This attitude is widespread and affects millions of women.
AMANZIMTOTI, SOUTH AFRICA: This is with reference to Khaled Ahmed’s article of February 27 titled “This ‘ghairat’ business”. I agree with his analysis about honour in the historical context. But I think that in the case of Raymond Davis, the courts should decide the immunity issue. ‘Ghairat’ is more conspicuous in family affairs in Pakistan because of cultural and religious misconceptions and is accepted by not only those who live in villages but in cities as well.
Whereas men allow themselves all kinds of freedom, honour suddenly becomes an issue when women want the same kind of freedom. Here in South Africa I see many young Pakistani men having a ‘good’ time with local girls. And many of these men have wives back home. I once asked one of them if he would allow his own wife in Pakistan to do what he was doing in South Africa — needless to say, my question shocked him and he said, quite proudly: “Listen, in our village our women are killed if they dare bring dishonour to the family or tribe”.
This attitude is widespread and affects millions of women. Perhaps more should be written about that than the Davis case.
Sharif Lone
Published in The Express Tribune, March 1st, 2011.
