Hanan Ashrawi calls for end of honor killings in Mideast

A Palestine Liberation Organization executive committee member called for immediate approval of a law that would institute harsher sentences for honor killings. Hanan Ashrawi's statement, which was released Saturday, followed the alleged killing of a 15-year-old girl by her father and a 17-year-old girl by her brother, Palestinian News Agency WAFA reported. She called for implementing the maximum penalties against those who kill women. Ashrawi said 28 women were killed in 2013 due to the lack of protective legislation and legal accountability. She also called on governmental officials and grassroots organizations to eradicate the use of the term "honor killing." "Considering femicide crimes as family honor killings (or as motivated to maintain the family honor) helps protect femicide criminals and even induces them to perpetrate more crimes against women. It also helps criminals to escape punishment and disclaim responsibility to face this crime," she said.