Helen Ahmed

Sulaymaniyah – At a time when the streets of major cities in the Middle East are bustling with movement and daily life, behind thousands of closed doors hide other stories- stories of women living in silence under the weight of fear, threat, and violence.

Many of them do not have the opportunity to tell their stories, because their lives end before their voices can reach anyone. In many countries of the region, the killing of women is still justified under labels such as “honor” or “family disputes” – labels that human rights organizations see as attempts to conceal an obvious crims.

These crimes often occur when a woman tries to gain her independence, such as asking for a divorce, refusing marriage, or even engaging in activity on social media.

Women are still seen as the “family’s honor”

Sociologists point out that some societies still view women unfairly as “representatives of family honor,” making any different step they take a potential cause for violence. Despite efforts by some countries to amend laws, international organizations affirm that there is a large gap in the protection of women.

In many cases, victims cannot easily file complaints, or they withdraw for fear of relaliation.

Moreover, the problem is not only about the law but also about the existence of people who still consider violence against women as normal. Women’s suffering increases in displacement camps and unstable areas, where they are subjected to violence, forced marriage, and assaults, often without these crimes being recorded due to fear or lack of support.

“The male mentality is the reason for the killing fo women”

Giya Yasin, an activist in women's issues and a media specialist, says that many customs and cultures in the Middle East have been imposed on women and have become obstacles to their abilities.

She added: "This deeply rooted male mentality in the region makes women more vulnerable to violence, killing, and torture. We Kurdish women are part of this suffering; many face difficulties in life, work, education, and various areas of life. Within the family, women are often treated as inferior to men. The more this male mentality is reinforced, the more the killing of women increases."

She explained that the continuation of these crimes is also linked to political authorities and economic systems that allow this type of violence to continue, affirming that this mentality and power work continuously to silence and exclude women.

She continued: "We must raise society's awareness. The problem is not related to one institution or a limited number of people; it requires collective work. We must activate and implement laws, spread legal awareness within schools and among students, and involve families in understanding women's rights. Teachers and intellectuals must also spread awareness and warn against crimes of violence and killing against women, so that we can ensure a better future for coming generations and for our society as a whole."