Honour-based violence is one of the most chilling and deeply misunderstood forms of gender-based abuse, in the UK and around the world. It refers to acts of violence committed to protect or restore the so-called “honour” of a family or community. This can include forced marriage, coercive control, physical and sexual abuse, threats, and even murder.
In most cases, the victims are women and girls punished for exercising autonomy, challenging cultural expectations, or simply seeking the right to live freely. Despite its name, there is nothing honourable about honour-based violence. It is a serious human rights violation, rooted in patriarchal ideologies and fear of social shame, often justified through distorted interpretations of culture, religion, or tradition. At its core, HBV is about control, not morality and its consequences are devastating: freedom lost, dignity stripped, and far too often, lives taken.
What Are The Cultural and Religious Underpinnings of Honour-Based Violence
‘Honour’-based violence is a symptom of patriarchal control, one that transcends borders and belief systems. It is about domination, not devotion — control, not culture.
Across various communities, strict codes of conduct are imposed on women and girls, dictating how they should dress, behave, speak, and interact. Any perceived deviation from these unwritten rules, such as choosing one’s partner, refusing a forced marriage, or embracing Western values, can be seen as a betrayal of family or community honour. And the response is often brutal.
I rarely speak of this, but in 2002, at the age of 33, I met a remarkable woman in Leeds who had fled Afghanistan as a young girl. She had embraced Western values, completed her education, and was nearing the end of a Master’s degree in Sociology at the University of Leeds. We developed a close friendship in a short space of time and began to speak about the possibility of a future together. Over time, she confided in me the harrowing story of her escape, of the very real threat of being harmed by her own family, and the deep fears that continued to haunt her.
After more than a year of friendship, she received word that her parents had tracked her down and were flying to the UK. On the very day of their arrival at Leeds-Bradford Airport, she fled the country, gripped by a fear I had never witnessed before. She left everything behind, prepared to start over once again, simply to save her life. I know she reached another country safely, but I have never heard from her again.
That experience profoundly shaped my understanding of so-called ‘honour’-based violence, not as a statistic, but as a lived reality for many women.
In a 2009 expert paper for the United Nations, Dr. Aisha K. Gill, Professor of Criminology at the University of Roehampton, puts it starkly:
“Honour-based violence is a fundamental strut of the patriarchal order.”
What Are The Religious Justifications for Honour-Based Violence
Religious justifications are often misused to excuse this violence. But leading theologians and scholars consistently affirm that no faith advocates for abuse. The problem lies in the manipulation of religion to reinforce dominance and suppress dissent.
While the Quran (also romanised Qur’an or Koran) teaches respect for women and includes verses on kindness and equality, some conservative or extremist interpretations have been used to justify male dominance, forced marriage, and restrictions on women’s autonomy. Practices like honour killings are cultural, not religious.
Critical engagement with these narratives, especially within affected communities, is vital in dismantling the myths that uphold this violence.
What Acts of Violence Are Committed in the Name of Honour?
When researching the dedicated chapter on ‘honour-based violence for my book NEVER A VICTIM – The Definitive Guide to Women’s Safety, I investigated several harrowing case files, submitted Freedom of Information requests, read witness statements, and studied coroner reports. I can say without hesitation that this chapter, on ‘honour-based violence’, was the most emotionally taxing to write.
Let me share just four of the cases:
- Banaz Mahmod (2006) – Banaz was just 20 years old when her life was stolen. Born into an Iraqi Kurdish family in London, she escaped an abusive forced marriage and found love on her own terms. But her decision to leave and choose a partner for herself was considered a disgrace. Despite pleading with the police multiple times and clearly stating her fears, Banaz was dismissed and left unprotected. Her father, uncle, and three cousins brutally murdered her. Their actions were not spontaneous, they were premeditated and driven by a warped sense of family honour. Her death became a symbol of institutional failure and the deadly consequences of cultural ignorance.
