CEU eTD Collection BOUNDARY DISCOURSES ON “VIOLENT” CULTUREANDTRADITIONS ON“VIOLENT” DISCOURSES BOUNDARY In partial fulfillment for the degree of Master of Arts in Gender Studies in Gender ofArts ofMaster degree forthe In partialfulfillment HONOR CRIMES OFWOMEN INALBANIANHONOR CRIMES SOCIETY Supervisor: ProfessorAndrea Krizsan Second Reader:ProfessorEvaFodor Department ofGenderStudies Central European University Central Budapest, Hungary Armela Xhaho Submitted to 2011 By CEU eTD Collection women’s human rights across different cultures. different across rights human women’s asauniversalproblem of violence women against of aspect theacknowledge gendered that the narrow construction on cultural understanding of honor crimes of women fails to andperpetrators blaming the northern for perpetuatingculture suchcrimes. However, Iargue ininformants of of“violent”and cultural by terms “backward” traditions, exonerating the majority the by articulated still are society Albanian in women of crimes honor on discourses ongoing the generations that, menperceptions in of regional suggest two of Albania based the inthisstudy communities.workingon The conclusions reached intherespective periphery areas Tirana 7interviewsof with institutional and representatives key of authorities men from who have migrated northernvillages of andsouthernAlbaniaremote into findings the in from 24 interviews, interviews respectively depth generations17 two with of regional boundaries in crimesfactors thatperpetuate terms of in ofhonor. name the Idraw on crimes in of women by Albaniansociety, inparticular analyzing discourses on cultural and In this thesis, I explore perceptions of two generations of men on the phenomenon of honor Abstract i CEU eTD Collection of honor killings in Albania. killings honor of staying here in Budapest. Idedicate this thesis to my friend D.XH who was one of the victims my and throughout Evi, encouragementforAida,support (Ida, their Pavlina) Elda, Ola, husbandmy Keni, Caroline, all roommate to my friends in Budapestand inall those Albania research would have whom this without inAlbania, notand organizations allmyinformants year andto academic the been possible. Finally, allgratitude to of professors the Gender Studies whosupported me Department, throughout I am extremely advices periodhelpful of during comments whole the and Iexpressmy thesis writing. grateful to my family, FirstacknowledgeKrizsan of my Professor AndreaI wouldall, like her for to supervisor all my Acknowledgements ii CEU eTD Collection PEDXA...... 63 APPENDIX A...... 57 ...... BIBLIOGRAPHY 53 CONCLUSIONS...... ONAIS...... 42 BOUNDARIES...... AND CULTURAL OFREGIONAL CRIMES OFWOMENIN 5. HONOR TERMS CHAPTER OE NABNA OIT ...... 24 WOMEN IN ALBANIAN ...... SOCIETY NOTIONSOF SHAME:HONORCRIMES ANDCOLLECTIVE OF CHAPTER 4. HONOR H AEO HNR UTRL ICUSS N GNE ILNE...15 NAME DISCOURSESOF HONOR?AND VIOLENCE...... THE CULTURAL GENDER CHAPTER 3. THEORETICAL CONSIDERATION : WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO KILL IN AND HONOR CRIMES IN 9 THE ALBANIAN SOCIETY...... BACKGROUNDON THE SITUATIONOFVIOLENCEAGAINST WOMEN CHAPTER 2. CHAPTER 5 1. RESEARCH ...... METHODOLOGY 1 INTRODUCTION...... III TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...... II ABSTRACT...... I Table of contents “ 5.2 5.1 4.7 4.6 4.5 4.4 4.3 4.2 4.1 VERSUS RURAL VERSUS INMIGRANTS 3.5 3.4 3.3 3.2 3.1 2.2 2.1 MODERNIST 4.5.5 Socio-economic, political 35 and personal factors...... 35 4.5.4 ...... Emigration 4.5.3 Failure of state: Weakness of the laws and removal 34 of capital punishment...... 4.5.2 Albanian 33 customary law Canon...... 4.5.1 The impact of collective community, traditions and 32 “backward” culture...... P T P F T P C P R F A D W H H W ERCEPTIONS AND ONPERPETRATORS VICTIMS OFHONOR CRIMES OSSIBLE REASONS THAT PERPETUATE HONOR CRIMES OF WOMEN OSSIBLETHAT HONORCRIMES PERPETUATE REASONS OR WHOMIN THEFAMILY HONORIS IMPORTANT MOST EOPLE ERPETRATORS ORMAL ANDINFORMAL LAWS ALONG WITH IN PATRIARCHAL NORMS HE COST OFDEFENDING FAMILY HONOR HE IMPORTANCEHONOR FORSOCIAL OF OF REPUTATION ULTURALIN OF HONOR CRIMES TERMS BOUNDARIES OFWOMEN EPRESENTATION OF CASES OF HONOR CRIMES OF CRIMES OF HONOR EPRESENTATION OFCASESWOMEN IN LBANIAN ISCOURSES ONTHE ONOR CRIMES IN ONOR CRIMES OFWOMEN VERSUS VIOLENCEAGAINST WOMEN HAT INFLUENCES THE PERSONS HATTO THE PERSONS COMMITWOMEN INFLUENCES HONORCRIMES OF OMEN ’ ’ S PERCEPTIONS ONTHECODESANDS PERCEPTIONS VALUESHONOR OF IN S BODY AND SEXUALITY ” IDEOLOGIES ’ S STRUGGLES BETWEEN PRE , VICTIMSTHAT ANDWOMEN ENCOURAGE REASONS HONORCRIMES OF M USLIMAND NON “ BACKWARD ...... 45 ...... A LBANIAN SOCIETYLBANIAN ...... 15 ...... ” NORTH AND THE NORTHAND -M - USLIM COUNTRIES USLIM EXISTING : W iii HY ...... 20 ...... “ WASHING THESHAMEWITH BLOOD “ TRADITIONALIST “ MODERN ...... 27 ...... ? A : A LBANIAN FAMILY LBANIAN LBANIAN A ” LBANIAN NEWSPAPERS SOUTH ...... 16 ...... : ...... 38 ...... A M ...... 29 ...... LBANIAN SOCIETY LBANIAN ” USLIMIMMIGRANTS MENTALITIES AND A ’ ...... 42 ...... S CASE LBANIAN SOCIETY LBANIAN ...... 31 ...... ? ...... 26 ...... 18 ...... ” ....36 ...... ? .... 24 ...... 17 ...... 12 ...... 10 ... CEU eTD Collection ‘them’ as ‘primitive’ and ‘backward’. and ‘primitive’ as ‘them’ discoursesonkilling Albania in honor are explicitPublic an way whichinboundaries between‘us’ ‘civilized’perceptions. and their in traditional and patriarchal more considered are ofTirana areas peripheral in honor. of female preservation the for 2 ,required confinement assault, killings”, Welchman & Hossain, 2005 , which include a variety manifestation of violence against womensuch as “honor 1 centers urban of periphery the to north rural from migrate that northerners or Albania northern in visible more are that backwardtraditionsinherited norms and customs from social of and especially the past the mainly toIslam,butthey byAlbanianrelated patriarchal perpetuated ascrimes are perceived West, on the other hand. Eastand“superior” and“modernized” and“backward” between “primitive” dichotomy the Instead, I argue thatby a problematiccreating asinherently are portrayed Muslimsocieties Sen argues, (2005) in Albaniaas Thus, crimes. honor honorlegitimating for blamed are societies Muslim and Islam crimes when emerge of women are not cultureto andMuslim especially scholarshaveculture. Many to examinedthe that problems migrating from northern and southern villages of Albania into periphery areas of Tirana. crimes honor boundaries are in of ofmen cultural generations drawnfrom terms two of women shame” (SallyMerry Engle,2009,p130) honorand offamily inthe conceptions violence rooted ofgender aform “Honor crimesare Introduction discourses, crimes of honor are perceived to happen in those cases when men realize that menrealize caseswhen happen inthose perceivedto are ofhonor crimes discourses, with fit always informal inand most formal often the So, city. of not capital “modernity” the of discourses the do which ideologies, traditional and norms social mentalities, patriarchal Inthe general, discoursesAlbania in people from northern Albania, or highlanders who have migrated mainly In this thesis I use the term “honorcrimes of women” in the accordance with the explanation provided by Scholarly research on honor crimes pinpoints the great debate on relating such crimes such relating debate on great the pinpoints crimes honor on research Scholarly crimes honor underpin that factors underlying the examine to is study this of aim The Furthermore, while coming to the capital city, these families bring with them their 1 in Albania and specifically to explore and analyze particularly how regional and regional how particularly analyze and explore to specifically and Albania in 2 . 1 CEU eTD Collection since the reported cases of such crimes are explained by journalists andNGOrepresentatives by journalists cases areexplained ofsuch crimes since thereported institutions, state from or society and society civil are notaddressed specifically recognized degrading andinhuman than 20 years Moreover, honorcrimes ago. inof women Albanian more brutal, areconsideredeven inhonor of murders name society.the Albanian Nowadays, the in phenomenon sensitive and a widespread remain women of crimes honor violence, domestic combat andto society civil state of jointcoordination violence and domestic on child-bearing” (Engle,p. 128). 2009, and sexuality women’s about concerns “contemporary reflect which violence, gender of form a are crimes honor her to According conditions. and trends current to adapting and changing insuch infactare constantly and when practices place remote time, an unchangeable, by itunderstanding, culture portrays as of as cultural since the gendered violence constituted traditions of northern areas. However, Engle (2009) critiques the categorization of such forms and culture “violent” of name the in be tolerated to seem honor of crimes way, this In 2003). & womenBregu, 2003;Gjermeni andviolence impose on (Lubonja, oppression areas, which especiallyinnorthern past, and customs norms inherited of the and “backward”the culture binary of“modern” south north.andcategories “primitive” in this way by city, ofthecreating host values “modern” the to and adoption assimilation urban areframedcenters the presumed modernity around incompatibility of and tradition, of in periphery northerners of integration the on discourses Therefore, difficulties. more much thought to adapt more easily to dishonorthe to them, theirmodernfamily and to the entire community.values While, the younger generation of is the host city,their daughters wives, orsisters aretrying became to which emancipated, bringsof course the older generation has I choose this particular topic, because despite the ratification of different legislations different of ratification the despite because topic, this particular I choose by be areassumed to perpetuated crimes inAlbania honor abovelogic, Following the 2 CEU eTD Collection crimes of women” and “honorcrimes” only in relation to violence and crimes against women. Refugee Board of Canada , Albania Blood Feuds, May 2008. However, in this thesisfamily. I will See use fortheexample term “honor, (Krasniqi, 2003) and the report of ResearchDirectorate a result of ofthe Immigrationmurder, whichas come and is seen feuds” “blood term the as a with “deserved” coined ofhonor punishmentthe name in for explanation,murders the people Kanun’s the who According touched the honour of the incases of percieved as actions that bring dishhonor. It involves as well a murder of a man by a male member.details for 4 chapter See methodological 2009). (Engle, violence ofsuch nature gendered acknowledge 3 violence, domestic as mainly issues women’s on working regarding the understanding of honor in the Albanian context, its values, codes and its and codes values, its context, Albanian in the honor of understanding the regarding Tirana. immigrants in western northernmigratecountries Albanians,and who into outskirts of Muslim between boundaries identity cultural and regional national, between similarities the by by in or areperpetuated immigrants pay I countries Islam. attention Muslim developing to Albania in crimes honor perpetuate answerfactors what willto I societies, try crimes in on honor Muslim literature upon Building general. in women against violence from differ crimes honor ways the at also look will I crimes. such of victims and perpetrators factors, mains the as well as exploring society. In the thirdAlbaian in the chapter,relations and norms social and law informal I willformal, violence, highlight domestic on the wide body of research on honor backgroundthe on situation the inof women by society the asfocusing well in the research crimes, by and ethical dilemmas of my study. In the second chapter, I will provide a general overview on honor crimes with implicated cultural andtraditions customs inherited from past.the of is concept the how crimes honor and specifically, perpetuates on what perceptions people’s light on byshedding tothisliterature contributes My research name traditions. and culture of in the murders such legitimize society the of members some still why and society Albanian Yet, no critical arguments are provided to explain the meaning of honor and honor crimes in Nevertheless, in Albania honor killings/crimes do not imply exlusively murders of womenby a male member Howeverusing the term domestic violence not only portrays violence as a private matter, but fails to Moreover, infour,Moreover, Iwillmap differentchapter out attitudes and perceptionsmen of problems issues, themethodological will of I thesis, chapter discuss firstthe In the 4 since it is argued that most sinceitis honor crimes often inMuslim societies argued that 3 3 ormurders motivated byhonor. CEU eTD Collection support existingthe literature on honor crimes, by coming main upthe and points arguments. south andin Finally, north. the conclusion section, myfindings how Idiscuss or contradict between boundaries cultural and regional drawing for implications with along crimes, such involved asmorein toseenortherns tend andperceptions why underlying people reasons the particularly, explore I south. in the living those and north the in living people to five,chapter on Iseehowdiscourses crimeshonor are drawnby in myinformants all regard honor crimes of women, reasons and factors that support and encourage such crimes. Then,in on I exploreperceptions people’s Inthisframework, codes. honor family of “transgression” female‘s so-called the from is damaged status social whose family a men, of generations both from is how perceived ways the look at I family, members of the female of actions on the in often most depends society family the for family.the reputation Since importance 4 CEU eTD Collection http://www.botasot.info/def.php?category=6&id=111399 tradition, due to the the common touch conflicts reality modern from the migrants where a place as coming Lapraka to from refer remote People areas. Retrieved assistance. social and from infrastructure migration of people mainly from the north. It is knownas an area with highemployment, in theoutskirt of Tirana (2km poverty, away). The recent population lack ofof Lapraka is still asituated increasing, is due Lapraka to internal ties. family extended the in preserved still are customs traditional when aplace remains unemployment and poverty. Due to migration of people from remote villages (especially from north), Domje 7 period. communist of experience the and age to inaccordance perceptions their generationborn before 1966falls in the age group between45 to70years old.In this way I caneasily compare theyoungerThus, generation bornafterthe year 1981 fall age group inthe years 15toolder old 30 and often in Albania this period is 6 mentioned alsomethodological chapterasfor more a information).way to differentiatetwo informants Adi, 15 andbetween Altin ,16 years old because thethe interviews two were poor in informationgenerations (Referto 5 of people. and the from north the there havemany people migrated since be heterogonous, likely to is in most internal parts these migration population peripheral areas of isthatdueto Tirana for2 hours. choosing Thereason from 1 to varied interviews the length of areas. The and with personal snowballthe through inthe networks method, NGOsworking the contacts wereselected ofinformants group target and second first the the women. Both, of crimes honor perceptionsunderstand in-depth meregarding andattitudes allowed informant’s to interviews of types these In addition, in answer flexibledetail. to be more to respondents of NGOs, teachers, social workers who work in these areas (see appendix A ). directors officer, police council, commune from representatives and professionals authorities, interviews semi-structured method. Moreover, Iusedethnography as a methodological approach,based inon 17 depth, underpin crimes honor of inwomen Albanian society the I usedthe qualitative research Chapter 1. Researchmethodology authorities in the respective communities. respective in the authorities and Domje) areas and of from of peripheral (Lapraka Tirana north into the south Albania remote areas Domje is located in the Commune of Berxull (8 km away from Tirana). It is a place with high level of As a logical divisionof age between the two generations of men, Itook theperiod of communism since most from information take not I did ofmen, generations two with interviews 17 overall I conducted though Even I have chosen open-ended, semi-structured interviews since I expected the interviews Iexpected since I havechosen semi-structured open-ended, Since in study this I explore onthe people’s underlyingperceptions factors that 6 , as well as 7 in depth interviews with the representatives of the key institutional key the of representatives the with interviews depth in 7 as well as , 5 with older and younger generation of men, who have migrated have who men, of generation younger and older with 7 This target group This target involved local government 5 ; http://www.forumishqiptar.com/showthread. CEU eTD Collection such answeringas not the questions clearly,shifting the topic something to losing else, of the (mainly from youngsters years15-17 provide didold) not anin-depth analysis. Problems Tirana. I was concernedmy informants,as well from with differentiation and who separation of kind a as the came perceived been have might quality areas from urban from remote of therural interviews, areas of Albania, since to somelive inof suburban women. the of honor and sexuality of men areas of was my how afraid