Iraq: Shahd Al-Issawi (14) shot dead by her father Muhammad al-Isawy because of his “honor”

Shahd Al-Issawi
Born: 2008
Shot dead: January 11, 2022
Residence: Basra
Origin: Iraq
Children: none
Perpetrator: her father Muhammad al-Isawy

On January 11, 2022, Muhammad al-Isawy, a famous comedian on Youtube and TikTok, shot his 14-year-old daughter Shahd to death with three bullets through the head in Basra, Iraq. Mohammed said he saw that his daughter had opened the door for a young man and saved his "honor." He had then taken the body to a doctor, who declared that she had died a virgin. He then fled to Baghdad.

Human rights activists point out that Muhammad al-Isawy's statements are related to Article 409 of the Iraqi Penal Code. If deemed an honor killing, judges would be allowed to impose a maximum of 3 years in prison on him.

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What is an honour killing?

An honour killing is a murder in the name of honour. If a brother murders his sister to restore family honour, it is an honour killing. According to activists, the most common reasons for honour killings are as the victim:

refuses to cooperate in an arranged marriage.
wants to end the relationship.
was the victim of rape or sexual assault.
was accused of having a sexual relationship outside of marriage.

Human rights activists believe that 100,000 honour killings are carried out every year, most of which are not reported to the authorities and some are even deliberately covered up by the authorities themselves, for example because the perpetrators are good friends with local policemen, officials or politicians. Violence against girls and women remains a serious problem in Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Serbia and Turkey.

Ralph Geissen

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Ralph Geissen