Campaign to protect women from Honor Killings continues 1-23-05

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Naomi Abraham
212-244-1720


Hirsi Ali Returns Spotlight on Honor Killings

January 23, 2005 — Muslim women in the Netherlands, long a haven of tolerance, continue to be victims of honor killings. After months of hiding, Somali-born Dutch parliamentarian Ayaan Hirsi Ali returns to work, despite death threats from Dutch Muslim extremists, to help try to stop the murders.

In this week's cover story, Women’s eNews, an independent nonprofit news service, reports on the ongoing problem of violence against women and honor killings within the Muslim community in the Netherlands. The actual number of such murders that occur per year in Holland is unknown due to the continuous silence within the Muslim community and the reluctance of the government to talk about the situation. Hirsi Ali reveals that although Muslims account for only 6 percent of the Dutch population, Muslim women are 60 percent of those in battered women’s shelters.

Psychiatrist Carla Rus, who counsels Muslim and non-Muslim domestic violence victims, and Hirsi Ali agree that the violence and honor killings occurring to women in the Netherlands originates from fundamentalist interpretations of the Koran. Rus also blames the Dutch, who “in an effort to promote cultural freedom, permitted sexual and physical abuse, child abuse and honor violence.”

The full article can be found at: http://www.womensenews.org/



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About Women’s eNews

Women’s eNews is a prize-winning nonprofit news service supported by its readers and other donors. It is the definitive source of substantive news--unavailable anywhere else--covering issues of particular concern to women and their allies. Launched in 2000, the independent media outlet bridges the gender gap in news by covering issues of particular concern to women. Rita Henley Jensen is founder and editor in chief.

For more information or to inquire about subscribing, permissions to reprint or licensing arrangements, please contact Naomi Abraham at 212-244-1720 or send an e-mail to editors@womensenews.org. For interviews with Women's eNews Editor in Chief Rita Henley Jensen, e-mail her at rita@womensenews.org or call 212-244-1720.

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