Honour Suicide and Forced Suicide in the UK
| Author | Mukaddes Gorar |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/00220183221115294 |
| Published date | 01 October 2022 |
| Date | 01 October 2022 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Honour Suicide and Forced Suicide
in the UK
Mukaddes Gorar
Hertfordshire Law School, University of Hertfordshire, UK
Abstract
The article aims to explore the phenomenon of suicide in relation to honour based violence
(HBV). Although HBV is explored in depth in relation to honour killing, forced marriage and
female genital mutilation, its link and manifestationintheformofsuicidehasnotbeendis-
cussed in existing literature. This article examines how suicide can manifest itself in honour
based patriarchal communities as either honour suicide or forced suicide. Although both
forms of suicide are carried out as a res ult of HBV, there is a crucial difference between
them and this needs be identified and distinguished to hold perpetrators accountable before
the law. Honour suicide and forced suicide both occur in honour based patriarchal commu-
nities and such practices spread around the world via immigration; hence the UK is not
immune from this. Due to the complexity of the incidents and vulnerability of the victims,
honour suicide and forced suicide are likely to be unreported and unrecognised by the
legal system. Therefore, the discussion in this article will look at the national law in
England and Wales related to suicide and critically examine whether it can address instances
of honour suicide and forced suicide if they occur under its jurisdiction. Accordingly, it will
suggest law reforms to address effectively the issue of suicide committed as a result of HBV
and abuse.
Keywords
Honour suicide, forced suicide, honour based violence, suicide, UK law
Introduction
This article aims to explore the phenomenon of suicide in relation to honour based violence (HBV). It will
examine how suicide can manifest itself in honour based patriarchal communities as either in the form of
honour suicide (honour based suicide) or forced suicide. Although both forms of suicide are carried out as
a result of HBV, there is a crucial difference between them which needs to be identified and distinguished
to hold perpetrators accountable.
Although honour based suicides are widespread in honour based patriarchal communities, they are not
specific to one country, culture, or religion. HBV is a form of gender based violence as well as a sub
Corresponding author:
Mukaddes Gorar, Hertfordshire Law School, University of Hertfordshire.
E-mail: m.gorar@herts.ac.uk
Article
The Journal of Criminal Law
2022, Vol. 86(5) 308–326
© The Author(s) 2022
Article reuse guidelines:
sagepub.com/journals-permissions
DOI: 10.1177/00220183221115294
journals.sagepub.com/home/clj
specific of domestic violence (DV).
1
Both, DV and HBV are capable of inducing their victims to commit
suicide.
2
Empirical research conducted in 2018 on domestic abuse and suicide, involving a sample of
more than 3500 of a Refuge’s clients, illustrated worrying statistics: 24% of the participants had felt sui-
cidal at one time or another, 18% had made plans to end their lives and 3.1% had made at least one
attempt.
3
This Report highlights the prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempts at suicide among domes-
tically abused victims in the UK. It supports existing research by illustrating a significant association
between the experience of domestic abuse and its negative psychological effects on victims.
4
Similarly, in a recent submission of evidence to Parliament by Southall Black Sisters, BAME regarding
migrant women’s vulnerability to several type of abuses including domestic homicide, ‘honour’killings
and suicide were acknowledged.
5
According to research, the number of attempted or successful suicides
is up to three times higher among British Asian women than the national average in the UK, especially
among those aged between 15 and 24 years old.
6
This is the age group mainly exposed to other types of
HBV such as arranged or forced marriage. Another empirical research added that 12.9% of HBV victims
in South Asian community, had attempted suicide at the time of the research.
7
Honour suicide and forced suicide both occur in honour based patriarchal communities and such prac-
tices have spread around the world via migration and into second generation communities where cultural
norms and justifications for conduct and expectations of women’s behaviour have been passed down
through generations. Due to the complexity of incidents and the vulnerability of victims, honour
suicide and forced suicide are likely to remain unreported and unrecognised by the legal system. In
the absence of any recorded cases specific to HBV related suicide in the UK, literature on DV related
suicide will be considered as analogous. In discussing HBV induced suicides, cases from different coun-
tries will provide evidence illustrating how both types of suicide are manifested.
DV and HBV are both considered as examples of gender based violence as they are mainly directed at
women and girls and perpetrated mostly by men in order to control female behaviour.
8
Both types of vio-
lence have similarities as well as differences but there can also be a transitional relationship between them
where DV can transfer itself to HBV.
9
As acknowledged by Munro and Aitken, despite evidence suggest-
ing a significant relationship between domestic abuse and suicidality, and notwithstanding the fact that
domestic homicides perpetrated by abusive partners are an ongoing priority and a source of concern to
the criminal justice system, the issue of domestic abuse related suicide has received remarkably little
attention from the state.
10
The discussion in this article will look at the existing national law in England and Wales relating to
involuntary manslaughter and suicide and critically examine whether it can address instances of
honour suicide and forced suicide effectively. This article will also consider how HBV can contribute
to a victim’s suicide as well as considering relevant cases of DV leading to suicide. In addition to
1. R Reddy, ‘Domestic Violence or Cultural Tradition? Approaches to “Honour Killing”as Species and Subspecies in English
Legal Practice’in AK Gill et al. ‘Honour’Killing & Violence (Palgrave MacMillan 2014) 29.
2. UN News, ‘Forced marriages, domestic violence contributes to female suicide in Turkey –UN expert’(1 June 2006).
3. R Aitken and VE Munro, ‘Domestic Abuse and Suicide Exploring the Links with Refuge’s Client Base and Work Force’(2018)
2 Refuge and Warwick aw School.
4. Ibid 3.
5. Written evidence submitted to Parliament Committees by Southall Black Sisters (COR0082) points 3 and 10 (April 2020).
6. GA Gregory et al., ‘Honour-based Violence: Awareness and Recognition’(2020) 30(11) Paediatrics and Child Health; B
Ineichen, ‘Suicide and Attempted Suicide among South Asians in England: Who is at Risk?’(2008) 5(3) MentHealth Fam Med.
7. R Khan, S Saleem and M Lowe, ‘“Honour”-based violence in a British South Asian community’(2018) 17(1) Safer
Communities Journal 16.
8. M Gorar, Honour Based Crimes and the Law: Defining the Limits of Honour Based Violence and Abuse (Routledge 2021) 35.
9. Ibid.
10. VE Munro and R Aitken, ‘Adding Insult to Injury? The Criminal Law’s Response to Domestic Abuse –Related Suicide in
England and Wales’(2018) 732 Crim LR.
Gorar 309
To continue reading
Request your trial