Culture Offenses Instead of Cultural Defence: Criminalisation of Oppression against Women in the Name of Culture

Abstract

About five thousand women are murdered by their families each year in the name of family honour (Mayell, 2002). A young Muslim girl was murdered in Berlin by her own brother, because she “behaved like a German.” Both of them had German citizenship. He was sentenced to nine years of incarceration, and was released after six years. His family celebrated his release from prison. Fatima Sehindel, a Muslim Swedish girl, was a student. She wanted to assimilate in Swedish society. She spoke to the Swedish parliament. She even had a Swedish boyfriend. She was murdered by her own father. These offenses were committed in advanced western countries.