mightinfluencedgender while have maleinformants, issues talking about ofI Tirana, inoutskirts role expectations gender fact of traditional the Given a difference”. makedoes interviewer respondent “thethe andof out and sex pointthe of Frey (2003, p.64), implicationsconcerned the about my Asof position during Fontana gendered the interviews. female researcherinterviewing only male (in informants firstthe targetgroup), Iwas a was I Since researcher: female a Being mention. briefly Iwill which fieldwork, my during provided from an Albanian NGO, Gender Alliance and Development Centre. Development and Alliance Gender NGO, Albanian an from provided 8 2004. also some of main the newspapersdaily inAlbania for period, the January 2000- December newspapers, reports and studies form NGOs were used as part of this thesis. Ihave monitored academics onexisting on work honor crimes of articleswomen such asbooks, from journals of secondary the data Furthermore, normsandtraditions. social due totheir “backward” beandfor violent onesto held the crimes responsible uneducated stereotyped as, negatively south of Albania. In the general discourses, these people (mainly those from the north) are In these daily newspapers, I see the representation of honor killings in Albania. These newspapers were newspapers These in Albania. killings ofhonor representation I seethe newspapers, daily these In 8 Unequal relationship: rural/urban : My position as a young, educated female Unequal ayoung, rural/urban My position relationship: as coming : educated Due to the sensitivity of my research topic, I noticed some concerns and implications, 6 CEU eTD Collection hierarchical power relation. Since, they were in a more powerful position Iwas than moreposition powerful ina were they Since, relation. hierarchical power pointduring the interviews with institutional the inauthorities the community was the During the interviews, I observed that some of found expressof During some difficulties themen the to interviews, Iobserved that defensivemight be response interviewer’s unconvincing. and subjects short, embarrassing outsiders. with issues such isasa Albania insexuality topictaboo somehow andconsidered hesitate to talk about people informants with embarrassing questions such as sexuality. As I mentioned before, the issue of confrontisit the to believe that also difficult topic, I be asensitive could considered elections. commune councils due tothe disturbed situation in Albania with upcomingthe local Icould interviewnot Moreover, the headof andinformants. betweenresearcher encounter informants. As Portellisituation might havebeen inbuildingproblematic an relationship equal and interaction with (1998) notes, unequal hierarchy of power can create barriers in the mightinterview have process. relationship andthe difference the negatively affected mighthaveme manyAlbania; if informants as “outsider”. such perceived Iwasconcerned an (rural areas), age (especially with theolder generation) or gender differences . 13 interview many times, because I had quite comfortable interviews with other professionals. 12 different explanationfrom another outside perspective of key actors in these communities. information to perceptions of men. I tried to explore thesis. andmy 5 of explain chapter the the issue in ofmore honor crimeselaborated by I have looking which at north, 11 the in traditions old-fashioned the about 10 of number total the increasing and interviews talk to especiallylike with the youth.interviewees that areas finding approach, another to moving 9 answers andso on were prevalentduringinterviews. the in-depth and short providingmeaning narration very of not topic, duringparticular the However, while working with uncooperative interviewees I tried to develop certain coping strategies such as such strategies coping certain develop to Itried interviewees uncooperative with working while However, This situation is even more difficult when we take into considerationother their factors such cancelled as who geographic location of organizations, directors and authorities, government local for mainly talking Iam Interviews with the key institutional authorities incommunity were more as supportivetalking when and additionalmodern look to trying were north) the from (mainly informants the of many that observed I Reluctance to answer to sensitive questions and ethical dilemmas: Since my research Since dilemmas: ethical and questions sensitive answer to to Reluctance Problems in institutional interviewing the key inauthorities community North versus South dilemmas: Since, I was born and raised in a southern city of 13 As Ritchie out,while (1995)points with confronting 7 9 11 : A critical 10 12 , this , CEU eTD Collection skip toanother topic in order to avoid direct answers. 14 duringkeep eye hesitated Many informants to question. contact these instead ofvirginity infidelity “infamy”or such “pure”or as “shameful “foolishness” act”. words other use answers, give short to tried men older especially the themselves clearly, I observed this even among some of younger informants. See chapter 4 for more details. more 4 for See chapter informants. younger of some among even this observed I 8 14 Some of them tried to CEU eTD Collection taking an oath of celibacy. For more information on Albanian sworn virgins see Young, 2001. Young, see virgins sworn Albanian on information more For of celibacy. oath an taking 15 1998). a long history domination of and control over women Intelektuale, 2001;Grate (Young, killing cases in Albania. Albania bymonitoring the representation of some of mainthe newspaperarticles honor on relation and traditional norms of the past. I explore also the phenomenonsocial law, of customary honorinformal crimes law, in formal Albanian to attention pay I framework, this In Albania. in crimes honor and violence domestic on information as well as society and family provide socio-theoreticalpositionnecessary forthe in ageneral to of women background the the Albanian society Chapter 2. Background onthesituationofviolence against womenand honorcrimes in there are also a considerable number of women that have died due to direct actions of actions direct dueto have died that of women number a considerable also are there abused them(Haxhiymeri,Burazeri, show Bregu,& data Gjermeni Other Picari,that 2006). Albanian64 % resulted that of were surveyed, that theirhusbandwomen that had admitted in by Association “ Dhamo, astudy Moreover, conducted the 2009,p.21). (Haarr & againstwomen prevalence violence the was 31,2% of that reported physical even nowadays & (Haarr Dhamo, 2009).Arecentsurvey violenceon domestic in 2009, problem widespread be and aserious to continues domestic violence suggestthat andreports statistics many inAlbania, onthedomestic arenosurveys accurate though, there violence Even authority. male challenge to try they if harsh, very punished are they otherwise, fathers; or husbands bytheir approval get should they action every for since violated, physically and are emotionally women Albanian Miria argues that (1996) Moreover, (Baban, 2003). back in date Albanianyears society traditions over is ago oldthe that 1000 deeply rooted Years ago, the only way for women to enjoy rights, was to become “sworn virgins” or “socially men”, by 15 Albanian society patriarchal which,Albanian mentality men society have reflects astrong according to is it society, Albanian in crimes honor and honor of concept the understand to order In Despite the recent changes and developments trends, the patriarchal mentality of mentality patriarchal the trends, developments and changes recent the Despite 9 Refleksione” CEU eTD Collection are punished by imprisonment from are punishedfrom by imprisonment years 15-25 (QPZ,2004). murder arepunished 20years from 10 to of Underprison. article 78pre-meditated homicides a purposeful commit individuals that 76, article Under contraventions. criminal sentences Criminal AlbaniaCode of defines Republicthe the of (1995) acts and criminal, penal processes such astheto file right legally asuitjudge (QPZ,2003).Third,or perpetrators the 2011). theSecond, Civil recognizes(QPZ), in women’s (2001) rights legal Code all the dignity,human and rights fundamental freedom of individuals (Qendra e Publikimeve Zyrtare of and protection issues therespect It menandwomen. between non-discrimination and Albanianlegalthe sanctionshighestthat theprincipleFirst,equality is Constitution act of the gender equality.combatencourage violencewomen againstand institutional aimto policies seen under the framework of domestic violence and as such formal legal laws and 2.1Formal and informal laws alongwithpatriarchal norms inAlbanian society murders on honor, blood feud and revenge. international legal standards on anti-discrimination and gender equality that are crucialto equality andthat gender anti-discrimination on legal standards international the to in accordance is law This Albania. in violence domestic combat to initiatives legal ismostsuccessful of consideredone (2007) Violence” the MeasuresagainstDomestic “For by honor; and crimes 36honor in 2009 motivated murders were32 in2008,there outthat, points (CNR) Nationwide Reconciliation of Committee The problematic. remains Albania in crimes honor of prevalence the even concluding that was “he gravely offended by victim’sthe behaviour”, Diella, 09.2010 saw her getting out of a car at 4 AM. The Court condemned the perpetratorwith onlyprescribes. 16 months For ofexample, prison, the fatherexecuted R.Q a 16 years old girl, living in the outskirts of Tirana because19 he 18 17 examination of 6 206 dead bodies,20.65% of women died have dueviolence (Zeneli, p. 28).n.d, 16 violence weremen andinmostof p. 28).n.d, the perpetrators cases the (Zeneli, However, there have been cases of honor killings of women, when perpetrators are sentenced less than the law the than less sentenced are perpetrators when of women, killings honor of cases been have there However, Information from UK Border Agency, 2011. Statistics on honor killings in Albania include both murders of men and of women at the same time. According to the Medico-LegalService in Tirana,during a period of 40 years (1958-1977) from the As I argued previously inAs Iarguedpreviously of honorcrimes in Albania introduction, the women are 17 18 andbetween 1990 and2009 10000 were there 10 19 Fourth, the Albanian the Fourth, law 16 However, CEU eTD Collection customary law known as Canon of Leke Dukagjini. in from Albanian back15-thcentury,exclusion tothe of society the practice date the by punished death (Elezi, andwomenof 1997).Theroots subordinate status theirsocial was family the of honor the endanger to tried that person any that claimed Canons Albanian the name of honor from the revitalization of Canon are depicted not only in north but as well as but north in only not depicted are Canon of revitalization the from honor of name the few in crimes past the years, areas.During in norms rural especially Canon of revitalization Rights, 2006).Dervishi(2001)points outthat,duringyears,itis the last8 observed a even years eradicateits30 of not communism Advocates for Human normsdid (Minnesota hospitability (Dervishi, 2001). husbandthe legitimizes and justifies Canon Moreover, 2003). (Baban, tonurturance and domesticity of beats up or property menof (Gellci, 2005,kills p.22) who are supposed to follow their traditional gender roles his wife under circumstances of adultery and dignity person,whichthe of in was expressed alsodifferentold proverbs betrayaland honor personal of protection the is society Albanian of values traditional important of if she is found guilty forinfidelity orbetrayal of hospitability the husband can shoot herwith the bullet. 24 for regulating all aspects of life among people living in north Albania (see,e.g, Doll, 2003; Durham, 1908). on. so 23 and more” you love beats, who one “The honor” the 22 21 http://daccess-ods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?Open&DS=CEDAW/C/ALB/1-2&Lang=E see Albania in Women against Violence 20 of life. governmentprotectaimsand women’s to promote and rights in genderequality all spheres AgainstDiscrimination Women” ratified by Law No.7767in by 1993 Albanian the each country (Haarr & Dhamo, 2009). Finally, “Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Under Canon, before the wedding day, the parents of the bride put one bullet in their doughter’s dowry. So, Canonof Leke Dukagjini is a customary law practiced since the end of 15-th century. Canon was for responsible only lives person “The dishonored”; and alive than rather honor, with and dead “Better as such Proverbs Scanderbeg. of Canon of Laberia, Canon Dukagjini, Leke Canon as Such For more informationon the periodical reports of CEDAW and on the Declaration on the Eliminationof 20 Furthermore, in Albanian customary/informal laws in customary/informal Albanian Furthermore, 24 The impact of Canon in the social life was so strong that strong so was life social the in Canon of impact The http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/3b00f25d2c.html 11 23 Under Canon, women are considered a are considered women UnderCanon, 21 , one of the most prominent and prominent most the of one , 22 (Elezi, 1997). CEU eTD Collection 2011-vrasjet-me-mizore 25 the “Jealousy Some ofthemain are: massacres January-December 2000-2004. period titles in Albanian somedaily Ihave monitored press, of themain Albaniannewspapersduring the 2.2 Representation of cases of honor crimes of women inAlbanian newspapers 2001). (Dervishi, villages inthe especially family, in the members female other and sisters their many especiallyjustify parents, fathers, and push sons into sometimes their violence towards 2005, p.101). of In honor family “endangered”place” their the this tensioned climate, (Kore, their sister had ashamed sincehadAlbania village of with relationship a boy. intimate behavior The“immoral” she of them in thein a sister eyes their killed brothers two ofexample, For family. the the to shame brings village, sister their if sincehonor family’s their they“save” to “duty” the have killedbrothers older the when decade, last the during her to “put in its more hasbeen even enforced (Dervishi,This perception female member family 2001). the of act” of a from “dishonored brought a shame the “wash itaway” serves to when legitimized from the traditional norms as an immoral behavior. Therefore, violence against women is family (Gellci,Given Kore’s logic, 2005). (2005)the Albanian society considers deviancethe their of dignity and honor the “violated” have might behaviors by their whom family, the of headthe of household whohas legitimate rights topunish evenby death othermembers of embedded inthe tradition mentality,and patriarchal the unquestioned which reinforce power are considered evenmore primitive, brutal and inhuman even though sentenced more. honor crimes of Nowadays, have migrated. northerners of where parts Albania as insouthern Information Retrieved on May 09, 2011 from http://open.data.al/lajme/lajm/id/134/lang/en/Gjakmarrja-me- In order to give a general overview for the representation of honor crimes of women In many violentfamilycases, by arecrimes perpetuated moral norms deeply , and (IMIR) (2004). 12 25 CEU eTD Collection “dishonor” “dishonor” familythe is punishedby death. might which route” “normal the from suspicion any and house the of men the of monitoring permission and so on. Therefore, all women’s behavior seems to be under strict control and with jealousy,a man, infidelity,marital seekingleaving divorce, house the without “deviances”females of from normsthe of familythe such as: havingsuspecting or anaffair merited death”. Wenot because the place. regret do she its in honor the put to shooting, than solution other no was “It said: perpetrator the of brother decision, hedidhis duty parentas a good whoof dishonoreda daughter the family”, andthe “the right the by fatherWhile of declaring: took sister justified victim thethe murder the Moreover, “The father shoots his daughter because she left home without his permission”. family” his and daughter herboyfriend”, his his confession to tribe: “My dishonored daughter the then he chopped her with an axe as the only way putto honor in its place” for “honor” askingweeks his permission”. without two trying to burn them alive. them burn to trying womenand girls inother inhuman and degrading wayswith ax orkill hammer, family chopped of the with knives members orby male even Nowadays, 1995). et al., (Danemark husbands their cheated had they if death to 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 she havinganaffair” was sledge hammer:Suspected wife and the daughter[...]suspectedin infidelity the hisof wife” In fact, I was surprised to find out that many years ago in Albania2004 February 5 women Shqiptare” were “Gazeta publicly humiliated or stoned “Gazeta Shqiptare” 12May 2000 “Panorama” 27 July 2003 “Gazeta Shqip” 12 February 2000 2001 5December “Republika” 2004 October 16 “Panorama” 2001 9October Shqiptare” “Gazeta “Republika” 15 November2001 2003 February 14 “Panorama” From these cases, we see that honor crimes of women are justified form so-called the form justified are women of crimes honor seethat cases,we these From 32 ; “Massacre after the divorce, man kills his wife, his mother in law and himself” and in law mother his wife, his kills man divorce, the after ; “Massacre 29 ; “Man killed his wife because she had filed for divorce” she hadfiled because his ; “Man wife killed 35 28 Three brothers killed their sister and her lover her and sister their killed brothers Three 13 27 34 ; “Man kills wife: She left home for 26 ;“Husband hits wife with a 30 ; “She onhim cheated 31 ; “The father kills father ; “The 33 . CEU eTD Collection to such crimes. to have urban centers all contributed into areas from people of rural migration such asinternal factors other Moreover, past. the of customs traditional and Canon law customary Albanian along of from practice past, and with the embeddedandinherited the norms are deeply values mentalities, Patriarchal women. and men both for expectation role gender traditional logic of patriarchal and misogynistic model of the family, which strongly the follow preserves still the Albanians Many honor. of name in the crimes here including women, against head powerful family position inferior and of the reserve an for women violence encourages In conclusion, we can say that Albanian patriarchal mentality that supports men as the 14 CEU eTD Collection example of example of controldesire female to sexuality,autonomy (Siddiqui, Engle, 2009), 2005; Therefore,Mrad, 2005,p.112). honor many crimes arguethat authors arethemost explicit honor, “bound safeguarditfor to men’sthe sake under penalty of death” (Hoyek, Sidawi and body belongs to her body woman’s is herfamily and lateron property the considered when of her she marries, husband. Thus, her from transgression such normsis seen violation as a her of femininity (Cewla, 2005).A responsibility any virtuous, always as areportrayed women Since andspace. public in identity private lies on a preservation traditional women’s for basis the are societies many in shame and honor of codes The of her sexual (Sen, ofhonor” 2005,p.50). of involve forcephysical code the killingthetransgressor may dishonor: that brought have actions imputed or actual whose a person over coercion physical dishonor, bothgendered andlocally defined, through use the emotional,of social and (Haile,p.12). 