Raped girl killed over family 'honour'

Agence France-Presse ^ | August 12, 2009

[AxelPaulsenJr]

It would appear not to be nearly as prevalent as in the Muslim world. And the copts are for the record Egyptian Christians.

[Sherman Logan]

You are probably correct.

[r9etb]

The law was changed in Italy 25 years ago, but it does go to show that such attitudes aren’t all that far in the past of some “Christian” nations.

Indeed, until 1974, in Texas it was considered "justifiable homicide" in some cases to kill you wife if you caught her in the act of infidelity.

[Sherman Logan]

I would contend that such a reaction in the heat of the moment is somewhat different from the premeditated killing of a sister or daughter to “cleanse the family’s honor.”

[AxelPaulsenJr]

Agreed:

[r9etb]

I would contend that such a reaction in the heat of the moment is somewhat different from the premeditated killing of a sister or daughter to “cleanse the family’s honor.”

Perhaps. However, I think the specificity of the exemption -- wife caught in the act -- is suggestive of the same "honor killing" argument: it's noteworthy that there were no other exemptions, although a finding of "sudden passion" might result in a reduced sentence.

(Poke here for an interesting article on the subject...)