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Push for Stronger Action Against Syrian Honor Killings

A rights group says Syria should make stronger efforts in punishing perpetrators of what has become known as honor killings. Human Rights Watch welcomed the government’s recent decision to abolish an article of the Penal Code which waived punishment for men who kill a female relative engaged in "illegitimate sex acts." However, the article that replaced it still allows for mitigated punishments. Under the new law, a man accused of honor killing will serve at least two years in prison. Another article allows a judge to reduce the punishment if a murder is committed in rage and motivated by an illegal act provoked by the victim.HRW says all the articles in the penal law regarding honor killings need to be reformed. Honor killings are the term used to describe cases in which women are killed by family members for socializing with men who are not their husbands or relatives.