2007, in5000 girls year every nameofhonor worldwide that estimated andwomen are killed the 36 (Siddiqui, 2005) honor” “lost perceived torestore inthe order namehonor, of inthe shame, they are killed “damage” the social reputation familyof the in community the by provoking of a source 2005). If women “violate” the laws unwritten andcodes whichof honor, are perceived to iscommunity preserved through sexualthe behaviors femaleof members(Engle, 2009; Sen, 3.1 Women’s body and sexuality Cultural discourses and gender violence. Chapter 3. Theoretical consideration :Whatdoes it mean tokillinthename of honor? Siddiquii is one of the leading scholars on honor killings of womenespecially among Muslim immigrants Crimes of honor are defined as “actions that remove from a collectivity the stain of stain the from a collectivity remove that “actions definedas are honor Crimes of Many authors argue that in many societies the honor of the man, family and 36 . Although there are no meaningful statistics on honor killings, itis 15 CEU eTD Collection characteristics and need a different action plan than ‘domestic violence’, but on the other hand other critics other hand other the on but violence’, ‘domestic than plan action a different need and characteristics related certain have crimes such since, crimes’ ‘honor term of the use the suggest groups advocacy as a “gendered- based violence” or as“gender violence” (Engle, 2009, p.28). 2009, (Engle, violence” or as“gender violence” based a“gendered- as 37 women’s violence asinstances of gender violence against movement international from defined are crimes honor framework, ageneral In 3.2 Honor crimes of women versus violence againstwomen movementsof patterns and language (Coomaraswamy reproductive power (Ruggi, 2000)and wholethe range of women’s behaviors,including here not recognized specifically. are they since framework, violence domestic the under particularly treated are crimes honor society even in 2007; (Haile, 2009).AsIhaveargued Chesler, in theintroduction, Albania aboyfriend,husband or crime,sometimes is regretthe by who which punishedstrictly the considered more anindividual committed mainlyreaction from impulsivebehavior ofa which sometimes On them consider as heroes. hand, other the is domestic violence a community, of principles collective and honor family of victims as themselves see rather most often by women’s fathers, brothers or relatives, who usually do notregret the crime, but domestic violence. are different reasons mentioned by many authors, who differentiate honor crimes from There &Yurdakul,2001). (Sever address themspecifically to or violence women, domestic against consider crimes onlyasviolence such is Still, whetherornoto adebate p.127). there women safeguard, to andcontrol […] designed restrict, women’s sexuality” (Engle,2009, of behaviors modest and moral constitute that acts desirable as“socially areseen which practices”, traditional “harmful of larger spectrum of the as part activists by international crimes aretypically represented However,honor (Welchman &Hossain,Engle, 2009). 2005; 38 In accordance with international movement against women’s violence I will refer to violence against women against violence to refer will I violence women’s against movement international with accordance In There is a controversial debate whether or no to use the term ‘honor crimes’ or ‘domestic violence’. Many violence’. ‘domestic or crimes’ ‘honor term the use to or no whether debate controversial a is There On the one hand, honor crimes are supposed to be carefully planed and committed 38 The problem might be that crimes seen under the label of label the under seen crimes that be might problem The 16 , 2005). 37 and violation of human rights human of violation and CEU eTD Collection 40 39 violence. Further elaborationof gendered on form thisa are topic crimes is beyond honor that the is scope my argument of this though thesis.even crimes, such on arguing scholars of these terms, in this thesis Iuse the term honorcrimes/killings mental in accordanceabuse, drug with the terms and used by alcohol many so problems( see,e.g.,Gjipali and on&Ruci,1994). unemployment, However, having differencesmind the in as implications and such factors socio-economic other to even often most related ‘domestic violence’which term portraysthe Moreover, violence of women. as a privatecrimes’ ‘honor matterwith more encourage to individualistic perceived are which notions traditions might be of community, the influence supposed the and aspect gendered the hinder might violence’ ‘domestic term the society, Albanian the to reference in that I believe 2010). (Terman, culture Muslim negatively stereotype crimes’ ‘honor that argue daughters, sisters or wives) are most often victims of honor crimes 3.3 Perpetrators, victimsandreasons encouragethat honor of crimes women According to her, honor crimes are an explicitform of gender violence (2009). modernity”. of “civilizingneeding process” the asbackwardand assumed implicitly themin“locates culture an unchanging it since “harmful” traditional practices crimes to Practice”, Sally Marry pinpointsEngle theimplications(2009, p.26) for assigning honor A “Gendered Cultural violence. Inherbook gendered of Violence: tothe emphasis aspect mightemphasize andby “honor” more “backwardculture” traditions, the less paying (Welchman & Hossain, 2005). From the above examples, we can understand how women’s how understand can we examples, above the From 2005). & Hossain, (Welchman crimes such with associated are suicides female Finally, community. inthe reputation such in crimes name the honor of (Cewla,since 2005), theymightdamage women’s (Robbers,Sometimes, 2008). might rumors become a necessary justification perpetuate to marriage refusing a forced or 2005), seeking divorce(Cewla, beingsubject2005), of rape, boyfriend,not dressing appropriately, decidingone’s for own (Welchmanpartner & Hossain, dishonor man,family tothe community,withoutsuch as or permission, out going having a bring to supposed are that actions other many for even honor of name in the killed are infidelitymarital and loss of virginity 2005;Coomaraswamy,(Sen, However, women 2005). male members(Cewla,2005). There are few cases in Muslim countries when women were involved in crimes of However, honorin (Cewla, Albania 2005). men are also victims of honorcrimes, a phenomenon knownas “blood feud”. Many studies in Muslim countries show that female members of the family (mothers, 40 Among the main reasons that perpetuate honor crimes are 17 39 perpetuatedmainly from CEU eTD Collection Islam Middle Eastern andcultures (Sen, 2005;Chesler, 2009). to related aspractices primarily suchcrimes associate that andpreoccupations controversies 3.4 Honor crimes inMuslim and non-Muslim countries: Albanian’s case Muslim culture, which I will elaborate below. and (Islam) religion to related is women of crimes honor encourage that factors possible level, class position. Finally, one the most contemporary and complicated debate on the international discourses by the late twentieth century saw honor crimes as a phenomenon as crimes honor saw century twentieth late the by discourses international (Welchman & Hossain, 2005; Coomaraswamy honorkillings toother social,that andpolitical arerelated suggested economic reasons justification 2005;Welchman(Sen, &Hossain, different2005). Moreover, studies have that offer mitigation of perpetrators of honor crimes by using the violation of honor as customary laws (Cewla, 2005),butalso in legal the juridicalcodes or andactions decisions 2005, p.51). Other authorsargue normsthat honor andcodes aremanifestedof not only in claims andnorms of society the maintainto apowerful familiarstructure (Ruggi, 2005;Sen, Kingdom Netherland and Sweden(Coomaraswamy Yemen, Morocco as well asin many immigrant Muslim minorities incountries such as Germany, France United 41 attitudes and beliefs (Coomaraswamy justified ideamost showthatsuchcrimesare often Many studies the with “cultural” of other honor crimes areHoyek,Gellci,2005 Sidawi andMrad,2005;(MiddleEast), (Albania). such crimes. Some of the worldthe maintain the idea thatcommunity playspressure animportant role inencouraging main scholars that mention community aspunished. the main influence men’s from normsany isharshly the areunder and “deviance” control actions behaviors and of Prevalence of honor killings are depicted in Muslim countries such as Turkey, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Turkey, as such countries Muslim in depicted are killings ofhonor Prevalence The existing literature on honor crimes of women reports the contemporary the women reports crimes of honor on literature The existing A considerable number of literature on honor crimes of women in different parts of parts in different women of crimes honor on literature of number A considerable , 2001; Arsovska, 2006) that sustain patriarchal the that Arsovska, 2006) 2001; , 2001). 18 , 2001) such 2001) poverty,ignorance,as educational 41 For instance, western For CEU eTD Collection in the scope of my research. For more information on the issue, see Welchman& Hossain, 2005. 43 research. this of scope the beyond is information Further itself. culture western or societies, such homogenize and universalize it by benevolent strives to pinpoint acommon problem (implications for relating honor killings to Muslim world), they might presume an ‘orientalist’ assumption. Yet, I believe that eventhough such terms might be motivatedin ainterchangeable way as referring to a unity and sameness among suchplaces, might ‘Araband be world’, in aninterchangeableproblematic way discussingwhile aboutbecause honorkillings of women. Using such terms 42 societies “otherness” Consequently, (Kressel, andcrimes Feldner, 2000). 1981; andMuslim Islam “backwardness”, societies, Islamic to thatwasrelated something thewest, happening outside power andpower social and inany violation dominance” ofmarriagecodes in can result an honor ‘social’ of structures “material the maintaining in important very is honor in India, example For Jafri, andfaiths religious classes (Gill,different 2008). (Chesler,2009),cultures, 2009; peasantsocieties (Peristianny, 1996)such as Albania (Patel & aswell Gadit, across 2008), as Mediterranean 2010) Korteweg, Indiaand Northern (Yurdakul Europe, America, Southern places, placetake to such as Latin suchcrimes Muslim identity,continue eveninother since intoconsideration the existence of such crimes in other non-Islamic societies. take fails fighting since implications argues crimes to such for asSen creates (2005) culture, crimes with Islam and “backward” Muslim culture in opposition to the “superior” west is the problem crimes.honor Nevertheless, that by honor asperpetuating culture relating Muslim and see Islam that studies those of approach narrow inthe criticism debate and Qur’an tradition. and prophetic Haile out,such (2007)points forbiddenpractices in Islam and mentionedare are not in & practice (Welchman Hossain, 2005;Coomaraswamy Hussain,Sen, 2005; 2006; and “backward”. inherently problematic in aleading (2005), movementargues, as againstwomen violence activist international the I found many different interpretation of Qur’an in terms of honor killings of women but such analysis is not is analysis such but of women killings of honor terms in of Qur’an interpretation different many found I I want to pinpoint the implications of many scholars for using terms such as‘Muslim/Islamic societies’, ‘East’ In fact, evidence shows that honor crimes are not limited to countries with strong with countries to limited not are crimes honor that shows evidence fact, In However, a growing body of research rejects the idea honor of crimes as an Islamic 42 are blamed for perpetuating and legitimating honor killing of killing areblamed legitimating honor of and perpetuatingwomen, for and asSen 43 What is clear from the above arguments is the ongoing is the arguments above the from is clear What 19 , 2001). As 2001). CEU eTD Collection boundaries, emphasized similarity and tolerance among majority and immigrant culture. assimilationwas possible only through adaption of majority values such as langue and norms and the blurred 45 ways than others as places with strong Muslim identity. mostly of catholic faith. In this chapter I would refer to places that institutionalize religion (Islam) in stronger transformationindex.de/fileadmin/pdf/Gutachten_BTI2010/ECSE/Albania.pdf from Retrieved practice. religion on tolerance a exist it 44 in language, culture and terms culture, religion. of immigrant of that boundaries brightpopulation. Theyfoundandmajority were out amongblurred drawn majority in the immigrant Muslim on women of killings honor of discourses media public on immigrantMuslims in the Netherlands and Germanyby (2006) drew Yurdakul and Korteweg wholethe community immigrant Korteweg, 2010).A and (Yurdakul qualitative study on immigrant whichmarginalize culture aspartof ofhonor ways toexcuse“backward” crimes rural migrants inAlbanian society 3.5 Cultural intermsboundaries of crimeshonor of women: immigrants Muslim versus of familythe depends on community the (Nixon, respect 2009). reputation arepunished a immediately, honor good since are seen“damaging” thefamily as that actions women’s Subsequently, of community. in eyes the force asasocial honor family talking about the notion of shame in Albanian society, Nixon (2009) asserts the importance of women in cases behaviors,“deviant” of asIhave arguedin introductionthe While chapter. & Bregu, 2003).In Albania, customary the law is Canon very forclear punishmentthe of imposecultural that traditions oppression violence onwomen and (Lubonja, 2003; Gjermeni for Muslimcountries. 