Mistaken Honor
Yesterday I took a moment to review a couple of blogs I sometimes visit, and came across one post entitled, Honor Killings - The Ultimate Oxymoron, which led me to this article concerning, 'My daughter deserved to die for falling in love'. Being a father of a little girl myself, this caught my eye.
Apparently, as told by the report concerning the interview with Abdel-Qader Ali, this man killed his 17 year old daughter, Rand Abdel-Qader, for apparently having an infatuation (which may not have been mutual) with a British soldier.
As a father of a little girl, I can understand the possibility of her one day being infatuated with a boy that I may not think well of or like very much. It could be for countless reasons, but I honestly believe my actions would be more directed at a defense for my daughter’s protection (whether I consider it for physical, emotional, or spiritual implication) than at an offensive attack against my own daughter.
Simply put, whereas Abdel-Qader Ali apparently took the idea of his daughter conversing with the British soldier (“considered to be the enemy, the invader and a Christian”) as a justifiable reason to take his daughter from this world, I would much rather converse with my daughter over the matter so that our relationship could remain intact. How can a father go so far as to say, “If I had realised then what she would become, I would have killed her the instant her mother delivered her?”
The article doesn’t really claim how far this “relationship” may have gone or to the extent of what Rand Abdel-Qader’s confessed “feelings and daydreams” may have been to her friend, but surely even if they were the most lustful of thoughts, a father’s love could have found charity within his own heart to speak to his daughter about such things.
Knowing this is not a Christian family, do they not yet know still of confession, repentance, and forgiveness?
Seemingly, Abdel-Qader Ali feels he has done such for the sake of Honor, though I find that here lies the presence of Mistaken Honor instead. He said, “Death was the least she deserved. I don't regret it. I had the support of all my friends who are fathers, like me, and know what she did was unacceptable to any Muslim that honours his religion.” He further states, “I don't have a daughter now, and I prefer to say that I never had one. That girl humiliated me in front of my family and friends.” What I find even more interesting is that he states, his daughter’s “bad genes were passed on from her mother.”
It seems pretty clear to me that this slaying was less about his love for his family, his love for his religion, his love for his god, and more to do about his own pride wishing to ensure his image concerning his work, friends, and onlookers that support such acts.
How many times do you think Rand Abdel-Qader had forgiven her father for not being the father he should have been through her 17 years? Could he not find it in his heart to compassionately speak and direct his daughter away from what he felt was wrong to what he believed was right? Should not all fathers do such?
Apparently, as told by the report concerning the interview with Abdel-Qader Ali, this man killed his 17 year old daughter, Rand Abdel-Qader, for apparently having an infatuation (which may not have been mutual) with a British soldier.
As a father of a little girl, I can understand the possibility of her one day being infatuated with a boy that I may not think well of or like very much. It could be for countless reasons, but I honestly believe my actions would be more directed at a defense for my daughter’s protection (whether I consider it for physical, emotional, or spiritual implication) than at an offensive attack against my own daughter.
Simply put, whereas Abdel-Qader Ali apparently took the idea of his daughter conversing with the British soldier (“considered to be the enemy, the invader and a Christian”) as a justifiable reason to take his daughter from this world, I would much rather converse with my daughter over the matter so that our relationship could remain intact. How can a father go so far as to say, “If I had realised then what she would become, I would have killed her the instant her mother delivered her?”
The article doesn’t really claim how far this “relationship” may have gone or to the extent of what Rand Abdel-Qader’s confessed “feelings and daydreams” may have been to her friend, but surely even if they were the most lustful of thoughts, a father’s love could have found charity within his own heart to speak to his daughter about such things.
Knowing this is not a Christian family, do they not yet know still of confession, repentance, and forgiveness?
Seemingly, Abdel-Qader Ali feels he has done such for the sake of Honor, though I find that here lies the presence of Mistaken Honor instead. He said, “Death was the least she deserved. I don't regret it. I had the support of all my friends who are fathers, like me, and know what she did was unacceptable to any Muslim that honours his religion.” He further states, “I don't have a daughter now, and I prefer to say that I never had one. That girl humiliated me in front of my family and friends.” What I find even more interesting is that he states, his daughter’s “bad genes were passed on from her mother.”
It seems pretty clear to me that this slaying was less about his love for his family, his love for his religion, his love for his god, and more to do about his own pride wishing to ensure his image concerning his work, friends, and onlookers that support such acts.
How many times do you think Rand Abdel-Qader had forgiven her father for not being the father he should have been through her 17 years? Could he not find it in his heart to compassionately speak and direct his daughter away from what he felt was wrong to what he believed was right? Should not all fathers do such?
4 comments:
"If within the city a man comes upon a maiden who is betrothed, and has relations with her, you shall bring them both out of the gate of the city and there stone them to death: the girl because she did not cry out for help though she was in the city, and the man because he violated his neighbors wife."
-(Deuteronomy 22:23-24)
1. She was not betrothed.
2. Soldier did not have relations with her (according to Zeinab).
3. They were not stoned.
"30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."
Acts 5:30-32
Regardless whether the soldiers did it or not, God's command was succinct and clear: Stone the girl who is raped along with the rapist.
Anyone with a brain can interpret this: Islam and Christianity share the same blood-soaked lineage of Judaism.
Beast
Hi Tim,
Thanks for the mention.
While you and I may be in disagreement about a lot of things in the area of religion, this is something that you and I both find absolutely repugnant.
As you may have seen from some of my follow-up posts, I am trying to channel my anger about this into something constructive. Whether or not it will actually make the slightest difference, I cannot say, though the least I can do is try.
Regards,
Tom
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