Umm Muhammed Umar

An appeals court in Pakistan this week acquitted the brother of social media star, Qandeel Baloch, of her 2016 murder. The killing sparked national outrage and resulted in changes in the laws covering so called honour killings. Muhammad Waseem appealed against his 2019 murder conviction and life sentence, and has now been freed. Radio Islam spoke to the chairperson of rights group, Defence of Human Rights Pakistan, Amina Massoud Amina Masood Janjua.

Qandeel Baluch was something of a celebrity, and had a huge number of followers on social media. Janjua said that in Pakistan, it was viewed in a very serious light if women from middle class families were involved in professions that were open to public view, such as acting or singing. She said, “And similar was the case with Qandeel Baluch, that her brother took it personally, and he was not happy with what Qandeel was doing.” Qandeel’s mother had been the complainant, and Muhamed Waseem was arrested immediately, following the murder. However, Janjua elaborated, “but the females who are the relatives of those who are murdered or honour killed, they finally they give up.” She added, “So, after four years of this litigation, when the charge was completed, and he was to be given sentence because of the murder of his sister, at that time, the mother came up, and she said that “I’m going to forgive my son for that.” because she was the complainant.”

An Islamic scholar, Mufti Abdul Qawi, had also been arrested for his alleged involvement in Qandeel’s murder. Janjua said that Qandeel was very charismatic, and could talk people into doing ‘strange’ things. She said that Mufti Qawi was a prominent personality, and although he was honest and had huge respect for Islam, under Qandeel’s influence, he fell. She said that that had not been the case only with Mufti Qawi, but with many others, as Qandeel appeared to have knowledge of the private matters of prominent people. According to Janjua, Qandeel had exposed people, “Not purposefully, but she wanted to, you know, get away from her society and find freedom.” Janjua expressed regret that Qandeel’s aspirations had not been respected, but instead were viewed as so demeaning, that she was murdered by her own brother.

The human rights community, angry was raising an outcry. According to Janjua, they were also trying to approach the authorities, the judges and the high courts. However, she explained that, not much could be done as Qandeel’s mother withdrew her complaint. She supposed that during the long years of the trial, Qandeel’s mother probably came to the conclusion that she had already lost one of her children, and did not want to lose another. Qandeel’s mother having stated that she had forgiven her son, Muhammed Waseem, thus resulted in his freedom.

Honour killings are a cultural phenomenon, and have no place in Islam.