First, this is a wonderful piece of both, writing and sensing the whole situation..
i have never met a "male" who would sympathize with this kind of events the WAY you do, RnB..
I thank you..

Second, what's so sad about this story is that Zahra was a victim not only of law and of masculine tradition, but also of a broken family; the father's affair is the reason why she ran away with the guy-according to the story-and not because she ran away with a "lover"!

Third, before going to Lebanon, i have volunteered to teach English and Arabic to the Rehabilitation Center, i have met 18 girls, all under 18 years old, some where kept in the rehabilitation for adultery, thief, begging and rape assaults.
The girls are raised within broken families that did use their sexuality in order to commit such "felonies" yet the girls themselves are the ones to be sentenced, not the families, nor the men involved, nor even the law.

It is not a question of changing the law, nor to be feminists, it is a question of "reading' the situation well, the parents who are demanding of "honor" back, are the very ones of "taking" it in the first place.

Excellent post, you're blog is becoming a voice of an invisible Syrian citizen, top

Thanks Razan,

And the reason why I sympathize with these kinds of issues is that I feel women in our society are being taken advantage of, and no body is talking, at least no body I’ve heard of.

I agree with you on the family role part. I wish I had the chance to volunteer in such organizations.

RnD top

Wow. That was deep. Struck a chord and shed a tear. Great post RnD. top

RnD,
I appreciate your endeavor in highlighting this tragic event, indeed tragic by all dimension and standards.
But what I can't agree with is your generalization that women are being taken advantage of in our society.
I read, wrote and discussed this topic in length before, and I can only say it has broader implications than how it is ostensibly approached.
Talking from a personal perspective, and about my only sister in particular ( I will be honest to you and myself by sharing this) I believe that women are graced and honored in our society, I grow up with my sister and we were rivals at school, she always managed to do better than me, she eventually majored in a much better speciality than me.
All along I respected her choices in life, I trusted her intelligence and I relied on her opinion in so many critical cases in my life.
I was the happiest person on earth when she got married, and I must say that although I respected her approval of her husband when he first proposed, but I made sure that he had the capacity and the integrity to impart her the freedom and the liberty to act, think and live the way she did when she was at our parent's house.
I didn't interfere in her choice to work after graduation, although, had she chosen not to, I would happily dedicate my whole time and income to provide to her, and make sure that she lived up to the standards she wants.

I would also like to believe it's not only me who treat his sister the way I did.

Can you please tell me where did I do injustice to my own sister? top

Dubai Jazz

Thank you for taking time to read and comment.

I can't see really why you took this so personally.

When I said 'our' society I do not mean to generalize the whole Syrian or allow me to say Arab societies. I do believe that you were just, fair and civilized in dealing with your sister.

Let me ask you a question?

Have you ever seen a man hitting his own sister on the road?

I have.

Have you ever seen a woman screaming for help because her father or brother and maybe husband is beating the hell out of her?

I have.

Have you ever watched the Syrian TV Series?

DJ, those were the women I was talking about.

Their relatives unfortunately never had been to schools. Were street schooled. Fed unjust traditions and false beliefs.

And yes, they do exist and unfortunately in huge numbers.

There will always be good and bad apples. After all I am Syrian and I do not beat my sisters, neither do you.

RnD top

It tears me apart to read this ..
it's even more disgusting and cruel than any animal would do
anyway this murder was "merciful" I once read about a murder in which a relative of a girl cut her from the neck but she did not die .. she kept screaming until someone (bedafe3 elshafa2a)completed the butchering process ..

Please checj this link out :

http://www.nesasy.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2546&Itemid=194

and you will find many good articles about this subject in this site top

RnD
I didn't take it personally, sure I didn't.
I am just mindful of the fact that our society is nothing but me and you and the others.
As for the beating in the streets, yes I've seen it before, and it's a disgrace, but again this has a broader implications that its appearance; don't get me wrong please, I am not condoning such acts, I am only intending to address these problems from its roots, think about poverty, illiteracy, backwardness, lack of hope, social injustice etc....etc... they are all interconnected vicious factor...
Again dear RnD my comment wasn't a nullification of what you said, it was only an ddition :)
3rasy Abu Halab! top

Rami, I am speechless, I have no comment, I will enjoy reading the piece again, 3anjad I am speechless. sometimes no comments is better...
keep it up..
Salaam top

Rami

This brought tears to my eyes.

bikrah el zolom .. kteer bikraho .. top