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Last update - 19:22 29/07/2009
Gaza father suspected of killing daughter for owning cell phone
By The Associated Press
Tags: Israel News, Human Rights 

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - A Gaza man is being held on suspicion he bludgeoned his daughter with an iron chain, cracking her skull in a particularly brutal family honor killing, two human rights groups said Wednesday, citing police and forensics reports.

The assault was triggered by Jawdat Najjar's discovery that his daughter Fadia a 27-year-old divorced mother of five - owned a cell phone, the groups said. He suspected she used it to speak to a man outside the family, according to the groups' reports.

Dr. Mohammed Sultan, who examined the victim, said her head and face were bloodied, her body covered by bruises and that she suffered internal bleeding.
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Police confirmed Wednesday that Najjar turned himself in a day after the July 23 killing but did not give details. The officer at a police station in northern Gaza spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.

Three of the woman's brothers were also detained on suspicion that they acted as accomplices, said the rights groups Mezan and the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), citing police and forensics reports. The groups did not say how they obtained the reports.

Fadia Najjar was the 10th victim of a so-called honor killing this year in the Palestinian territories and among Arab communities in Israel, according to rights groups.

In such killings, a woman's life is taken by male relatives who suspect her of inappropriate conduct. Such killings are still widespread in the Middle East, where a woman's perceived misconduct can hurt the standing of a family and where tradition says the stain can only be removed by shedding her blood.

Traditionally, assailants have received light sentences.

But the killing of Najjar shocked even activists used to detailing such crimes.

Her father used an iron chain to beat her, while also kicking and punching her for about 40 minutes until she died of a fatal blow to the head, said Mezan and the PCHR.

"It's shocking," said Samir Zakout of Mezan. "But it's not surprising because killers know they won't be punished harshly".

In the West Bank and Gaza, honor killing assailants serve between six months and three years in prison, said Mona Shawa of PCHR. Gaza is ruled by the Islamic militant Hamas, while the West Bank is run by Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Justice officials in the two territories were not available for comment.

In Jordan, officials said Wednesday they have set up special tribunals to deal with honor killings, hoping to speed up trials.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch reported Wednesday that the Syrian government abolished a law that waived punishment for some honor killings and now allows judges to sentence perpetrators to at least two years jail

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      1.   Blame it on `The Occupation` 19:25  |  Itsik 29/07/09
      2.   Yet another good reason to take thier land for no money. 19:42  |  MIKE 29/07/09
      3.   If women fought back 19:43  |  Joan 29/07/09
      4.   another gazan girl was murdered last month for brushing her teeth 19:43  |  hal tripp 29/07/09
      5.   Unacceptable Brutality 19:58  |  G 29/07/09
      6.   Will Islamic religious clerics call for arrest of the murderers? 20:51  |  Gina 29/07/09
      7.   #2 Mike - Can`t you read or understand? 20:57  |  Ibn Musa 29/07/09
      8.   Durson, Clickfool, Indrajaya...any takers? 20:59  |  Truthseeker 29/07/09
      9.   I told you, dam it! 21:24  |  Angry Arab 29/07/09
      10.   #4 21:25  |  Jack 29/07/09
      11.   RE: Jack 21:54  |  judith 29/07/09
      12.   What a nice bunch, these Gazans are? Blame it on Israel. 22:21  |  4:20 29/07/09
      13.   Interesting "Story" 22:27  |  Natallie Durson 29/07/09
      14.   Selective grouping 23:00  |  sh 29/07/09
      15.   savages? 23:11  |  Yaccov 29/07/09
      16.   #3 Truthseeker. It is a horrendous terrible crime. 23:17  |  Maureen Ann 29/07/09
      17.   ME peace is virtually impossible because... 23:28  |  bat yam 29/07/09
      18.   #1 Blame it on the Occupation 23:51  |  Ice 29/07/09
      19.   "Honor", Hamas and Occupation 00:45  |  Marko Rauhamaa 30/07/09
      20.   Wacko Jacko 01:06  |  Augie 30/07/09
      21.   Gina: don`t hold your breath 01:17  |  Rory 30/07/09
      22.   # 8 Truthseeker 01:25  |  maoriboy 30/07/09
      23.   Blame the Greeks! 01:27  |  Diana 30/07/09
      24.   It is all because of occupation - A culture of death excuse 01:45  |  Genuine Tosefta 30/07/09
      25.   Occupation is a seperate issue 02:03  |  Adam 30/07/09
      26.   Disengenuous Tosefta 03:19  |  Brad 30/07/09
      27.   Needs investigation 03:22  |  utagawa 30/07/09
      28.   Jack: Haredi vs. Pal Criminality 03:22  |  Brad 30/07/09
      29.   It is commendable that great islamic traditions are 03:42  |  17 30/07/09
      30.   An obedient Muslim doing what`s "right" 03:55  |  Free Gilad Shalit 30/07/09
      31.   This is disgusting 04:49  |  DC 30/07/09
      32.   Jordan speed up trials? Maximum jail time is 6 months by law! 04:55  |  Genuine Tosefta 30/07/09
      33.   Gaza father suspected of killing daughter for owning cell phone 05:29  |  Douglas 30/07/09
      34.   Really? 05:56  |  David R. 30/07/09
      35.   Diana, in Muslim Turkey yes, but Greece and S. Italy? 05:57  |  Genuine Tosefta 30/07/09
      36.   International misogeny 21:39  |  Bobby Sands 30/07/09
      37.   Re# 2 Sorry Mike but ... 21:52  |  Ines 30/07/09
      38.   Re # 3 Joan women don`t have the chance 21:56  |  Ines 30/07/09
      39.   #16 Maureen Ann - Since it effects you so much 01:38  |  Ibn Musa 31/07/09
      40.   #28 Brad Get Real 01:43  |  Ibn Musa 31/07/09
      41.   Asterrible as this brutal killing was itdoesn`t compare with the 01:46  |  Dutch 31/07/09
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