Honour-based violence has soared in Britain
by Bella Wallersteiner, CapX:
In recent years, the scourge of ‘honour-based’ violence has shown a disturbing upward trend, with a staggering 60% surge in reported incidents over just two years. Despite their name, there is nothing honourable about these crimes – they are acts of brutality and violence against vulnerable women often from isolated communities.
Defined as crimes committed in the name of protecting familial or community ‘honour’, they are manifestations of archaic beliefs and toxic cultural norms that prioritise control and domination over the lives and autonomy of women.
The perpetrators of honour-based abuse are not mysterious outsiders lurking in the shadows; they are often the very people entrusted with love and protection – family members. This betrayal of trust is a stark reminder that proximity does not guarantee safety. Moreover, these crimes are not isolated incidents but are deeply ingrained within social structures, perpetuated by an insidious culture of silence and complicity.
At the heart of the issue lies the erosion of social cohesion. When communities prioritise outdated notions of honour over basic human rights and dignity, they create fertile ground for violence to flourish.
Honour killings most commonly occur among South Asian communities, including those of Pakistani, Indian, and Bangladeshi descent. Additionally, honour killings have also been reported within Kurdish, Turkish, and Arab communities, reflecting a broader cross-section of cultural backgrounds.
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