- Shafilea Ahmed (2003) – Shafilea’s name haunts me. A 17-year-old British-Pakistani girl from Warrington, she lived a double life, outwardly obedient, inwardly desperate for freedom. After surviving a forced trip to Pakistan and ingesting bleach in an act of despair, Shafilea returned home, only to be murdered by her own parents. Her body was discovered months later in the River Kent in Cumbria, her remains hidden in a calculated effort to cover up the crime. During the trial in 2012, her younger sister testified that Shafilea was choked to death in front of her siblings, all because she wore Western clothes and refused an arranged marriage. Her parents were each sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in prison. This case shattered any illusions about such violence being “someone else’s problem.”
- Rania Alayed (2013) – Rania, a Palestinian refugee living in Salford, dared to assert her independence. Her husband disapproved of her Western lifestyle, her evolving beliefs, and her desire to live freely. He murdered her and hid her body. It wasn’t until February 2025, over a decade later, that her remains were found in North Yorkshire. Her case, like the others, serves as a painful reminder of how cultural control, when left unchallenged, can escalate to lethal violence
- The Murder of Saman Abbas – After moving to Italy in 2021, my wife and I became close friends with a local family. Elisa, the wife, is an investigative journalist. She and her colleague Jacopo wrote SAMAN, a gripping book about the murder of Saman Abbas, an 18-year-old Pakistani girl whose death shocked Italy in 2021. Saman refused an arranged marriage. Despite being under social service protection, she returned home after receiving messages from her family. It was a trap. She disappeared soon after. Her body was later found buried near a farmhouse in northern Italy. In 2023, her parents were sentenced to life in prison. Her uncle, involved in the conspiracy, received a 14-year sentence. Her mother was arrested in Pakistan on 30 May 2024.
What Is the Role of Expert Testimony in Honour-Based Violence Cases?
Expert witnesses are crucial in ‘honour’-based violence cases. They provide cultural context to courts, helping judges and juries understand the nuanced dynamics of such crimes. Without their insights, many cases would be mischaracterised or misunderstood.
Nazir Afzal, the former Chief Crown Prosecutor for North-West England, has long been a leading voice on this issue. He once stated:
“Culture shouldn’t be an excuse for inaction on issues such as forced marriage, honour-based violence and child sexual abuse.”
Afzal’s leadership has helped secure convictions in some of the UK’s most high-profile ‘honour’-based violence cases, and his work continues to inspire a new generation of prosecutors and campaigners.
Why Is Change Urgently Needed to Tackle Honour-Based Violence
Shockingly, there is still a lack of legal clarity that makes it difficult for agencies to respond consistently and appropriately. The Women and Equalities Committee has urged the government to act, to create a clear definition that can guide policing, support services, and prosecutions.
We must acknowledge ‘honour’-based violence as the human rights crisis that it is. Specialist organisations in the UK and many other countries do vital work, offering helplines, advocacy, and educational outreach. These groups speak the languages, understand the cultural dynamics, and provide the kind of trauma-informed care that survivors desperately need.
If we are truly serious about protecting women and girls, we must do more than condemn ‘honour’-based violence, we must dismantle the structures that allow it to persist.
This means:
- Enacting a legal definition of ‘honour’-based violence and holding perpetrators accountable.
- Investing in survivor support and culturally competent services.
- Educating young people, both boys and girls, about gender equality and respect.
- Training police, healthcare workers, and teachers to recognise early warning signs.
- Challenging harmful norms and practices within communities through engagement, not alienation.
‘Honour’-based violence thrives in silence. It survives when victims are disbelieved or shamed. It ends only when we collectively say: not in our name, not in our country, and not on our watch.
Please also allow me to recommend my blog titled Ending Femicide: Why Our Justice Systems Keep Failing Women—And What Must Change
About the Author
Now recognised as a Gender-Based Violence Expert, Robert Kaiser specialises in criminology-informed strategies to prevent violence against women, integrating insights from sociology and behavioural psychology. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Criminology, focusing on Synthesising Escalation Pattern Analysis Across the Dynamics of Intimate Partner Violence to Improve Lethality Assessments. If you would like to follow his academic journey and access his publications, please visit his ResearchGate profile.
Robert has worked closely with hundreds of female survivors of physical and sexual crimes and is the author of NEVER A VICTIM, a 530-page survivor-led, trauma-informed guide to women’s safety.