2005,p.309). (Chakravarti, communities Muslim or Sikh Hindu, in happens if it matter no crime, boundaries rendered responsible ethnicity,national origin, religion (Islam) asthe main causes While, bright boundaries emphasized sharp differences among immigrant and majority culture and as such Even thoughAlbania is a country with the majority of populationMuslim, it is known as a secular place ,since In countries where is an immigrant population, “cultural relativism” is used in many in used is relativism” “cultural population, immigrant an is where countries In Islam it case was the to seen as related not are as crimes in Albania honor In contrast, 44 Honor crimes of women in Albania are justified as part of inherited of part as justified are Albania in women of crimes Honor 20 http://www.bertelsmann- . Yet, people in northern Albania are Albania in northern people Yet, 45 On one hand, bright hand, Onone CEU eTD Collection coutries and the EU. the and coutries 47 (Yurdakul and Korteweg,009). boundaries bright to the comparison in weaker considered were boundaries such and themselves German than 46 “primitive”, “silly”, with as well as coined is which but, highlander of form short the They south. a identified or is most often are derogatory as “highlanders” “malok”term that patriarchal and traditionalin their andattitudes than perceptions came who those from the more areconsidered andDomje) here Lapraka (including peripheral areas of Tirana inmigrants Albanian society itself. Many people from whonorth, rural the havemigratedin southern and northern among boundaries identity cultural and regional of terms in drawn prohibited potential solutions (Krizsan inet al., 2007). Verloo, normssocial of asthe byholdingcause of responsible certain people groups problem the furtherconsideringAgain, norms as theauthors argued, traditions, and taboos”. cultural specific norms social within of the was society”, which course relatedtotheir“existing “immigrant problem”,since it considered “aproblem as specific was having of social groups showed that the practice of honorcarried byKrizsan, Bustelo, Hadjigianni,& Komoutsi (as cited 2007,p.151) in Verloo, killings as a form of domestic violence was framed as an women human rights 2006). and(Yurdakul Korteweg, of honor killings and on otherthe hand, boundaries blurred the emphasized violation the of east and west. “modern” east “backward” between opposition abinary create killings honor of in terms “others” of notions the Therefore, “we” as “others”. them and of thedifferentiation maintained through are and“West” “East” between imbalances The power culture. immigrant of the “inferiority” the how theexample dominant hierarchy culture displays acultural to superiority as and opposed The authors analyzed the frames on domestic violence policy by examining national debates in six European six in debates national byexamining policy violence domestic on frames the analyzed authors The However, an important point tobe made is Germanthat Turks were more likely to draw blurred boundaries In this framework, it is interesting to compare how honor killings discourses are In a similar way, a study on the analysis of frames in domestic violence policy violence in domestic frames of analysis the on study a way, asimilar In 21 46 Obviously, this study is Obviously, study this aclear 47 , CEU eTD Collection migrated to the rural areas of Tirana. areas rural the to migrated have areas remote other and Albania North from people many 90s, the After policies. ofstate negligence and , due to their long history of isolation during communist regime, lack of infrastructure , unemployment, poverty 48 women’s issues, Shkalla (2008) arguesthatwhen people from areas rural remote come to villages from Albaniaespecially North (Lubonja&Salvatici,An 2000). Albanian scholar on mainly in the mentality inof kept traditional which appearance results the centers) the urban from to fastareas renderrural (migration urbanization uncontrolled and responsible authors other crimes, honor that perpetuate factors main of the as one is mentioned Canon though, Even countries. in western the integration immigrant of Muslim the case itwas as “them”, and “us” between exist that boundaries the more even reinforce south “civilized” and north onthe“backward” thediscourses So, Canon. law customary Albanian the honor against women due to their patriarchal mentalities and legitimization suchof crimes on violence:in drawn to regard north, and “backward” south “modern” on binary discourses and explanation cultural forthe observed implications p.55), the category of “educated” society. In fieldher in (2008, research Albania Schwandner-Sievers partof by more socalled andthe marginalized other humiliated process; they are often integration the on difficulties face serious people these city. Therefore, capital the of “values” the in to accordance be andeducated helped need to who ones asthe them they perceive institutions otherstate from NGOs or focus in particularly migrant such population, since badaclashthe create mentalities. whichof and programs things, Special of course attention and andall with bringing crimes the peoplethem asoccupyingterritories perceive their these and“uncivilized”. “uneducated” In fact people living in Northern Albania have had less opportunities for a better future in comparison to south to comparison in future better a for opportunities less had have Albania Northern in living people fact In Moreover, people from the north are stereotypically blamed for committing crimes of crimes committing for blamed stereotypically are north the from people Moreover, inthesouth…). from a ‘cultured’ self differentiated (particularly country. Theimputedly primitive andbackward ‘internal can other’ in the be thus crimes for responsible held illegitimately) often (and conveniently ‘Chechens’ called derogatorily and occasionally are who north, the in nationals Urban Albanians and southern today assign or ‘Malok’ (‘those from the mountains’), and who are also 48 Many in residing inhabitants peripheral areas of Tirana 22 kanun practices to their fellow- CEU eTD Collection classes. and religions cultures, different across violence form gender of another are such crimes that fail shouldacknowledge crimes;culture be honor blamed for encouraging we otherwise, to we rely on cultural itis if from problematic abovearguments, fluid.Therefore,quite the and than rather fixed understandingpopulation init theAlbanianframes case, andthem their culture ashistorically unchanged of honor crimes.negative viewon immigrantthe population, and Iwould addhere migrant alsothe Neither Muslim culture, nor Albanian important to note that in my research such binary discourses were drawn among Albanians themselves. Albanians among drawn were discourses binary such inmy research that to note important it is However, “modern”. and “civilized” more as themselves portrayed hand other the on and “patriarchal” and “primitive” more as country their in Montenegrins and Albanians portrayed who by Bosnians articulated Herzegovina” Helms (2008, Bosnia- p.110) –Majority Muslim shows in Balkanism how and binary Orientalism, discourses Gender, Kiss: on West modernity/tradition, and “East research east/westethnographic were 49 south. logic follows in publicthe discourse between Albania north and“primitive” “modernized” same hand.The other Westandthe on East between is created binary Islam,a than to crimes Muslim-dominant societies. As I have argued until now, the problem is that if we relate honor the to restricted and Islam with crimes such relating for implications the pinpoint crimes 2008). (Shkalla, lead phenomenon the re-traditionalisation of to to their which customs, previous prevent destructionthe of patriarchal and traditional values, these peoplereturn haveto back of values. Therefore, in tosurviveorder justify such pressure, behaviorsaggressive and and conflict the transition leading to modern, the with isjoined traditional the urban centers, It is interesting to note that such binary discourses are observed evenin other countries. Forexample, in her 49 To sum up, the general discourses and scholarly critiques in the phenomenon honorof As, Yurdakul Korteweg (2010)argues,and problemthe is thatby holding such 23 CEU eTD Collection part of their communal life. communal oftheir part Sarakatsan shepherds brining kinship structures, and social values based on theconcept of honor andpride as 50 community with honor defined informants my all time, same the At community. and family the in person the of dignity and virtues loyalty, individual, the of character and norms was subcultures. Honor defined generations byboth men with personal of such attributes as, informants, depending on the interaction of different norms, cultures, traditions and women (Ahmetbeyzade, 2008; Sen, 2005;Coomaraswamy, 2005). in relation sexual to behaviors of women, such as sexual purity and fidelity a marriedof is honor mostreferred often that many argue scholars However, “moral solidarity”. family of isanindication of honor thedefense the in and family” community of eyes of worth the the 4.1 People’s perceptions onthe codes and values of honor in Albanian society chapter. the andvictims ofsuch by crimes coming upwith mainthe points and arguments by end the of onperpetrators attitudes Iaddresspeople’s Finally, traditions. and “backward” culture generations of men, I point out the implications for assigning honor crimes to the community of examining the narratives two the honor” of “damaged family.through the Consequently, perceived the “restore” and hands” own their into law the “take to men influence that reasons with inAlbania, along crimeswomen of honor regarding understand perceptions their better norms and values of honor in the context of Albanian family and society. In this way we can about explore andattitudes find previously men’sit perceptions andto necessary I reputation, society Chapter 4. Notions of honor and collective shame: Honor crimes of women in Albanian Campbell(1974) in bookhis “ The concept of honor was perceived to have different meanings and values from meaningsfrom my andvalues have was The honor to different perceived of concept isHonor defined byCampbell (1974, p.193) honor family protecting of grounds in the justified are women of crimes honor Since Honor Family and Patronage” 24 , describe the life of a community Greek of community of a life the describe , 50 as an aspect of “integrity and social CEU eTD Collection norm and morals of the individual, family and nation”. and family individual, the of morals and norm for basic the meanshonor “respect the that claimed (68) Thus,Cesar level. national at the that: indicated family. it since Thus, ethicsofthealso Fation the with individualand (45) they related hand, the older generation of menloyalmarriagewas perceivedtobea and virgin before during marriage.other the On the was less likely to relate honorrelation to female sexuality.with As itis evidentfrom many of the informants,sexuality an honored female in honor discussed who ofauthors, females,mentioned above the of many of arguments the way this relate the concept of honor with the morality and control femaleof sexuality, confirming in integrity”. your real problem. Yet, if attitude manybetter admitting, “if only one person knows that you are dishonored,people itmight notbe a know that you are dishonored, this might be a threat to bracket represents the age of the informants. ofthe age the represents bracket 51 values thatcommunities assign a to respective individual family.or Irind (25) that honor is understood as something related not only to individual principles, but also to the wecanassume Therefore, future. in standing the andsocial respect its with also but past, the relatescourse to Campbell’s (1974)definition honor. of as somethingmakes that feel and insomeone evaluated respected a community, of which forneedsit othersor tobeappreciated a value They that perceptions andattitudes. considered The names used for all informants are not the real names in order to keep the anonymity and the number in the in number the and anonymity the keep to in order names the real are not informants all for used names The Moreover, the older generation of men related honor even with the standards and morals and standards the with even honor related men of generation older the Moreover, men likely to more was generation youngerof arguebelow,the as Ishall Specifically, Moreover, many informants related honor not only with the reputation of the family in family the of reputation the with only not honor related informants many Moreover, means to be sincere with other people in work, family and society. It him/her. to correct and faithful be to partner, the on cheat to not means man, nor the does of ithonor mean the or thewoman honor the of withinhonor the the mean couple necessarily or individual not does Honor honor. It 25 51 explained this explained CEU eTD Collection reputation inreputation thoughsuch from society, even were more olderarguments prevalent the family from was menrespected generationsboth of considered afamily withas a good order to havefor” and as a “precious” possession that needs to bea appreciated and preserved forpowerful others,in asavalue was “fight people family.that of crucial conceptualized Albanian element the It social standing in the society. Albanian contemporary community.olderespecially informants, my of many that I observed past, in the men, honor family of perceptions did have andfriendship, courage self Eventhoughthesedominance”. refer statements tothe somehowhonesty, respect, balance, wisdom, values: human set of of “anepitome represented theconsidered socially as “dead”Gellci (Gellci,2005).Honor, furtherp.25) argues, (2005, same beliefsin collective society In 2005). (Sen, Albanian mansociety a dishonored familyand was were crucial orrules andsocial norms reputation their thatfor to behaviors, acceptance people’s the concept 4.2 Theimportanceof ofhonor for ofAlbaniansocial reputation family family honor section. forthcoming in the in Campbell (1974) defines as the status of the family in community which I will elaborate more generation men individual community in of andwith which relation attributes to attitudes, both by seen was honor that, out point to interesting is also It body. and sexuality female to refer always not does honor men, of generation older the for Therefore, level. national the on morality, older the men had alarger notion of honor by including personal andethics morals and indifferentsettings. While manyyoungermen honor femalerelated to sexuality, and a society alwayschangingwithin andcustoms, traditions values, and of interactions a setof Finally, we can say that honor is a relative expression based on the individual beliefs individual the on based expression relative is a honor that say can we Finally, In this framework, honor wasdefinedhonor and framework, asIn by informants the mostthis important all In southern Europe the concept of family honor represented a moral construction of construction moral a represented honor family of concept the Europe southern In 26 Therefore, an honored and honored an Therefore, CEU eTD Collection In fact,accordingPitt-Rivers to (1965), thehonor of manthe hisreferred duty to defend to supremacy superiority in publicspace (Danemark,and& Vejsiu,1995). the Pashko Soydan, 4.3 For whom inthefamily honor is most important? family menhonor. in to generation of exists two across relation the that of perceptions and emancipation Obviously,of society. aboveassumptions mightshow aswell, the gap the whichover time,constructed isshaped,changed cultural the dependingon and development honor for Albanian family, younger the generation perceived itas a more fluid concept, importance onthe of in Gellci’s(2004)arguments Albanian tradition, this way confirming valueof aninherited of family as and as the cornerstone honor the perceived generation, while ofmen.generations theolder So, two the is between inperceptions there a difference that also shows This honor. family the important less the society, the modern more the that means modernization , which society of toward with emancipation honorthe asevolving of concept men the saw of generation younger the that think leads meto statement above So, the (27) mentioned: Laert instance, For generation. older the from mentioned not was which society, and family Albanian forimportance of andits changing for the honor were morenature likely argue to they family, Albanian the to attached honor of importance the men of admitted generation successful ineither in personal or public life”.Onthe hand, other even though youngerthe cornerstone of the family”. Likewise, Fation (45) admitted that “without honor you can notbe feelings,of is Erzen(58) claimedsupreme inherited “honor tradition in that andisour the and part honor asasacredtreasure men. family the (68)defined While,Cesar generation of In the Albanian society, honor has special importance for the man, since it shows his shows it since man, the for importance special has honor society, Albanian the In emancipation. modernization and toward further steps made society has sincelot our has changeda it grandparents. Ithinkit parents or hadfor our thatimportance the have not does honor family community, and society our in Nowadays 27 CEU eTD Collection tried tried to make more elaborated arguments on this issue. 53 (Spain). 