Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML) has issued a call for action in response to the murder by stoning of a 16-year-old girl in Iraqi Kurdistan. According to WLUML, the girl, Kurdistan Aziz, had eloped to the capital city of Arbil with a man she knew her family would not accept. Knowing of the risk that her family would kill her for acting against their wishes and ostensibly to cleanse their honor, Aziz sought protection from the police, who referred her to the Department to End Domestic Violence. The Department then disregarded its mandate to protect women by turning Aziz over to her father in exchange for a bribe. On 17 or 18 May, she was stoned to death by members of her family. The United Nations General Assembly has passed a resolution condemning “honor crimes” and calling upon all states to take specific actions aimed at eliminating them. In its call for action, WLUML recommends writing a letter to the Kurdistan regional government requesting immediate investigation and prosecution of this crime, among other measures.
Compiled from: “Kurdistan: Woman stoned to death for eloping,” Women Living Under Muslim Laws, 17 June 2008; “Working towards the elimination of crimes against women and girls committed in the name of honor,” United Nations General Assembly Resolution, 15 October 2004.