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Name: International Campaign Against Honour Killings

Hello,
Three more women allegedly buried in same way as five women buried in Balochistan

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is shocked to learn that three more women have been buried
alive in Balochistan province, a few days after they protested against the live burial of five women taking place
in the same province. One prime perpetrator of the murder has not been seen since he was taken into police
custody. It is reported that he and seven other men involved are under the protection of the provincial minister
Mr. Sadiq Umrani--the brother of the main suspect.

CASE DETAILS:

According to information received, the three women had spoken out in the case of the live burial of five women.
They were allegedly abducted by Mr. Abdul Sattar Umrani--the younger brother of the provincial minister--and
other thugs, including a head constable of police. It is reported that the three women were also buried alive
using the same tractor as in the case of the first five women. The women were from Teendah and Mirwah
villages in Naseerabad (names withheld for security reasons of their family members). As of now, the number
of women who have been buried rises to eight in the area.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ghulam Nabi Umrani, the head constable of police and bodyguard to Abdul Sattar Umrani,
has still not been arrested and continues serving as a personal bodyguard.

It is reported that suspects are hiding under the protection of the provincial minister, Mr. Sadiq Umrani.
The alleged main perpetrator, Mr. Mohammed Murad, Nazim (chief) of Union Consul Garhi Raman--the
owner of the tractor--was taken into police custody last week. He was handed over to the crime branch
of the Balochistan police, who deny that he was handed over. It is believed that he too is now under
provincial protection.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Detailed information has been obtained regarding an earlier case in which Mr. Abdul Sattar Umrani was
involved. In this case, he forcibly occupied the land of Haji Bulab Palali in Moza Tharoo, Babakot, and
gave the house to his brother, at the same time that his brother became provincial of housing in May 2008.
It caused armed fighting between the two parties and one man from the Umrani side, Mr. Abdul Fateh
Bangal, was killed.

In an act of revenge for Bangal's death, Umrani's side attacked Haji's house together with Mr. Mohammed
Murad. During the assault they killed eight people including the wife of Haji and his four sons.

After the killings took place, Mr. Nadir Magsi, minister of Sindh province held a Jirga that decided upon a
fine of Rs. 10 million (around USD 150,000) against Abdul Sattar Umrani. He made a payment of Rs. 1
million for the murder of each person and 2 million rupees for dishonouring the sanctity of another's house
by attacking it. However, the police have not yet instigated an investigation or made any effort to arrest
those responsible.

Please also refer to an open letter to Dr. Yakin Erturk, the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against
Women sent by the Asian Human Rights Commission concerning the burying alive of five women.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

The courts of Pakistan, including the Supreme Court and the Sindh High Court, have declared the Jirga
as illegal and unconstitutional. Nevertheless, it is still a common practice in feudal and tribal based
areas. The Government of Pakistan has not taken any positive action to eliminate discrimination
against women. By allowing the illegal Jirga system to continue they are turning a blind eye to the grave
inconsistencies in the judiciary system in Pakistan.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please go to http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/support.php?ua=UAC-182-2008 to sign an appeal to the authorities demanding the arrest of the real perpetrators and an
independent enquiry into the continuous burial alive of women by persons in power.

Please be informed that the AHRC has also written letters to the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence
against Women calling for an intervention in this case.

Best Regards, International Campaign Against Honour Killings Staff

Name: Peter Atkinson
E-mail: atkiom@manx.net
City: Onchan

It seems to me that the Freethinkers are
preaching to the converted, as it were.

What about the young - say under 21 - on the
Island who are given no opportunity to
encounter non-religious or anti-religious
thought?

Is someone prepared to tackle this issue?

Name: Rav
City: Douglas

Do the Freethinkers have any views on recent news? I could not find anything on your news page.

Bishops apparently must have balls! All the better to scare young children with perhaps. More seriously, it would be good to hear if you have an opinion on this serious issue.

