Syrian Women Council condemned crime committed against Rasha in Jarabulus

NEWS DESK

This came in a written statement issued by the Syrian Women Council, and it included,

“The killing of women on the pretext of honor is one of the most egregious forms of violence practiced against women. This violence is caused by imbalances in the community powers centers and the culture of discrimination based on gender as women are considered to be inferior to men. This is based on the distorted culture and the backward traditions and customs. Days ago and in a scene that is said to be brutal, the called Bashar Bessis killed his sister Rasha Bessis with cold blood under the pretext of shame in Jarabulus city that is occupied by Turkey. After the victim Rasha was exploited by the elements of the Turkish occupation army, they exposed her and her brother killed her. A video published and showed the victim surrendered to this terrible fate leaving the murderer free without punishment. This is not the first time and would not be the last in a society where women are still regarded as inferior. We cannot forget what the armed gangs supported by the Turkish occupation committed violations against women in Syria and we cannot separate this crime from the other crimes that are committed against women because they reflect the male thought with the ugliest forms.

The reasons behind the spread of so-called honor crimes are the absence of laws, the lack of the courage among women to object the observance of popular customs and traditions, the lack of the proper religious awareness and the lack of awareness in the society which makes women silent, surrendered and sometimes supportive of these crimes committed against them. The use of the term killing for honor in itself gives justification to the perpetrator and condemns at the same time the victim. The term needs to be re-examined in its composition. Honor is one of the central societal values ​​that emphasize the inferiority of women in society.

We, in the Syrian Women Council, denounce violence and murder operations committed against women and call for the society and institutions to consider this matter seriously. We call for reviewing the legislations and laws that consolidate the laws of equality of rights between women and men and the provision of social protection for women. We call for the need to direct media professionals and academics to carry out a community campaign against this phenomenon with the aim of eliminating it and considering the killing of women in depth in all aspects and discussing it.

We also appeal to Human Rights organizations to take their role in a real and effective way to protect women, achieve equality between women and men and renounce any form of discrimination against women.”