In a tragic incident in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, a father allegedly shot and killed his 16-year-old daughter on Tuesday, July 8, after she refused to delete her TikTok account. According to police reports, the father killed his daughter “for honor” after she declined his request.
What Happened?
Police spokespersons stated that the father asked his daughter to delete her TikTok account. When she refused, he allegedly killed her. The father was arrested soon after the incident.
Initially, the family tried to cover up the crime, portraying it as a suicide. However, police soon determined it was a murder and launched an investigation.
Honor Killings in Pakistan
This tragic death is part of a larger, disturbing trend in Pakistan. Honor killings are common in the country, where around 1,000 women are murdered every year by family members due to perceived dishonor, according to Human Rights Watch. These killings usually happen when a woman’s behavior is seen as violating traditional expectations, and she faces extreme punishment.
Previous Cases of Honor Killings
This incident is similar to another honor killing that took place earlier this year. On January 30, a 14-year-old girl, Hira Anwar, was fatally shot by her family in Pakistan because they disapproved of her social media presence. Hira had been posting videos on TikTok while living in New York City. Her family, who held different cultural values, saw her online activity as inappropriate. Hira went to Pakistan on what she thought was a family vacation, only to be shot by her father and uncle after a few days.
Pakistan’s Strict Code of Honor
In Pakistan, society often operates under a strict code of honor, which controls many aspects of women’s lives, including their education, employment, and marriage choices. Male relatives usually make decisions for women, and women are often pressured to conform to these expectations, leading to tragic outcomes like these.
The deaths of these young women highlight the harmful effects of a society that enforces rigid expectations, particularly on women. Despite being in modern societies like New York City, these young girls were not able to escape the pressures of family honor and tragically paid the ultimate price.
