ISLAMABAD: The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has declared that the killing of a woman in the name of honour is against the law of the land and also an un-Islamic act.

The research cell of the CII, in a statement issued on Tuesday, decried the killing of women by male members of their families but also granted such men the benefit of “emotional reaction”.

The statement said: “There are laws in the country that deal with obscenity and other moral crimes. Therefore killing someone over such misdeeds cannot be allowed even if it is in the name of honour.”

But it added that “emotional reaction” was part of human nature, particularly in a situation in which one was provoked after witnessing immoral acts of a close relative.

At the same time, the statement said, no one could be allowed to kill a person despite witnessing a moral sin.

“Every accused should be brought before court and it is up to the court to declare the accused guilty or innocent,” it said.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2016