52 family his of members female all of purity sexual the individual. In order to show the importance of family honor for the man of the house, Sabael house, the of man the for honor family of importance the show to order In individual. the beyond identity superior a as or household, the of head the as is known he since honor, of he the for household,hasthe family therefore moral other members”. responsibilities headof manisthe becausethe the woman moredoes, of than heavy burdens shame feel the their defend ability to the familyhonor. Following this logic, Arni “the(24) arguedthat man masculinity, defines males’ traditional genderrole which expectations in family,the with worthless”.in Ithinkhegemonic suchstatementsthat restprimarily theof construction that “men have the need feelto pride and keep their heads up. If they are dishonored they feel noted Albion (21) Likewise, and“virile”. “respected” man”, heisa“real showthat needs to man the that claimed (18) Andi example, For family. the of members other of behaviors fatherthe andthehusband, forhe the since person astheresponsible wasconceptualized honor was an important value for the man and especially for the head of the household that is family. the of reputation and honor the preserve to in order values male traditional Muslim immigrants in UK, Siddiqui thatmen face(2005) argues pressuretoconform to the honor crimes among discussing about Likewise, while al.,honor1995). (Danemark et theirfailure defend to sexual purity femaleof members of theirfamily is that family the inAlbanian referssociety protectfailure totheir virginity, to shamemen the is of relatedto as a weak man, preserve While unableto his in dignity society of (p.385). theshame women beperceived he will actions, immediate take not man does the family. If entire the represent isany shameful linkedhouse, given man directly tothe act supposed to heisof the that Even though, both generations considered honor tobe of primary importance for men,the younger generation Pitt-Rivers in his article “ From itis father conceptis From the directly husband the or point, the linked to this clearthat men of generations both argue, authors above the as way similar a In Honor and Social Status” describe the vale of the honor in Andalusian society Andalusian in honor ofthe vale the describe 28 52 , since as out, Welden (2010) points 53 admitted that admitted CEU eTD Collection traditions of the family, kin or community, which was related mainly female’sto actions and and customs rules, the to in contrast behaves family in the someone when was happens & Hossain, 2005; Nanes,2003). happen are perceived in to often infidelity quite lost casesofmarital and virginity (Welchman bringing shame. However, such crimes are most often related to female’s sexual restrains and by community in family the dishonor which family, the of members female of behaviors andinappropriate family codes such of transgression chapter), as framework theoretical mentioned by (mostfactors inof the aretriggeredthem “honor” the nameavariety of 4.4 Possible reasons perpetuate honorthat crimes of women hierarchical menthe supports of position inand family women and society. which divisions, genderrole traditional the through particularly arereinforced femininity of his family. Of course, what is problematic with this model is that, ideas of masculinity care takes that man”whois he“real all heis above a he that has respected, to showthat pride, and constructfor hisvirility perceivedmanliness, aman,use thisto asa“need” and who concept he is able to safeguardsupport (Danemarket al., 1995)arguments on man, pridehonoredthe and an if superiority of the sexuality of femalefamily. statements above The the entire he since represents household headof for the the members of the family. “normal” family route of andcodes aproblem is for rules the not considered individual, but Honor, is thereforefamily. the of member each of behavior the for person Therefore, responsible only the is he that seems It house. whateveris also interesting “deviance”to point out that, honor andin It whatPitt-Rivers whichclearly assumed. confirms especially aplacelikeLapraka”, is considered asthat a “weak point” femaleof (20)the pointedman of outthe that “the moralmembers of the sister, mother and wife is theof weak pointthe of each man family do from the A vast majority of my informants believed that a typical case when a honor crime (Ruggi,Differentauthors 2000;Haile,2007,Coomaraswamy,crimesargue that 2005) 29 CEU eTD Collection sexuality encourage honorcrimes factors sexuality behaviors possible that of women, as and iswomen to related “hymen the and girls virginity marriage”.the beforeof family and prostitution. For example, Erion (18)indicated that the concept of honor crimes of the of member female a of rape infidelity, marital virginity, of loss as such morality sexual Nanes, Such 2003)arguments. crimesbe were perceivedperpetuatedmainly to female’sfrom female’s body and their sexualbehaviors which & confirms (Welchman Hossain, 2005; father. of the the permission without leave house the the girls happen incases when crimes such Many informants argued that 30). (Zeni, family the to reputation” “bad a give or family the of head the of order the break to are supposed “minor that misbehaviors” for arekilled even caseswomen in thekin”.other In relative male any or husband brother, father, her by is shot she family the of codes and rules the family, kin and community Gezim (70) . 56 sexuality. smile in more were men flexiblean younger hand, other the On females. to embarrassed speak and males between and on suchgenerations older issues,among areas, rural in even though I observed that one of outsiders,the since,men asI (Beni,have waymentioned in methodological 23) chapter,would sexuality is considered sometimes a ortaboo topic, especially relationwould to female’s sexual behaviors, might be their conservative reluctance to talk about sensitivekeep topic with 55 hisAlbania. in of men killings head honor on explanation an for introduction to refer downPlease society. Albanian in ofwomen crimes honor particularly address to avoidoldergeneration mentioned manyeye cases of men being victims of suchcrimes. However,contact, throughout my thesisemphasized I more strongly honorcrimes as a consequence of women’s sexual behaviors.while On the other hand, the 54 talking onarguments. same the explain female to words different used they sexuality, and body their to relation crimes. enhancesuch that factors as other incest, murders, disagreements, and domestic alcoholism, divorce violence, thefts, hypocrisy mentioning by arguments these beyond went They issues. such on talk to prefer not behaviors. Moreover, a family is considered dishonored in different contexts depending on the customs and traditions of I believe that one possible explanation for the reluctance An interesting fact is that on the one hand, when asked about honorcrimes of in general, the youngerthe generation older men to talk about honor crimes in On the other hand, even though many older informants acknowledged female acknowledged informants older many though even hand, other the On A strong tendency among younger informants was to relate honor crimes primarily to However, even though both generations of men thought of honor crimes of women in women of crimes honor of thought men of generations both though even However, 54 In this regard, Erion (18) made clear that “if the girl breaks the moral norms, 56 30 55 they did CEU eTD Collection example http://www.stophonourkillings.com/?q=taxonomy/term/124 59 researcher. Further detail on this issue is elaborated in methodologicalas me with chapter. difference age a close in being to ordue age, young their to due either vocabulary, their in reserved rural areas and gender differences between meand olderOn men. the other youngerhand, generation,were less due to their age gap, conservative ideas on sexuality of the old generation, taboos onsexuality especially in 58 youngsters with language slang in often more been victims of honor killings. have informants the of relatives the of some that found I interviews, the During media. the 57 hymen” While men younger the more likelywere use words such to “theas, break virginity/ of (Coomaraswamy Welchman,2005), evensocio-economic reasons political (Sen, 2005;Hossainand and legal orjuridicalcustomary laws (Cewla,2005), actions (Ruggi,codes 2005;Sen,2005), beliefs (Coomaraswamy beliefs Albanian society (Gellci, 2005). Other factors that were mentioned were cultural attitudes and women and among communityothers, many pressure was importance even of in particular 4.5 What influences the persons to commit honor crimes of women? community andnorms. codes and family the “transgress” to perceived are they when in cases even but morality, girls fall victims of honor crimes,not only when they fail preserveto their sexual purity and for honor crimes of women. describe “outmain of husband”,way”,god’s some reasons the the to someone”, “cheating most often use other terms such as “infamy”, “foolishness”, “the girl/ wife went with The first case was R. Qwhichwas shot by her dad because she returned home at 4 am in the morning. See for be might thing, same the somehow express to men younger and older by vocabulary different the of use The The exact word that was used in Albanian language was ‘ was language Albanian in used was that word exact The All my mentionedinformants many cases crimes honor of that they had heard from As I previously mentioned in this chapter, lots crimeslots factors of encourage honor inof mentionedAs Ipreviously chapter, this So, as itis made clear from the arguments of my informants, most often women and 57 , “marital infidelity”, “having sex with someone”,“slut”, the older generation would , 2001). , 2001; Arsovska, patriarchal2001; 2006), claims andnorms of society the 58 59 From the answers of both generations of men, many of the of many men, of generations both of answers the From 31 cipa’ , meaning the vagina membrane which is used is which membrane vagina the , meaning . The second case was a girl that committed that agirl was case second . The CEU eTD Collection days with her boyfriend. Another case was a boy who shot his mother and sister for immorality. for sister and mother his shot who boy a was case Another boyfriend. her with days several for home left she after parents her of abuse psychological and emotional physical, the to due suicide a crimes. such of perpetrators influence man” “virile the of models and roles the that asserted she Furthermore, honor. of crimes commit to persons influences community primarily the cultural in that Women’s the EdmondaDirector of argued Tirana, informants, Shelter a (57), many with way model similar a In centers. urban of periphery the in north transmittedrural the from come by their that those and northerners mythesis,among fiveof in chapter argue asIwill specifically parents, family,well as traditions and were Such factors taboos. perceived be to stronger in and rural areas kin and members as wasraised someone society that where of andcustoms norms the culture, and mentality of the north and south as sphere. in public has us of welleach that identity the for factor main the as opinion community as from some example,honor.importanceAlbanian For traditions of the and Erion the (18) explained older men crimes perpetuate asthemain of in that factors name the innorth) (especially practiced those from the south andcustoms backwardtraditions Albanian referred informants to to Ispoke many other were theMoreover, women. of crimes honor encourage to factor primary men asthe of generations “backward” 4.5.1 The impact ofcollective community,traditions and“backward” culture asbelow. ones important most the highlight briefly will I women. of crimes honor encourage to mentioned were factors above Among other factors mentioned mainly from the younger generation of men from men of generation younger the from mainly mentioned factors other Among both by perceived was community crimes, honor on studies many to way asimilar In 32 CEU eTD Collection informants, who were pro the practice of nowadays of were pro practice Canon the who informants, customs and norms such as I wasreallyCanon but, surprised with answersthe young of two preserve old to morebe conservative would older the generation that somehow expected failure of state the to punish criminals, which I elaborate in forthcoming the fact, section. In I (Gezim, his 70).From it narrative,is shown how people can justify by Canon blaming the people aresomehow obligated togoin self-judgmentand kill for protection of honor”their explained did“since that the state notasit should operate punish tothosewhoare guilty; He justifiedby itkill any saying thatpeople reason. cannot strong He someone without traditions. northerner of value important an as Canon supported he narrative, his In should. they as Canon read not do people since interpretation, in its but Canon, in the exists not does northern areas to the outskirts of Tirana, Domje (Gezim, 70), there is a belief that the problem law, but they its existencecritiqued nowadays,in a civilized society. no when was there ago, of times Canon practice importance and out the pointed informants in Other century. exist 21st the areaof should modern not the that old custom andinherited that: previouslyI have elaborated in the introduction. what they already knew, they told me some of the main assumptions and laws provided inCanon. 62 wives undercircumstances of infidelity and betrayal of hospitability 61 (Amnesty International, 2006, p.64). s, in most of the60 north of the country. In a way, the Canon today is used to justify violence against women Leke Dukagjini Canon law,of men Albaniancustomary the also generations of was 4.5.2Albanian customary law Canon Ibelieved that, both informants did not know too much information about Canon, but then when asked about AsIpreviously mentioned in introductionsection, according Canon, to husbands justifiedare in killing their fact,Canon In was during forbidden communistthe period, but practices its started recovering in the early 90- However, as it is shown from the narrative of an older man who has migrated from the from migrated has who man older an of narrative the from shown is it as However, One of the main factors for honor crimes of women mentioned by the majority of both of majority by the mentioned women of crimes honor for factors main the of One 33 61 Many informants considered Canon as an 62 . Forexample,Arni (24) argued 60 , which CEU eTD Collection a respected family incommunity. that place importance to honor, which was considered by both of them as one of the most fundamental values 63 of inand comparison younger tothe customs generation. norms preserve likely social more their areto older thatthe generations assumptions general Canon, but also even support the the triedit to was notonly that that me older generation the more was Whatsurprised younger generation, which of course is in contradiction with the argue that during the communist regime inAlbania,violence against women and especially laws Inasimilar Lubonja &Salvatici,to the strong capital way, andpunishment. (2000), frozen communism weredue ideacrimes the such thatduring authorities, supported whoalso them. People were brainwashed; they did notneed to know”. havemight happenedduring even the communism,a chancebutwe neverhear got about to crimes “honor that argued them.Cesar(68) about heard seldom and people phenomenon suchcrimesthey period, deny existed,butwerearare during possibility that that the not However,they did stronger laws andcapital punishment. due to were ararephenomenon crimes whensuch period, communist tothe referred they narratives, In theirpunishment. of capital lawsremoval of andespecially men weakness blamed the of older generation Failure4.5.3 ofstate:Weakness ofthelaws and removal of capital punishment even inperceptions arerepresented youngerthe generations. men,confinedbutsuch thelegitimized, older arenot generations of to sincethey only be and exist to continue might Canon as such society Albanian in customs and norms When asked why was it important that Canon continue to exist they claimed that Canon was a customary law Moreover, the above arguments were confirmed even by many of the institutional the of many by even confirmed were arguments above the Moreover, honor crimes possiblefactors encourage While the of women, about that arguing the and family member should have its own Canon, its own moral laws. moral own its Canon, own its have should member family and family Every exist. to continue should Canon of laws the that I think honor. It should be called the Canon of honor since most of the laws are all about 34 63 This finding show that certain social certain that show finding This CEU eTD Collection perceived crimes in name the of honor in Albanian society as a phenomenon perpetuated problems,lack of self-esteem and self-confidence,unemployment and poverty. and factors such social lowas level intellectual background, economic and psycho-social psychological economic, other blame to men than likely more were authorities institutional do not takehonor crimes feel the pressure of society, whichany might ridicule, tease and despise them if they action to move and Socio-economic,political personal factors 4.5.5 the person that mainly perpetuated by male family members. hadcrimes violent many of victims are they virginity their causedsafeguard to fail if women Yet, men. and women both for the expectations roles gender of construction the in vital are men and shame. Nevertheless, isbehaviors women tomen.AsIshallargue,sexualbehaviors andnot applied to of women (Nerim,61). extreme crimes” they perpetrate rumors, momenthear some they that needsandthe their havephysiological forgetthey wives that informant “men for manygo abroad work years to and provide for money theirfamily,but abroad, they expect theirapplied womento wivesand not tomen. Thus, whilemen are allowedhave to many sexual partnersor sisters to remain argued honor double of aboutthe crimes sexualstandards them women. of perpetuate Most sexually pure. According to one of my 4.5.4 Emigration since considered taboo nobody dared tomake them public. honor killings was a phenomenon kept mainly inside the walls of the house. Such issues were I think that from the above assumptions it is clear that the double standard of sexual double the of that standard isfrom it clear assumptions I think above that the Emigration was another factor that was perceived by the older generation of men to From all above arguments I observed that a vast majority of both generations of men of generations both of majority a vast that observed I arguments above all From In a men, similar way to keyinstitutional arguedthatperpetrators the authorities of 35 CEU eTD Collection someone feel disrespected feel someone “put the honor in place” he was given coffee under hissupport knees, which is an old northernerthe traditionhim to makeany more.64 In order to make this person feel shameful among other people and force him to of such crimes, Gezim (70) worthless andnotrespected. In order to show the force of the community in enhancementthe 2007), all admitted informants the thata dishonored family is perceived by community the as Haile, previousscholars(Sen,2005; Ruggi, 2000; Inconsistence with such honorcrimes. as men as one of somehow maindrivingthe forces promptindividuals that extreme to actions could be regained bymaking thecrime visiblein community 2005). the (Sliman, regaining respectin p.51). society the In 2005, (Sen, this way,the perceived honor’ ‘lost