Why a Palestinian community demanded a father murder his divorced daughter

[oberliner]

Thamar Zeidan was murdered by her father when he choked her to death as she took an afternoon nap in their small, conservative West Bank village.

“Honour crimes” are rarely talked about in Palestinian society, but Ms. Zeidan’s mother and sister have gone public to highlight the case and reveal the immense pressure her father came under to commit the crime.

Extended members of the woman’s family accused her of “disgraceful and outrageous acts” in a petition that was widely circulated in her village of Deir Al Ghusun, near the West Bank town of Tulkarem.

The petition demanded Ms. Zeidan’s father, Munther, “reinstate the cultural and religious morals in his family.”

It was posted in five local mosques during Friday prayer and signed by more than 50 relatives, including Abed Al-Rahman Zeidan, a Palestinian lawmaker.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/12/19/anatomy-of-an-honour-killing-why-a-palestinian-community-demanded-a-father-murder-his-divorced-daughter/

[azurnoir]

1. Hamas Lawmaker Blamed Over ‘Honor Killing' thankfully he's in jail for murder

it happened and was reported 3 months ago

from the end of your article

“Thamar’s sisters kicked relatives who came to pay their respects out of their house. They were angry because they believe these were the same people who helped spread gossip that led to killing Thamar,” he said.

For some of the relatives, the death was a cause for celebration. Ms. Zeidan’s aunt held a feast celebrating that the family’s honour had been restored.

Ms. Zeidan’s mother said she visits her husband weekly in jail, where he is awaiting trial for murder.

Suad Seidan said the family does not discuss the case when they see him.

“We avoid talking about it as he is suffering physically,” she said. “He only recently stopped crying.”

A Hamas-affiliated Palestinian Authority lawmaker has been blamed in the latest “honor” killing to hit the PA Arab community.

Lawmaker Abdul-Rahman Zaidan allegedly coerced a PA resident from the town of Deir al-Ghosoun into taking his own daughter’s life.

The father’s allegations were reported by the Bethlehem-based Maan news agency, which stated that the father “put up posters in the village saying that the lawmaker was trying to convince family members to sign a petition to disown him.”

A short time after Zaidan allegedly circulated a petition asking that the father – a relative of his - be disowned for violating family norms, the man strangled his daughter, Thamar Zaidan.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/172202#.UrQEaOI7bQI

while honor killing is horrific in this case the Father has been charged with murder and is in jail

[pennylane100]

2. The timing of the post seems more of a concern to you than the murder of a young woman.

Honor killings are not isolated incidents in the Muslim world. The slaughter of young women by their own family members, usually with little or no legal consequences is mind boggling and when these barbaric acts are condoned by their church leaders, it is hard to remember that Islam is considered a peaceful religion by many of its followers.

What I find disturbing, however, is you attempt to shoot the messenger, questioning his timing rather than deal with the message other than on a superficial level.

[azurnoir]

3. the article as posted made it appear that this was in the last few days, why are you so bothered by

this detail-I was surprised by the fact it was not as recent as first appeared and happily by the fact that the culprit is in jail for murder, there was no attempt to shoot the messenger except in your imagination apparently

[King_David]

4. What was the sentence for this murderer ?

[oberliner]

5. He hasn't been sentenced yet.

He turned himself in.

Incidentally, Abdel Rahman Zeidan, the lawmaker referenced in the other article posted in the comments, is a free man.

[King_David]

6. Your source aside, if you read down thread

Abdul-Rahman Zaidan is not in jail but a free man...

[azurnoir]

7. If you read the snip that's not the murderer

The petition demanded Ms. Zeidan’s father, Munther,

[oberliner]

8. But you wrote: "Hamas Lawmaker Blamed Over ‘Honor Killing' thankfully he's in jail for murder"

That sentence sure sounds like you are saying the Hamas Lawmaker is in jail.

[azurnoir]

11. Nope I cut and pasted Arutz Sheva's title

next...............

[Aerows]

9. I almost never post in here (if ever)

but I do wander in and read on occasion.

What kind of society not only condones, but URGES honor killing of women? It boggles my mind, and while I believe you should be respectful of people's beliefs, when those beliefs include "I'm going to murder my daughter because so-and-so told me she violated my religion and my manhood", I'm not inclined to give one shit what you believe. You are a murderer and the person you listened to is a murderer by proxy.

[azurnoir]

10. Do you believ that this episode represents Palestinians as a whole?

it seems that way

[Aerows]

12. I am saying that

this isn't right.

Do I wake up every day being thankful that I'm not a Palestinian? After reading things like this, then yes, yes I do. You won't persuade me of anything differently as a woman. Particularly since I'm an educated lesbian.

Does that mean I am demonizing their religion? Not necessarily. Does it mean that I find a society that accepts categorical subjugation and lack of value placed in the lives of women repugnant? Absolutely. No excuses for "we have it hard" explains this kind of mentality. None. Note I didn't say religion, I said a "society".

[azurnoir]

13. so you believe that every Palestinian accepts and condones this?

I would believe you're quite mistaken and as for "their religion" you do realize that not all Palestinians are Muslim-right?

You have many reasons to wake up thankful you're not Palestinian but speaking as woman this would be the least of them

BTW the village of Deir Al Ghusun has a population of over 8,000 the article claims 50 were involved, the Palestinian population of the West Bank is around 2.5 million but you'll claim that this condoned by this society as a whole

[Aerows]

14. Which Palestinian stepped up to the plate to stop this?

If the answer is none, then they have a society that accepts this. Which Palestinian stepped up to the plate and said "You are wrong for encouraging the murder of a woman for the sake of your "honor"?"

Apparently, there was tacit consent. What conclusion should I draw?

[azurnoir]

15. Tacit consent really do you apply that every case where a women is murdered

by a family and it could have been prevented I'll predict you'll claim yes, however remember that would also apply to our own society

[Aerows]

16. Yes, it actually does

Like Stand your Ground laws.