The ‘honour killing’ of 17-year-old Banaz Mahmod‘s is a shocking story  but is it a lesson to us?

Her family had been living in the UK for 7 years when they married her off to a stranger arriving from Iraq. They did so to get respect from the immigrant community they lived in. Banaaz was repeatedly beaten and raped. Her parents responded by telling her to be a better wife. Banaz pleaded with the UK police for help on 5 occasions. They ignored her.

Banaz left her husband. One year later she was seen kissing a boy she had fallen in love with. Her family killed her. It was an ‘honour killing’. Obviously other people believed in culture before justice because An estimated 50 people in that British community knew what happened but refused to cooperate with the police.

The parent’s then wanted to kill Banaz’s ‘disrespectful’ sister.

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What is culture and should we, as South Africans, do anything about it?

Considering who the ANC government is trading more with, do you want South Africa to have, for example, Chinese and Middle Eastern communities that limit or exclude activities with South Africans?

Do you know of any local city or town that has a productive culture integration program for immigrants?

In a dream world, would you choose the liveliness of mixed cultures or would you prefer to live on an island with only your own culture and religion?

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