advantage: a social also serves it but brought, behaviors her that shame’ ‘collective the in community the Thus, killing 2000). (Ruggi, of the is woman not only supposed toremove familyit is since the by death reputation damages “deviance” from family the rules punished respectable behaviors offemale members of family the and anyactual perceivedor and honor the by often most retained be to perceived is community in the status family honoris a sign of family mutuality, solidarity, reputation andintegrity in the community. The 4.6 Thecost ofdefending family honor: Why“washing theshame with blood”? culture. “veil” crimesthe “violent” of honor under of women framing as discourses I will argue below andinmore details five inchapter in areproblematic these However, society. and infamily for women position asubordinate reserve areas that from andmainly and “violent” valuesthe “backward”culture in inherited especially northern Gezim (70) recalled from his past that if a dishonored man did not revenge the community did not respect and they threatened to set the family’s house on fire.set on family’s house the to they threatened then village, the leave not did family the If place”. its in “put not was honor community,villagers the would remove thefamily from if village the the If women would do something that was considered a shame for the As I mentioned before in this chapter, community is perceived by both inAs communitymentioned is generations chapter, I byboth before of this perceived familyCampbellWhile honor, family talking arguesthat about the defense of (1974) 64 recalled from his past: 36 CEU eTD Collection to bein “put its place”: neededhonor that reasons the about wasexplicit near Lapraka organization youth of Director admitted the price that a person has forliving for community. In her account, Oriona (27), the as as soon personis dishonored the removed.many Inthis regard, institutional authorities removed. Thismeans the that, family and status reputation in a community is again restored is isandshame honor the regained that aware becomes since community the is important crimes honor of visibility the explained, informants my of many As shoulders. its on rumors removed by actthe of killing. Obviously, family the supportcould not heavythe burdens of is community or family in the brought has woman the that shame perceived the because itmeans community.surrounding family Thus, thatthe in “restwill peace” after this action, “collective shame” is“wiped away” through public visibility of such incrimes the respect. they the regain can that so shame”, the away has washed “blood know that to community the want family the because crimes than other more prevalent much is honor crimes of visibility the that argued punishhas shame. theperson that brought the Following the same Fation (45) argument, they moment the pride and honor its retain would family the that maintained (18) Erion and inhonor” needs topreserveandregain reputation society. the Similarly, “damaged the family the because happen crimes such that believed informants many crimes honor commit needto why persons such askedabout When them. cantease others that fact stand the not can since they form society the pressure faces family the that stated Beni (23) dishonored, assumed(27), have thatafamily cannot a life anymorebeingafter quiet perceived as familyendanger manyWhile since theywereinformants reputation. by to perceived Laert reinforcesuch crimes, to are supposed society by andprejudices the pressure the So, overall I think that what is particularly interesting in these arguments is that idea the arguments in these interesting iswhat particularly I think that 37 CEU eTD Collection to feel respected into feel theirrespected community. men has aggression for in andsincehonor special importance order naturally toward driven as informants many by seen were they since crimes honor in involved perpetrators primary the as men the perceived informants many honor of crimes commit that persons possible otherthe hand with are associated of qualities sexual shame When asked the (p.270). about problems. While ontheone menhand, with areassociated qualities ofmanliness, women on itinvolves ability the mantodosomethingthe of aboutthe effective surrounding dangers and be“to man” as Campbell p.269) arguesdoes not(1974, meanonly tobecourageous,butalso 4.7 Perceptions on perpetrators andvictims of honor crimes lasting reputation”. itsp.318) argues “withoutirretrievable the murderthefamily long damageto would carry an 2008, wash sinceas(King, means“bloodawaytheshame” needsto is which that regained, assumed,it familyjustisin honor death through the community and that punishment respect be punishment “wipedaway”soeasily as manyof women. without Therefore, informants not can it family,the to is brought theshame once arguedthat many informants Interestingly, ‘‘bad. and ‘‘low class’’ ‘‘disgraced’’, he wasconsidered in place honorits put the not ifnarratives confirm (2008, p.40)argumentsthat menSommers a dishonored inAlbania did family itself is ridiculed, despised and excluded from all of social events of the society. These female the face from burdens member,since heavy thefamily the a dishonored and pressure Moreover, from the answers of both generations of men, it was clear that the stain of shame, this society so that they andrespected. they beaccepted that can so this society in havebeneed thatvalues appreciated to community they [perpetrators] that fulfill infront toshow of the to order inorder and pride and ouregoism in society, of the judgment and perceptions negative avoid to the In order Honor crimes of women have a special importance for construction of manliness since 38 CEU eTD Collection face difficulties to be independent of the outward influences. Finally, another informant another Finally, influences. outward the of independent be to difficulties face society. Given pressurethe Albanian of cultural traditions, the individual was perceived to think and ina act independently subjective from way judgment the influence and of the emotional breakdown”. the by influenced are they since killers not are they fact, In crimes. such committing for reason strong very a had have [perpetrators] “they that claimed 20) (Sabael, Thus, infidelity. of case in the divorce like available, been have might solutions simple other that admitted crimes inthe ways.blamesame not try They to judge did such or though they persons, even Tani by Likewise, honor to take the assumed: death”. “if someone’s isdignity shaken and he could notraise hishead more,any he than is obligated illogicalperpetrators toreason orcontrol their andfury. emotions Gezim According to (70), idea of emotional and traumashake psychological that individual’s and make consciousness community and backward Inhis traditions. account, Nerimjustified(61) suchcrimes with the thought that is for wasdifficultbe them logical to infrontof supposed the pressure of by surrounded “heavythe burdens” of and judgment society,the both generationsmen of 65 that he was a “real” though one man might bein prisonfor committing ahonor killing, society the would think man with honor “even Asnoted of informants the andfemininity. masculinity one hegemonic construction of and Namus However, some other informants were skeptical to the idea that the individual should individual the idea to the that wereskeptical informants some other However, Yet, Iwas surprised findto out that even the younger generation menof justified such community, culture. They are the real victims (Tani, 52). one isoutburst of justified It isof becauseanger. it pre-mediated not murder. be Ican theseEveryone can kill in the name of honor becauseit has doto with emotions and persons next day. They feel the pressure of the family, However, as I have argued above, honor crimes serve also another function inthe function another also serve crimes honor above, have argued asI However, is an Albanian word derived from Turkish, in order to emphasize honor of the man of the honor emphasize to order in Turkish, from derived word Albanian an is 39 “namus” 65 (Arni, 24).Since perpetrators are CEU eTD Collection of honor. Though, I in name agreethe commitcrimes to individuals motivates that main factor be the to were perceived with these arguments,patriarchal traditions norms,and social values cultural modelsand inherited from past the I am doubtful as to what extent we can effectfamily. publicreputation the of the negatively can that reasons other a variety to to crimesinrelation honor since they perceived sexuality, women’s about talk to reluctant less was men of generation older the Nevertheless, above. mentioned authors many of explanations the also confirms which sexuality, majority of younger generation of men mainly in relation to the control of women’s body and punished by Thus, the phenomenon death. honor crimesof of from women seen was the Albanian family sincethe state social mechanism from the family and community.any personinformants, rest of the victimshonor from crimesbe survivorsthe the should or of supported that triesAlbaniamen consider women their property as somethingneedsbe that protected.to For the to transgressprejudiced by the rest of the society. They are seen sometimes as causing such crimes since in the crimes are honor victims of in arguedthat Lapraka unit and economical headthe of social codes of Zina framework, family In (55), this (Erion,infidelity 18). for actions the their because theyleadto honor character havea “They weak such lead to crimes. that be person the to were perceived is themselves: blamedfact in the that in in andDomje general Albania liveforfor othersandpeople not To sum up, both generations of men saw honor as one of the most important value of value important most the of one as honor saw men of generations both up, sum To On the other hand, victim honorof crimes were perceived with weak character since they As it is evident from the several comments made from all informants, community, informants, all from made comments several the from is evident it As 30). burdens by surrounded judgmentof the (Zeni, heavy of community the the early becauseitbut not someone elseis it. youtelling todoThismentality isto too be appliedIt is nonsense. If you needdosomething,youto should doitbecause you want to Albanian society and especially in Domje. We are 40 CEU eTD Collection blamed. Individuals are responsible for their actions and in reference to other authors (Sen, authors toother andinreference for their actions areresponsible blamed. Individuals be to ones only the not are they crimes, such in perpetuating role immense an play culture Iwouldeven (Kogacioglu,p.120). saythat rather though, community, 2004, traditions and unchanging” and timeless, “native, as be imagined to seems itself tradition the then, actions. It is like a self-fulfilling prophecy that people can notescape. their upon agency enact not can individuals the that seems it them, on emphasize much claimtradition.not judgment Ido andif such that perception is but wrong, people puttoo leftblaming of the and culture weare blamed. Therefore, dilemma “backward” the the with customs inherited from so past, the they not to are be blamed;culture and traditions shouldbe and norms old the of “victims” just are they a solution, have not do individuals that seems it From this point view, of Ibelieve that, if we try to see such crimes in the cultural framework, community tradition pressure, maleand preservation authority of and dignity in community. also another emigration, notresolveissue even though does that theis of “backward”culture.the This way to exonerateThus, the displacement thebreakdown, of blameperpetrators continues which emotional the under or society of pressure the under were they since victims” “ real bethe to shift of coursefrom murderersand made communityjustify to somethe and stateculture of failuretherather such thaninformants andthe perpetratorscrimes of justifyhonor in forms and many formalize violence women of against places”. crimesin whothe weretheir perceived name extreme to primethe variable explanatory failsaccount for way the to historiescultural justify, excuse of actions. inmorechapter next details.“ In asimilar argued p.61) way makingthat (2005, Sen culture northern Albania inherited from normssocial and customary law Canon as I will argue in the blame totally the culture, values and tradition of the past especially patriarchal customs in The isproblem when violence that against is women framed as of a pattern tradition It is quite interesting to note how some of the informants blamed primarily the, 41 CEU eTD Collection a much more remote relationship between antecedent values and new goals” (p.83). goals” new and values antecedent between relationship remote more a much styles” independence and of Iborrowindividuals. “western well as (1969)Apter’s term socalled of the modernity to “presupposeswhich relation in change roles social and customs values, when and behaviors and actions (p.83). goals” 67 prescriptive immemorial to by reference behavior of patriarchy dependency.and Iborrow as wellApter’s (1969) term of traditionalism as“validationof current strictly the traditional gender role expectations, where values, norms and social roles canbe understood interm 66 south and more prone to obey customs and old traditions. Itis important to point out that, livinginthe than belesstolerant those to were perceived inliving people thenorth account, rural and northern of Albaniaparts asareaswheresuch happencrimes often. most In this to referred informants many inAlbanian, crimes honor cases of the when askedabout fact, andnorth those from which south, the I have explained inmore details in introduction.the In Albania intoperiphery of the capital city, while talking about crimes in the name of honor. of andsouth north from rural coming people between boundaries draw and men perceive generations of two the how Iexplore chapter, this of section in second the Then, discourses. such influence might age of intersection the how and south the from and north the from and regional discourses on honor crimes of women are drawn from both informants coming I seehow cultural of part first inthis chapter, modernist with the Thus, ones. the assimilated to explore the ways men’s “pre-existing traditional mentalities” remote rural areas ofAlbania intothe peripheral areas of Tirana, Iwas particularly concerned 5.1 Discourses onthe“backward” north andthe “modern” south Chapter 5. Honorcrimes of women interms ofregional and cultural boundaries blaming their traditions in tojustify order legitimizeand their crimes. 2005; believeSiddiqui, canperpetrators 2005)I that very escape often punishmentby to try contradicts with the “modernist ideologies” with “modernist the contradicts I referto modernist ideologies to the less rigid traditional gender role expectation, more freedom forpeople’s I referto pre-existing traditional mentalities to certain modes of behaving and social structures, that follow In inAlbania, it stereotype general from the a common discourse for people exists the from migrated have who men, mainly was my research of group target first the Since 67 42 , or how these mentalities are absorbed and absorbed are mentalities these how , or 66 in terms of honor crimes honor of interms CEU eTD Collection Such areas are perceived to be influenced as well by the laws of Canon that is highly discriminatory women to discriminatory highly is that ofCanon laws by the well as beinfluenced to perceived are areas Such especially in northern Albanian were the husband is still the head of the family and the wife has to obey to him. 69 men from the north. 