Kuwaiti Morning Show Delves Into 'Honor Killings' – Syrian Journalist Lin Al-Atrash: Some Girls Shame Their Families And Deserve a Beating'; Tunisian Journalist Safa Jabou: Violence Is Never The Answer

A discussion about "honor killings" in the Arab world aired on Alshahed TV (Kuwait) on January 31, 2021. Syrian journalist Lin Al-Atrash said that it is forbidden for a woman's family, husband, brother or father to kill her, slaughter her, and bury her alive, however, if people are talking about her family because of her and she has ruined her reputation and that of her family, then "some girls deserve a beating." She added that some cases are unacceptable in society and religion, such as when a girl returns home in the middle of the night. Al-Atrash asked: "So what if we are in 2021?" She continued to wonder whether girls who shame their families or boys who want to become homosexuals should be given rights.

Kuwaiti actress Sabah Al-Abadi said that if her older brother were to see her talking with a man on the street, he would "definitely slaughter" her because this is an offence to his manhood. Tunisian Journalist Safa Jabou said that there are other solutions and that violence has never been an acceptable solution, even if a girl has done something wrong, and her family must try to understand her. She said that in 2021 there are many other ways to deal with a girl who has gone astray.

Tunisian journalist Safa Jabou: Do you think that a brother has the right to violate his sister's freedom and beat her to a pulp and break her spirit, because she did something [that allegedly brought shame upon her family)? Do you think that a brother has the right to beat his sister to death?"

[...]

Syrian journalist Lin Al-Atrash: "No one has the right to beat a woman – not her husband, not her brother, and not anyone else. She has a father and she should reach an understanding with him, but if the father has the same mentality and narrow-mindedness like his son... Some girls... I'm talking about another case now. The first case is forbidden, we all agree to that. But there are cases, in which the girl does things that get people talking. Her family cannot kill her, slaughter her, or bury her alive. People are talking about her family because of her. Let’s assume that they tried all other means and methods."

Jabou: "Does it get to that extent?"

Al-Atrash: "With some girls, it does. Some girls deserve a beating, honestly... Talking nicely with such girls doesn't work. Everybody is talking about her reputation and her family's reputation – what are you supposed to do with her?"

Kuwaiti actress Sabah Al-Abadi: "Some families will not agree to that. If my older brother was walking down the street and saw me talking with a man, he would definitely slaughter me, because it is an offense to his manhood. A man whose sister is talking with another man, will definitely..."

Al-Atrash: "But I'm not talking about this kind of case. I'm talking about cases that are unacceptable in the eyes of society and religion as well. For example – and I'm sorry for this kind of talk – when a girl has no problem to come back home in the middle of the night, or in an unacceptable state. It has become known to all that she has a bad reputation. A girl like that deserves a beating."

[...]

Jabou: "There are other solutions..."

Al-Abadi: "What solutions?"

Jabou: "Believe me, there are solutions. I don't want to get into this..."

Al-Atrash: "What solutions?"

Jabou: "There must be other solutions. Violence has never been an acceptable [solution], neither in our Arab societies nor in European societies. It's inconceivable. No matter what the girl did. It's inconceivable and forbidden.

[...]

"Violence is unacceptable in all cases. Even if the girl goes astray or does something wrong, [her family must] try to understand her. There are many ways [to deal with such cases]. We are in 2021..."

Al-Atrash: "So what if we are in 2021?"

Jabou: "In 2021 there are organizations..."

Al-Abadi: "We should just leave [these girls] be? That's it?"

Jabou: "There are human rights organizations, and organizations for the prevention of violence against women, and you still tell me that violence is a solution? Violence doesn't work, it is counterproductive – if you beat me, I will do only what I want."

Al-Atrash: "Excuse me, we are in 2021 and there are human rights... So what if we are in 2021? Should we just let things go? Should we give rights to a girl who wants to shame her family? Should we give rights to a boy who wants to become a homosexual? Should we give rights to this and that? Of course not!"