Progress Amid Resistance

10 WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICAHonor killing, in which a woman is murdered by a relative for suspectedextramarital sex or some other behavior that is considered a slight tothe family’s honor, represents the most extreme form of domestic violence.Such murders have been reported in Jordan, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Iraq,Iran, and Yemen, but are not exclusive to the Middle East; they also occurin South and Central Asia, and to a lesser extent elsewhere. Generally, theperpetrators of honor killings serve minimal time in prison due to judicialdiscretion and laws that prescribe leniency for murders committed in theheat of passion. While Jordan and Syria have recently instituted stiffer penaltiesto deal with these crimes, honor killings are reportedly on the rise inother countries, such as Palestine and Iraq.Over the last five years, nearly all countries in the region have takensome steps to combat spousal abuse. In Jordan, the parliament enacted theFamily Protection Law in January 2008 after years of lobbying by governmentaland civil society actors. As noted above, the law prescribes prisontime and financial penalties for abusers, and specifies procedures that thepolice, the courts, and medical authorities must follow when handlingcases of domestic violence, although several important provisions of thelaw have not yet been implemented. In Tunisia and Algeria, the authoritieshave joined women’s groups in campaigns against domestic violence,holding workshops and engaging police, judges, and social workers. Draftlegislation that would prohibit domestic violence was considered by theLebanese government in June 2009, but it was referred to a ministerialcommittee for further review.In Bahrain, Lebanon, Morocco, and Jordan, the network of NGOsthat support victims of domestic violence is steadily growing, and anincreasing number of women seem to be aware of such organizations andthe services they provide. Several new shelters have opened over the lastfive years, and civil society has become more active in its advocacy efforts.The issue of domestic violence has also garnered more attention in Qatarand Saudi Arabia, although it is unclear what practical steps those governmentsintend to take to combat the problem. In Iran, Kuwait, and Yemen,there is not one shelter or support center for victims of domestic abuse.Political Rights Improve Amid Low Regional StandardsThroughout the MENA region, both male and female citizens lack thepower to change their governments democratically and have only limitedrights to peaceful assembly and freedom of speech. According to Freedom