68 Albania of areas northern the to mainly crimes honor assigned south and north from informants the both thought that such crimes happen mainly in the north because, “they [northerners] still live still “they [northerners] because, in mainly north the happen such that crimes thought years, for two in London whohasbeen (30) Zeni, example, For areas. northern inthe norms especially youngthe generation menof blamed the“backward” traditions, Canon and social honor. name of in the commit crimes horrible to northerners influences that tradition “backward” thickheaded”. they since are understand not deal can because they with not them can their way, we belet them in I wouldrather mentality. patriarchal their of because of women crimes honor commit who “these arepeople that, He asserted for northerners. discussing harsher while and occupy the urban territories. Following this logic, another informant (Erion, 18) was even from mountains the oneswhocome the “malok”, label the called wild under or as ignorant, are more emancipated. who from south the tothose incontrast open-minded arenot since people north, in especially the such Beni believed that in often crimes rural(23), happenmost and isolated remote areas Similarly, educated. less and backward be ruder, to perceived were they highlanders since more that among common are crimes honor (52)thought example, Tani Canon. For such alongcrimes, “backward” with their customs and traditionsinherited mainlyfrom the highlanders (northerners) as possible factors that predispose them most often to commit Moreover, many of my informants from the south perceived such crimes happening more often in rural areas in rural often more happening crimes such perceived south the from informants my of many Moreover, Such discourses were made mainly from both generations of men from the south and younger generation of Moreover, in contrast to what I expected, people from the north themselves, north the from people expected, I what to in contrast Moreover, Many informants from other admittedsouth that such people wereperceivedby others 68 . More specifically people from the south referred to individualistic of from referred to attributes specifically south the people . More 69 Moreover, many Moreover, lawsoutherners Albaniancustomary perceived asanold 43 . CEU eTD Collection level. Any further analysis and critiques of their statement is beyond the scope of this research, which means which research, this of scope the beyond is statement of their professional critiques more and analysis another further from Any level. killings of honor phenomenon the to arguments supportive more provide to idea 71 (Besa,30) mention thatmost oftensuchcrimes happen innorth. Lapraka in worker social the and 28) (Lindita, Domje in teachers the of Albania, regions in all happen crimes 70 preferred nottodrawcultural andboundaries. regional in areas of and poor rural Albania. many north,the keyinstitutional mainly believedhappenauthorities of the such that crimes mores rules. and of community “order” break so-called the to tries that everyone “punishes” and honor the “upholds” that system juridical a as serves community the case, second in the herself; is system juridical moral her case, first in the while Therefore, judgment. grave damage a committed has she north, in the husband her not on cheats woman if the Yet, onlyindividualistic. to herself, but have in damagedherself thismeansis south, thatthe self-judgmentinwardthe rather to and the family and community, in to andAlbania.of she is considered the south differently the If husband north is perceived her on cheated who woman which the of case the Obviously, Albania. of north isthe and south an outward in the living people between made distinction itis clearthe statement from above the Hence, traditions in the north: again “backward” which idea north, created the inof happened more often course, of the thatsuch informant whyhe explainedfrom crimes north, thought One reason the other in topreserve whatto fulfill, asa had in they order tradition past”. already the like in the 50s with the old backward traditions and mentality.is It like a chain that they need As I have previously mentioned the aim for involving the opinion of institutional authority has been with the with been has authority of institutional opinion the involving for aim the mentioned previously I have As such that believed they since south, and north between difference seeany not did them of many Though, In fact, in contrast to the general beliefs held by men from the south and those from those and south the from men by held beliefs general the to in contrast fact, In traditions (Irind, 25). their to old more conservative people are in thenorth because in its place, put need have justice someone the to they Therefore, members]to family [the them. on shame brought has and community kin, family, her damaged has She if butdamaged she lived herself, in north then the damageisthe even she worse. that say would people husband, her on cheats south the from awoman If 70 Even though, they would sometimes mention Canon they Canon mention sometimes would they though, Even 44 71 For example, the director of CEU eTD Collection primarily from men. that I referto theirstatements to support/ contradict or add more information to existing arguments made Baban byAdriana prepared a report Likewise, city. capital the “modernity” of of discourse the with fit always not do which ideologies, gender traditional and norms social mentalities, patriarchal their them with bringing north), the from (mainly Albania of villages south and north the from there migrated have people many since heterogonous, more is Tirana “modernist” ideologies “traditionalist” and mentalities 5.2 Albanian’sstruggles betweenpre-existing women. of crimes honor legitimize and justify itisframework, important topointout how discoursethe on culturethe is used againto In this culture. “backward” with their northerners along of characteristic personal the both blamed southerners hand, other the On individuals. of attributes personal of in terms not from north the blametried to northern traditions and for customs enhancing such butcrimes, informants specifically, More southerners. as way same the not though even northerners, found that even people from the north, living in the outskirts of Tirana, tried to blame I research, fieldwork Schwandner-Sievers (2008) in to However, north. contrast “primitive” a livingliving create in between“modern”binary innorth south south, and those and people and among discourse stereotype general in the confirmed, Albania field research I previously discussed inthe my thesis of 3rd chapter and (2008) asSchwandner-Sievers south saw the phenomenon of honor crimes as happening most often in the northern areas. As though such havecrimes happenedin all areas of Albania north and south”. mainly in areas, rural lessand poor developed economically and endangered,even socially Women Shelter in Albania, Edmonda (57) explained that, “extreme cases have been localized Due to internal of in migration, population Due to the 90s,the after the outskirts especially the and north the from men both that say can we arguments above the from Therefore, 45 CEU eTD Collection in personal life, more emancipated and civilized , welcoming “western styles”. “western welcoming , civilized and emancipated more life, personal in interference less city, capital the in females and by youngsters from especially enjoyed freedom and lifestyles 72 [northerners] came “they stated south, the from coming originally 52), (Tani, from assumption this with accordance a better life but differentareto their background, previous sothis leads tothe degradation of behaviors.their In faced with a worse to the“modern” values. adapt tradition or reality. Most of thekeep their to tension and faced with apressure they are my informants, to according because, times mainly was crimes This of women. commithonor to inclined more as seen Tirana were population. the of majority the from adistance feel people these since northerners, among mainly Tirana happen most crimes such that thought south often the from men of generation younger and not older the both fact, only in rural areas andcome fromthe remotenorth, villages but to the as periphery wellpersons of in urbanfor peripheralthe centers honor crimes,such as Laprakanot onlyareas responsible the as northerners blamed sametime atthe in and and southerners and northerners theirDomje. of place In of birth, but even in places where they villages helpand them survive in fastthe influence ofmodernity (2008). the forms it processmodern, with joined is tradition of the When re-traditionalisation,centers. urban to villages remote from as a waytransition, to justify our society is faced extreme with a transition of crimesvaluesMoreover,2003). Shkalla (2008)mentioned along that with politicalthe andeconomic due to internal of migrationpeople of people comingin customs andlifestyles which sometimes peopleother result aggression toward (Baban, from unemploymentand poverty, with these peoplementalities bring themselves traditions, with Along urban areas. villages toward from remote coming of people migration internal that(2003) shows one of features mostthe important of Albanian the transitory is the period When asked about what they meant with modern values many informants perceived them with the modern Northerners that have migrated from rural and remote villages to peripheral areas of areas peripheral villagesto remote and from rural migrated have that Northerners between boundaries sharp draw informants the of many how note to interesting is It 72 46 They can not face the reality which is quite which reality the face not can They CEU eTD Collection and people from from andwestern third people countries whomigrate world countries: to northerners between connection a similar made He from newreality”. their different is totally areas which mentality north of andtraditional isolated from come an “they that [northerners] or whose family themselves north the from come had has that informants from migrated but south, the from informants by in periphery of Tirana years ago. Zeni (30) also emphasized especially those that come from the north the from come that those especially and of Tirana areas toperipheral areas rural and remote from come that people perceived are how them avoid ethicalproblems. So,instead asking how youare perceived from the majority populationof the Iasked 73 women. of crimes honor capital city, which make them faceto pressure and demonstrate “primitive behaviors” such as the of values the“modern” of assimilation the with have difficulties to were perceived north As areas,from rural coming mentioned, from I previously people particularly remote the place: from previous the different is in which be newreality, the integrated needto northerners that believed He similar reason. Another older man, Nerim (61), who was actually from the south but living in Domje, gavedifficulties a to be integrated and assimilated in comparison to us that come from the south” have they and Of that course traditions the prejudiced customs. sincethey their keep and aredisadvantaged “northerners stated, from south, again Likewise,(20), Sabael they manifest behaviors primitive crimes, honor see such soothers as them as outsiders”. In order In tounderstand informant’s attitudes to this phenomenonI tried todo indirect questions in order to civilization by committing grave crimes in the name of honor. of name in the crimes grave committing by civilization show not do migrants] northern and [immigrants them of both since same are migrate in the prejudiced anddiscriminated asnortherners that Tirana they countries western in situation the improve to do immigrants Whatever control, they have power, and they and they leaders. are still power, have they the control, changes andtheir ego, to theirthereforemasculinity, identity. These people are not used to accept such becominglike emancipated havingaboyfriend going or Itis out. a to threat they go to daughters their and wives imagineand stand men cannot arranged. These extreme actionsspeaking to someone that they do not know because there all the marriages were to showstaying home,used they were not to goinga their party to daughter out or that theyPreviously have still in the place of origin they [northern men] were used to their wife 73 I was surprised to find out that such only that references weremadenot Iwassurprisedtofindout 47 CEU eTD Collection therefore justified as response to preserve his culture along with along justifiedpreservehis as hierarchies. to gender therefore response culture with is theviolence So, masculinity”. of experience a “crises hemight since is endangered, of hierarchies. traditional role If hegender in comes the environment, hisdifferent manliness preservation onthe andhis feeling depends power dignity of man’sto access that This means his attitudes: in details explained in hisfifteens he was country city Thus, migrate. or Irind whosefamilywhere in they migrated (25), when Domje host the valuesof adapt tothe flexible more is to younger generation the argue below, and therefore wanted to presentreason might be ideathe heisthat a young manwho has inemigrated a developed country himself as modern andassimilated “old-fashioned”leave traditions. their and“violent” and Ithinkof that part the open –minded.be should people how moment in every Moreover,mentioned he since “emancipated”, and “modern” as I will distanceto wanted he that seems it north, the from actually is origin Zeni’s himself though, Even countries. from western of andMuslimmigrants onthe stereotypes to background chapter discourses “those backwardmy backto comes interestingly theoretical country, in which that havediscourse facedthis northerners”This assumption might come since he has been an immigrant himself in London and he Tirana. might of periphery the to migrated have that northerners and countries western andto migrating may be portraying himself as It is interesting to pinpoint the similarity that Zeni (30) made between people between made (30) Zeni that similarity the pinpoint to interesting is It modern values” which makes them feel like outsiders. like feel them makes which values” modern attention violentthrough attract and in todestroy is ways protective order “the consideredwhat as to ways in any obligated are they traditions and dignity their preserve valuesand feelto these andworthless. areendangered when they order threatened In come here[Domje]. Theyhaveinvested theirwhole livesand for energy such values special in importance their previous place doesnothave such importance when they and deformed formed againfrom cultural they face.the thathad shock Everything in their in are family.leaders of such Here people Tirana the when house are the they better feel they because hospitability, honor, morals, values, persons, those of can you when go andmeet you back intheirhome in these persons wouldimagenorth that see another believe I reason. without not but prejudiced are [northerners] They 48 CEU eTD Collection are often against, prejudicedare often andlabeleddiscriminated in terms, negative which as an serve men, asimilar institutional to key the peopleIn way from arguedthat authorities north the individual choice tochoose the rightway. honor are “wrongly” interpreted as north tradition. This is also the reason that he relies on the northerners, but at the same time his accountCesar (68)defined the traditional values as likehonor part of identity their group as shows that he might be aware that crimes inis hownote interesting them behaving. theirthinkingways of and to are rooted also and It of valuesthe of capital values for the such importance havespecial because traditional city, to in accordance and behave norms and leave traditions old their to haveto difficulties more perceived is men of generation older the that shown is it examples above the from Therefore, identity: their of part as traditions northern example, Cesarsuch changes. For arenottolerant to olderthe but “modern generations the adopt values” and (68)be assimilated to difficult not is it generation younger the for alsothat believed informants from the assimilationnorth, was perceived to be much more difficult for the older generation. Many young but peopleactually from the north that southerners the of assumption the living contradicts course which of before, than assimilated could not assimilatebe to prone more in were northerners him, to According Domje, changed. slowly has mentality with the valuesemphasized of thebutnow this uneducated and anti-social, people, rough widely aslandgrabbers, perceived modernity. the In fact,until were years northerners that ago, 10 explained (25) For instance, Irind time.throughout this In fact, some of the informants thought that the northern mentality has been changed been has mentality northern the that thought informants the of some fact, In does not mean honor crimes are important as well.this important mean not are crimes does honor but traditions and areas] [northern areas in our important more be might ways and some others itand less isvalues up these to all violenthave usWe how death. until weexist to can[…]. continue usewill and andWemovement interpretmight say them. that Some honorpeople arein spirit. They we every [traditions] do,in that action behaviorevery and chooseand respectviolent exist.pretend thatthey deepnot They minds downin do arerooted not and our can we and north in the traditions our to according raised and born Weare 49 CEU eTD Collection and norms inherited from customs north.primitive He and consideredbackward their them leave as not addictive can they that to a sense in that backwardschizophrenic mentality. that said he by that meant 74 traditions and patriarchal mentalities of the north. backward the with live still persons such me that told (25) Irind Therefore, lifetime). her in before seen even not had she emigrant ( an her for chosen had father her man the marry to his daughter because she got out of her boyfriend’s car at 4am in the morning and rejected had killed who caseofhis relatives the me toldabout same informant the episode In another contradiction in their answers. For example, Irind (25) pointed out: trying to with as themselves presentideologies. However, the modernistassimilated already while figure and northerners” “other from the rather distancethemselves but “insiders”, be the partof outto preferred not have might they origin, same the from their come they though Even northerners. attitudes from themselves north the didnot seethemselvesas part of “backward”group that target of come that my mightbeinformants that forreference such reason as“they”. The northerners in such butthey to all referred man Cesar(68), issues“we”,like old themselves the referred to as them of none However, Tirana. of outskirts the to north the from coming people suchsoutherners, as honorcoming fromcrimes north themselvesI noticed live in since they capital the city. values modernist some adopt should they hand, didother the on and customs and traditions their a not hesitatenorth need toto work withblame two standards the people from that admitted (Keli, 39) to inDomje, officer police the example, keepFor crimes. somehow the balance. First, they shouldin not demonstrate forinternal such behaviorsa person negativeto till reject andaggressive to pressure the all same way as Infact he was telling me all the time that