Rowan Williams - Right Conclusion, Wrong Book

I few days ago I posted Scripture Accused of Promoting Domestic Violence.

I thought about that post again today as I read this.

In Amman Jordan, a 26 year old Muslim male has been charged with premeditated murder of his 22 year old sister. He beat her, strangled her to death, and then set her body on fire to hide the evidence. This was to protect the “family honour” due to the discovery that she was no longer a virgin. Police say there are indications that other family members were also involved.

Her loss of virginity was enough of a dishonor to the family that she needed to be brutally murdered. Then he hides the evidence. Why? Is murdering your sister a bad thing? Surely not, if it is for the sake of your family’s honor. Fornication is a disgrace, but surely murder is not.

Maybe only women are capable of bringing dishonor to their families. When was the last time you heard of a male Muslim being beaten, strangled to death, and burned because it was discovered that HE was no longer a virgin? I certainly don’t recall any instances like that.

Where was the loving father, the forgiving sibling? Where was the outreached hand, bringing her back into the family for reconciliation. Why only condemnation, anger, and hate?

Could it be because the God of Islam is a condemning, angry, hateful god? I think the Archbishop may be on to something…I think he just named the wrong book by mistake. Instead of a Bible, I think he must have been referring to the Quran.

Islam. The religion of peace.