Even the Angels wept over the brutal beheading of Aasia Zubair Hassan

Submitted by Ashraf Siddiqi (United States), Feb 26, 2009 at 00:24

Mr. Pipes:

I have to confess, that despite my hatred for Zionism and Judaism, I truly admire your articles and your quest to help Israel and Jews live a happier life. I admire this because at least you are truly loyal to your own people. And not like our leaders Mushraff and Asif Zardari of Pakistan.

But I am truly... disappointed... with you even thinking about writing this kind of an article and insinuating that it was honor killing.
This man did something which was truly sickening and we the Muslims are grief-stricken over this incident.
I bet even the Angels wept over the killing of this innocent mother of two. May Allah forgive him.

It is an extreme example of Domestic Violence and that's it.

Just last year one christian women ripped open the belly of her cousin in East St. Louis and stole her 8 month old (unborn) child and then killed her 2 kids and hide them in the Washer and Dryer.

I never heard anyone say that was "Honor Killing"

Ashraf Siddiqi

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Daniel Pipes replies:

I regret that you are offended that I raised the possibility of the Buffalo murder being an honor killing. I do not intend to insult but to offer a tool of analysis concerning a situation we know little about.

Here are two very different possible, completely speculative scenarios that could account for the murder. To repeat, these are not based on information but are listed here to make a point:

1. Having discovered that Aasiya was involved in an affair with another man, Muzzammil killed her in a fit of rage. If that were the case, it would be a crime of passion unrelated to an honor killing.
2. Goaded by Aasiya's family members who felt that some behavior on her part had shamed them, Muzzammil carried out their wishes and engaged in an honor killing.

There are many other possible motives as well. As we don't know what happened, so I am reserving judgment, but I think it vital to keep open the possibility of a family-inspired, Islamically-based honor killing.