he considered such persons as schizophrenic. When I asked what he others mightothers make fun of your old-fashioned traditions. some of your customs in order to be more civilized as others. Otherwise,youlive for along understand time you that here[in loose haveLapraka], to you when but north, the from well as emigrated have relatives and family My menyounger findof that, generation out to I wassurprised mustsay that Finally, I 50 74 Even though, Ididn’t ask him he kept CEU eTD Collection way of way p.386). Such theirsuch pressure(Welden,of 2010, children persons expect native-born host society he strengthens more the “originaleven cultural group-identity” asa defensive younger generations. Itis argued that as an adult immigrant rejects cultural assimilation in the modernity. past traditions,butwhichfragile is tochange always andprone newvalues of tothe seem dispel dilemmato isidentity the of which formed already their constructions from the such persons I think Therefore, that andeducated. raised individual was family where the people want toassimilate, but on the other hand can not leave the traditional mentality of the when reality rural and urban the between a clash as north the from men of generation younger the and south the from men of generations both from perceived was situation extreme ofindividuals actions survive into pressuresorder the values. modern of the This when istradition facedwith modernity, which according tomany my ledof informants to reality. findings support Baban My (2003) andShkalla (2008)arguments onthe implications urban inthe come they when shock/clash a cultural faced with are north the of areas rural Moreover, from the arguments “modern”north. in binariesand “backward” of this south way customs, by creating of the section and culture and“violent” northerners their essentialize so-called such is that attitudes two, it seems that problem The asbackward. look naturally those them Ibelievemakes course, of which northerners people coming fromHowever, informantspatriarchal traditions and normssocial in Albania northern for perpetuating such crimes. from the south were more prone do. relatives to blame personalgave freedom them and didnotinterfere in life their private like many hisof northern attributes talkingof the all the time how careful and emancipated he was with his wife and daughter as he However, such dilemmas are even stronger in the older the generation than in the than generation the older in the stronger even are dilemmas such However, the blamed south from those and north from men both that say can we conclusion, In 51 CEU eTD Collection cultural, ethnic, class, and religious lines. problem affecting women world asGill all the over argues happening across and (2009) is auniversal women becausebe violence against thenot case, exist might anymore.to This cultural and modern the practices values,violence notcontinue againstwomen adopting will cultural itboundaries.is Moreover, quite sure not even that abandoningbackwardafter their women across against violence –based areaform of gendered ofcourse which crimes, honor as such behaviors legitimize aggressive to is usedasaway “modern” values to assimilate failure “backward” understand implications whenone’s or necessary the culture to to and Referring traditions. backtoEngle on (2009)arguments violentcultural itis practices, valuesideologies andhand, on and other preservationthe ofthe“pre-existing” mentalities in with modern the younger generation of assimilation terms andolder between well a clash identity. them asencouraging backward asimportant butrather totheirhonoras crimes, or “group with youngermen generation, older and notworshiped their traditions they did of thought in difference that, I think death. until exist to continue will and action inevery rooted deeply traditions of the north, although they clearly admitted that their traditions and norms were and values tothe behaveaccording to their children in expecting of terms any reference traditions. and customs their out throw and men finds more younger difficulties than assimilate generation the to with values modern the my ideathe olderway toWelden’s findings the support that generation (2010) arguments, of assimilated more easily with the values of the host society (Welden, 2010, p.386). In a similar and is integrated generation the younger in contrast, However, country. home in their to behave in accordance to the values and the norms, which were originally part of the family So, I argue that as far as there is a clash between modernity and tradition, it will itwill be as isI argue asfartradition, modernity and that So, asthere aclashbetween madedid not mennorth from what Iexpected, the older to in contrast Nevertheless, 52 CEU eTD Collection reclaims lostthe honorby “washing away shamethe with blood”, killing therefore the family the when cases in happen crimes honor men, of generations both of narratives the by iscommunity Therefore, following ridiculed prejudiced,despised, andneglected others. community. the within family the of respect the maintain that honor of codes and rules the violated have women that notion the rest on to perceived were crimes Such women. of crimes honor called is members familydishonor of family supposedto the in the that so- leads thepublic space to reputation crimesconcept on honor byincluding awhole rangedamagefamilybehaviors of the that in the elaborated more a had generation older society.the sexuality, and body women’s of control of terms The majoritycommunity.While the younger generation perceived honor and honor crimes of women in of in standing social family the to informants cornerstone the considered itwas andas such, past to Albanian family and society. Itwas perceivedthought asvalue inherited and maintained from the that any family. the action of members female of honor and morality sexual the through retained of femaleareas, where and family honor the social reputation inof family the highly theis community from mainly northern the inherited cultural in traditions, “violent” of informants of terms majority the by articulated still are society Albanian in women of crimes honor on discourses (Domje and Tirana areas of peripheral the into Albania villagesof Lapraka). andsouthern northern from remote Based men,generations of of whohavemigrated two andattitudes society based onperceptions on the findings of Conclusions this research, I argue that the ongoing As it was clear from the answers of all informants, a dishonored family in the wecan honor has say that a special importance of informants, all From narratives the Albanian the in women of crimes honor of phenomenon the explored I thesis, this In 53 CEU eTD Collection crimes to northerners, then a binary is created between the north and as “primitive” north the between is created a binary then northerners, to crimes customs of As past. the Ihave arguedtill problem now, the ifis that we relatehonorkilling a “old-fashioned” norms adhere againstand“modern the whichwasconsidered to identity”, important identity”.“group totheir survive“modern” inthis reality theirregress they to norms, tribalcustoms old and whichis is different from the previous culture when werethey born and raised. Therefore,in order to to this pressurethe shock” or “cultural with when confronted “modern”a newidentity, which due crimeswomen of honor as such actions extreme such undertake people that argued north called “modernist ideologies” of the capital city. So, all so- informants, the with exceptcontradiction olderin are men from sometimes my informants to according which mentalities, pre-existing their of traditions norms, their themselves with bring families these city capital the in coming while However, centers. urban of areas periphery into north the from come their “violent’ and“backward” culture. mainly crimes to honor assigned from south the from those in men from of difference the, andmoremodern.perceived "civilized,educated as On hand, other youngthe the generation were who south in living those to contrast in violent and ignorant conservative, uneducated, in stupid, asprimitive, by seeing from north them general, people of personal characteristics and culture northern “backward” to crimes honor assigned south the from men of generations both hand, one In culture. northern “violent” and community surrounding the by primarily is encouraged that aphenomenon as south the and north the from informants of majority this way, the family could regain its respect and restore its lost honor in the community. woman who is held responsible for bringing shame and provoking rage on the family. Only in However, my analysis shows that the younger generation of men was most likely to likely most was men of generation younger the that shows my analysis However, that people among often most happen to perceived crimes were honor Moreover, crimesMy findingshonor inby show that, women of Albania areperceived the 54 CEU eTD Collection practice of honor crimes is not all about obeying some old inherited traditions and tribal and traditions inherited some all oldnot obeying is about crimes honor practice of honor”, be this his mother, family sister the “ stains whoever , punish daughter to capacity in his and behavior or wife.women’s monitor and Moreover, I would rather say that the could benot questioned, whosemanliness andvirility on histhe depend ability safeguardto power legitimate whose of household, head the place man andpowerful the as a superior Such withdocrimes, 2000). to have and which gender rolethe hierarchies expectations, made by many leading scholars on violence against women movement(Engle, 2009; Ruggi, arguments the way this in confirming behavior, her of patterns her all and sexuality body, control woman’s to anddesire power about are butthey culture, “violent” and “misogynistic” inheritedall about “backward” andcustoms traditions norall of past, the about women’s rights along with intersections of class and religion. involvingrural areas, alsowomen important institutionaland other workingauthorities on larger forgroupby consideration a of perceptions comparing target from people urban and more crimes ofwomenhonor need in researchon take Albania so-called future the to would suggest that Yet, I “violent” culture. “victims” of the anymore ormitigated as tolerated not punished crimesbe and strongly should honor of perpetrators IthinkTherefore, that culture. as“victims” “backward” of this andperpetrators such crimes asa“cultural phenomenon” “backward” mighttraditions for mitigation serve honor crimesas women, byjustifying of discourses “violent” culture and believe that on Nevertheless,2009; Kogacioglu, I 2004). (Engle, scholars many by implication major the of one as also considered was which violent and northern problematic as inherently in way this culture the by essentialising practice, honor crimes serve then as cultural and regional markers of “modernity” and “tradition”. on hand.Discourses ontheother “modern” andas “superior” south the “backward” and In the light of my analysis, I think that honor crimes of women in Albania are neither are Albania in women of crimes honor that think I analysis, my of light the In cultural northern as crimes honor so-called the define discourses these Consequently, 55 CEU eTD Collection rights. violation problem ofwomen’s as human violenceaspect of women of against a universal atthegenderedlook fail traditions to “backward” inherited crimeshonor inthelightof called hierarchical gender position of women and menin family the and society.Framing theso- the reflect they since violence, based gender of a form crimesare honor practices, cultural violentmadein her about cleararticle as Engle(2009) I believe that, culture. “violent” providing in this way a legitimatization theblame individualfrom andtraditions,we areremoving culture then culture, the the to of such crimes honor crimesof and perpetrators in the name of the society. and family the in position a subordinated in woman posits who “patriarch” the of authority unquestioned the on and family the of power enduring the of man, the of commodity family the of members female honor of name the and in kill to “trapped” are individuals where customs kin. These oppressive practices rather lie on the concept of the woman as Turning back to my theoretical arguments on the implications of cultural construction cultural of implications on the arguments my backto theoretical Turning , the problem is that if we see honor crimes as perpetuated by “backward” crimesthe asperpetuated if seehonor iswe that problem the 56 CEU eTD Collection Anthropological Durham,M.E. (1910). High Albania andits Customs in 1908. Environment. (Eds.), inTraditionalism &Gupta,V.K. In Das,M.S Albania. vsModernity Danemark,B., Soydan,H., Pashko,G., & Vejsiu,Y. (1995).Women, Marriage and Family: from Switzerland : Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Retrieved Specialthe Rapporteur on violence againstwomen, its causes and consequences).Geneva, intheFamilythatAreViolenceTowards Women. Perspective: CulturalPractices Coomaraswamy, R. Coomaraswamy, SpinifexYork: ZedBooks. 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The UK Agency.Border March (25 2011 publications-index-e-htm.pdf http://www.ecoi.net/file_upload/1684_1243258524_http-www2-irb-cisr-gc-ca-en-research- Feuds Albania Blood issue paper (IRB) of Canada Board and Refugee of Immigration the Research Directorate http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/3b00f25d2c.html December 1993.UNCHR. Retrieved April 10, 2011from Albanian state report on Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, 20 ods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?Open&DS=CEDAW/C/ALB/1-2&Lang=E Muslim World Journal ofHuman Terman, ToSpecify R.L.(2010). Single or Out: ShouldWe Use Term“Honorthe Killing”? Zed Books. Press, Honor: Crimes, ParadigmsandViolenceWomen Against family honor” within the Palestinian community in Israel. In Welchman,L., Hossain,S (Eds.), Sliman, Culture, workingA.T.(2005). national minority the state: and “crime the of against Alb Tirana: Paper. in Albania). Violence of Situation Domestic the NjeShkalla, D.(2008). 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CEU eTD Collection http://www.forumishqiptar.com/showthread. http://www.botasot.info/def.php?category=6&id=111399 Information on Lapraka and Domje Retrieved April from 10, 2011 http://www.stophonourkillings.com/?q=taxonomy/term/124 in Albania crime Honor publications-index-e-htm.pdf http://www.ecoi.net/file_upload/1684_1243258524_http-www2-irb-cisr-gc-ca-en-research- Kanun inpresent-day Albania,Kosovo, andMontenegro International Center for Minority Studies and Intercultural Relations (IMIR). (2004). http://open.data.al/lajme/lajm/id/134/lang/en/Gjakmarrja-me-2011-vrasjet-me-mizore Retrieveddegrading). April from 10,2011 Open Albaniadata (27February edhe me2011).Gjakmarrja feud (Blood Mizore. even more Websites “Diella” newspaper November 2010 Maj Shqiptare” ,12 “Gazeta 2000. “Panorama” newspaper ,27July 2003. Shqip”,12 “Gazeta February 2000. newspaper,5December“Republika” 2001. October“Panorama” newspaper,16 2004. October Shqiptare”, 92001. “Gazeta “Republika, newspaper, 15November 2001. “Panorama” newspaper, 14February 2003. Albanian newspapers bania.pdf http://www.bertelsmanntransformationindex.de/fileadmin/pdf/Gutachten_BTI2010/ECSE/Al Retrieved May 30, 2011from Bertelsmann Stiftung, http://www.mpcs.gov.al/dpshb/images/stories/files/kodet/3.3.5._Kodi_Penal.pdf Albanian Republic) Zyrtare, Qendra ePublikimeve http://www.alac-consulting.com/Legjislacion/Te_tjera/Kodi_Civil_Shqiperise.pdfAlbanian Republic),( September 2003).Retrieved April 15, 2011from Qendra e Publikimeve Zyrtare, Kodi Civil i Republikes se Shqiperise (Civil Code of , 2004, Tirane. Retrieved April 15, 2011 from BTI 2010 BTI — Albania Country Report ( 26 June 2006).Stop 26 JuneHonor 2006).Stop killings. Retrieved April 10, 2011from Kodi Penal i se Republikes Shqiperise (PenalCodeof 62 . Retrieved April 10, 2011from ; . Gütersloh: Bertelsmann Stiftung . The , CEU eTD Collection Edmonda Oriona Zina Besa Lindita Keli Xhoana authorities Institutional Altin Adi Tani Irind Andi Erion Sabael Arni Albion Fation Laert Nerim Cezar Beni Erzen Gezim Zeni Informants Information onInformants Appendix A 70 Age 16 15 52 25 18 18 20 24 21 45 27 61 68 23 58 30 57 27 55 30 28 39 56 Age Occupation Retired Occupation Has abandoned school Primary Primary Has ed. abandoned school student school High Construction worker Unemployed student school High student school High Student Student Student Worker in factory Owns Southa Secondarysmall Employed High in ed. businessed. state inst. Retired Student Driver Worker Albania in Shelter Tirana, Women’s of Director NGO Director of Youth protection unit and economic ,Social representative Local authority NGO Social worker in Teacher school officer Police representative Local authority 63 Primary ed. Primary Education Secondary North ed. South Secondary ed. Secondary North ed. Secondary North ed. South Secondary ed. South Secondary ed. South Secondary ed. High ed. Secondary North ed. ed. Primary South Secondary ed. Secondary North ed. Secondary North ed. Education ed. Graduate Post High ed. High ed. High ed. High ed. High ed. High ed. origin Palace of South South North South South North South North origin Place of North South South North Domje residence Place of Lapraka Lapraka Lapraka Lapraka Lapraka Lapraka Lapraka Domje Domje Domje Domje Lapraka Domje Domje Domje Domje Area Working Domje Lapraka, ,Domje Lapraka Lapraka Lapraka Domje Domje Domje