By Rana Zalghout | Staff Writer

In the past week, people in Lebanon were shocked by the news of the murder of Zeinab Zeaiter in front of her children. Just like many women in Lebanon, Zeinab is a victim of gender-based violence from her husband who shot her around ten times in Chouifet, Lebanon. As much as Zeinab suffered in her life because of misogyny, her soul didn’t fully rest in peace because of the ways her family and society “mourned” her death.

When the world woke up to the horrible news of what happened to Zeinab, some people chose to comment on the news by blaming Zeinab for cheating on Hassan Moussa Zaiter- the murderer and defending the criminal by saying he struggles with mental health issues. This proves that misogynist individuals will always find a way to blame women for getting abused and defending a man even when he commits a crime. On top of that, the brother of the victim chose to post a video explaining that he is proud of the criminal Hassan for murdering Zeinab as he considers this femicide as an honor killing that had to be done to clean the family’s reputation. Even though we are living in the 21st century, we still can witness murderers who are praised for their femicides rather than being shamed and punished for doing so.

Zeinab’s case is not the first murder case that was socially accepted because it underwent the category of “honor killing.”  Likewise, Manal Assi’s case became popular in 2020 when the murderer Harfoush killed 9 other people while committing the crime against his wife. Unfortunately, there are always comments under the social media posts of such cases that ask irrelevant questions to justify the femicides, such as “What did the wife do to anger her husband?”

Honor killings are a barbaric practice that still occurs in many parts of the world, including Lebanon. The act of honor killing is a brutal practice that often results in the loss of innocent lives. Honor killings are carried out to protect the family’s honor or reputation, which can be tarnished by actions that are perceived as shameful, such as a woman engaging in pre-marital sex, having an affair, or marrying against the wishes of the family. Since Lebanon has a population that considers a man’s honor and family reputation to be linked to a woman’s virginity, women often fall victim to honor killings, especially when they are suspected of participating in a sexual affair with a man.

What’s more, is that society perceives men to be different when they engage in sexual activity. For instance, patriarchates assume that men have sexual desires that they need to fulfill, so it is normal to have premarital sex as a man’s virginity never interferes with anyone’s honor or reputation. This highlights the fact that throughout history, honor has always been linked to a woman’s virginity just to be able to restrict women from engaging in the community as equal to men. Indeed, the idea of honor was found only to control women’s decisions and place them under pressure. The patriarchal mindset places the honor of the family above the well-being and rights of its individual members. In this context, women are seen as the property of their families, and their behavior is tightly controlled to ensure that they do not bring shame or dishonor to their kin. This attitude is deeply ingrained in many Lebanese communities, and it is often difficult to challenge it. The concept of honor killing and its somewhat normalized practice is an alert that we still live in a sexist country that awards a man for killing a woman rather than punishing him.

In Lebanon, honor killings are a widespread phenomenon, and many women have lost their lives in the name of family honor. The reasons for these killings are numerous, and they often involve a woman’s perceived transgressions against the norms and values of her community. These transgressions can range from wearing immodest clothing to having a boyfriend or engaging in premarital sex. Although honor killing is a criminal offense in Lebanon, it is still widely practiced in many parts of the country, particularly in rural areas. The Lebanese government has taken some steps to combat the practice, but progress has been slow, and many women continue to live in fear of being killed by their own families. Indeed, one main factor that contributes to the prevalence of honor killings in Lebanon is the lack of effective legal protection for women. Although honor killings are illegal, the legal system is often biased against women, and the perpetrators of these crimes are often able to avoid punishment by claiming that they acted to protect the family’s honor. Moreover, many women are reluctant to report incidents of domestic violence or abuse to the authorities due to fear of reprisals or social stigma.

The proof that there is very poor progress and efforts from the government is the recent honor killing incident that permitted the murderer to escape and stay safe rather than getting arrested. The murderer’s family is hiding the criminal and keeping him safe; meanwhile, Zeinab is a tortured soul buried under the land of a country that fails to protect women.

In conclusion, honor killing is a grim reality in Lebanon that continues to claim the lives of innocent women. To put an end to this barbaric practice, Lebanese society needs to change its patriarchal mindset and recognize that women have the right to live free from violence and oppression. Moreover, the government needs to take stronger measures to protect women and hold perpetrators accountable for their crimes. Only then can Lebanon truly become a country where women are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.