Family members kill more than 5,000 women and girls around the world each year

The United Nations reports that family members kill more than 5,000 women and girls around the world each year via Islamic honor killings. It is the punishment often meted out to women suspected of unsanctioned sexual behavior, dating a non-Muslim, or even being the victim of rape. If it is believed that the action has brought shame on the family — an honor killing ensues as a means of negating the shame. Honor killings are most prevalent in strictly Muslim societies in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. They are now also occurring within Muslim immigrant communities in the West.