Islamic clerics in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore have announced that honor killings are "haram" -- prohibited by Islam -- days after a woman was stoned to death by her relatives for marrying a man without their consent.
Some 30 clerics of the Sunni Ittehad (Unity) Council in Lahore pronounced their decision on June 1.
One of those clerics, Mufti Muhammad Karim Khan, told RFE/RL on June 2 that Islam bans any killing without a trial in court and that Shari'a law allows both men and women to marry as per their choice.
Twenty-five-year-old Farzana Parveen was killed on May 26 outside a Lahore courthouse by her own family members, including her father and brothers.
At least five people have been either arrested or detained in connection with her murder, including her father, an uncle, and two cousins.
According to the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, 869 women died in so-called "honor killings" in 2013.
Some 30 clerics of the Sunni Ittehad (Unity) Council in Lahore pronounced their decision on June 1.
One of those clerics, Mufti Muhammad Karim Khan, told RFE/RL on June 2 that Islam bans any killing without a trial in court and that Shari'a law allows both men and women to marry as per their choice.
Twenty-five-year-old Farzana Parveen was killed on May 26 outside a Lahore courthouse by her own family members, including her father and brothers.
At least five people have been either arrested or detained in connection with her murder, including her father, an uncle, and two cousins.
According to the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, 869 women died in so-called "honor killings" in 2013.