Name: Tess and John Sherrocks

We had a nonreligious naming ceremony for our son Neo on Sunday in a field with family and
friends, birds and beautiful trees and a family of waddling ducks!
Andrew Dixon did a superb job and created a moving ceremony that we will remember forever.
Thank you again Andrew.

Name: Ian Abbott
E-mail: ian@ianzere.demon.co.uk
City: Lancashire Secular Humanists

Congratulations on such a bright and welcoming web-site.

I’m Chair of the newly formed Lancashire Secular Humanists (our inaugural meeting was Jan 2008) we already have 21 paid up members and many 'others' who come along and participate in our (open) monthly meetings.

I am in fact coming to the island on 10th May to deliver a Baby-Naming Ceremony for a lovely couple whose wedding I officiated at two years ago.

If possible I'd like to meet any IOM Freethinkers to chat about ceremonies if that is possible.
Also, rather than taking pot-luck (and I 'always' choose the wrong one) can I pick your brains and ask you to a recommend a B & B somewhere between the airport & The Calf of Man?

Many thanks

Ian Abbott
ian@ianzere.demon.co.uk

Name: Houzan Mahmoud
E-mail: houzan2007@yahoo.com

NO MORE STONING, NO MORE HONOUR KILLINGS. END THE TERROR OF WOMEN!!

A statement on the anniversary of Du’a Khalil’s gruesome stoning

April 7th 2008

It has been almost a year since teenage girl Du’a Khalil was stoned to death by a baying mob in Iraqi Kurdistan. The 17 year-olds’ “crime” was to have fallen in love with a boy outside the Yazidi tribe and religion. Betrayed by her family, she was dragged to a summary execution in the centre of Bashiqa city where a 2,000-strong mob, including her relatives, cheered as they hurled rocks.

When footages of the barbaric killing were broadcast people around the world were shocked. That was on 7th April 2007 but a year later the situation is even more dangerous for the women and girls of Iraq.

Thousands more, from Basra to Baghdad and through to Kurdistan, have become victims of murder, violence and rape – all backed by laws, tribal customs and religious rules. Each day there are reports of women or girls being murdered by their relatives in the name of “honour”. More than ever they are subject to daily humiliations, are being forced into marriages – sometimes as children, are suffering female genital mutilation and are being driven to suicide.

In Basra just removing a veil can cost a woman her life. Iraqi police report at least 15 women are murdered every month for breaching Islamic dress code.

Meanwhile, Sharia law is being used to underpin government rule, denying women their most basic human rights.

Du’a was a victim of religious bigotry. According to the Yazidi faith she was only allowed to marry within her own religion and tribe. When it emerged that the boy she’d been dating wasn’t a Yazidi it spelled her death.

But despite extensive evidence, including the boasts of many involved in her stoning, Du’a’s killers have not been brought to justice.

Police were among the crowd at her stoning and there have been accusations of the law turning a blind-eye. In a society where men are encouraged to claim ownership of women, crimes like this are becoming the norm.

This brutality must stop.

This can only be achieved through your support in a struggle for unconditional equality and freedom for these women and girls.

Religion is a personal choice and should never be allowed to override our rights and liberties. We must stand up against those who want to subjugate our lives, education and political choices to their religious bigotries.
We will not budge, we will continue to mobilise public opinion against the murder of women and girls in the name of “honour”. We will struggle for the creation of a movement to separate religion from the state and its laws, and for women’s rights.

The horrific crime of 'honour' killings and the stoning of women is a crime we must all denounce. It must be consigned to the past.

Houzan Mahmoud

Abroad Representative of Organisation of Women’s Freedom in Iraq

Name: Zelda
City: Douglas

Very impressed by improvements to your website, especially this Guestbook. I hope you get more responses.

Name: Mirjam Slagter
E-mail: w.bosman30@upcmail.nl

Hi everyone,

Great to see this all updated website. I hope you are all ok. I have settled in well now, but as yet not joined a humanist group here, there are a number of them and I haven't decided which one suits me. I am still thinking of you all. Take care,

Mirjam