings to light the major issue of honor killings as predicated, gender-specific murders, taking a look at the practice specifically within Turkish society today.
This short video speaks to the experiences of several Turkish women who have been literally threatened to death by their own families and in-laws. Many times these women are victims of sexual violence or accused of adultery, and are then terrorized with threats of murder by their own relatives in an effort to preserve family honor.
While honor killings are beginning to enter discussions about gender-based violence, this video highlights the emerging concern of “honor suicides.” Many women who receive death threats from their families now often see suicide as their best or only option.
“My sister said ‘Kill yourself, kill yourself. Your husband and your family disowns you. If I were you I wouldn’t take this for one more second. I would kill myself.’ ”
While honor killings are shifting to honor suicides, the question of whose hands are responsible still remains.
End Violence against Women (EndVAW) February newsletter
- Johanna Chapin
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