The killing of a 14-year-old girl by her brother for setting up a Facebook account has caused outrage in Jordan, sparking calls for the perpetrator to be executed.
A man in his mid-20s has been charged with “intentional killing” for fatally stabbing his sister on Friday after she created a Facebook account using his phone, according to local media reports.
In some conservative circles it is believed a woman's honour is at stake as a result of using social media due to the perception that they are platforms for inappropriate behaviour.
"Social media has become a space for meeting people and where a lot of relationships are formed these days," secretary general of the Jordanian National Committee for Women's Affairs, Salma Al Nemes, told The National.
Dr Al Nemes said that initial media reports had attributed the act of violence to the pressure of the lockdown, essentially providing the perpetrator with an excuse for committing a violent crime.
“I’ve said from the beginning, the lockdown will contribute to a rise in domestic violence, but in this specific case the underlying reasons behind it are broader and are related to behaviours that have been committed for tens of years,” she said.
“We need to look at this beyond the issue of the lockdown, taking into consideration the discourse in the media.”
When the incident occurred, the suspect had become enraged by his sister's actions and they had engaged in a heated argument. He then grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed her once in the back, reported The Jordan Times.
The victim was rushed to hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
Although the brother initially fled from the family home, he was later located and admitted to the crime. The case was transferred to the Public Criminal Prosecutor, according to a statement published by the Public Security Directorate.
He remains detained at a correctional and rehabilitation centre.
The crime garnered a polarised response across social media, from support for the perpetrator to the hashtag “#نطالب_باعدام_قاتل_اخته” (we demand the execution of the sister's killer) trending on Twitter.
“Finally people are talking,” Amman-based feminist Reem Saiff tweeted, alongside screenshots of online reports of the crime.
“The home is the most dangerous place for a girl, her family is the greatest threat to her life,” she also tweeted.
Dr Al Nemes said one of the major issues in cases of violence against women is Jordan’s legal framework. Several articles in the penal code provide judges with the discretion to significantly reduce prison sentences, which means they often do not act as a deterrent.
One example includes the victim’s family requesting a lenient sentence, which would result in them being financially compensated by the perpetrator’s family.
However, as in this case, if the perpetrator and victim are from the same family – which is a common occurrence, according to Dr Al Nemes – they can sign a form to reduce the sentence.
“We need to change the legal framework so this person is punished and does not receive a reduced sentence,” she said.
“We’ve demanded for many years for this to be amended but had no response from the government.”
She believes a crime like this should receive life imprisonment, but does not support the death penalty, despite more than 19,000 tweets reportedly using the hashtag calling for it. Such a strong reaction is rarely seen for cases of violence against women.
Asma Khader, a lawyer and founder of the Solidarity Is Global Institute, denounced the crime and agreed the perpetrator should receive a severe punishment.
“We want him to be trialled as a murderer and to receive a serious punishment because he committed a horrible crime, but we are against the death penalty,” she said.
“It’s not acceptable that a man feels he has the power to forbid his wife, daughter or sister to use social media. This [perceived] power over a woman is very dangerous and it’s one of the root causes of gender-based violence.”
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Company name: OneOrder
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A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
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