Finland: Honor violence or just plain clan violence?

Finland: Honor violence or just plain clan violence?

Last week I reported about cases of honor violence against ethnic European (Finnish) women. These women are turning to immigrant organizations, since the 'regular' organizations have no idea what these women are facing or how to handle it.

I have never heard of such a case in the past. Why would European women face honor violence?

A better question might be: What makes this honor-violence?

The honor-violence faced by immigrant women is based on the idea that the woman's chastity reflects on her family's honor. It does not reflect on her husband's family honor. In almost every case of honor-murder in Europe, the murderer would be the woman's father, brother, uncle of cousin. The violence is instigated by the woman's family, with decisions being made by the clan heads, whether in Europe or in the home country. The murderer isn't always given a choice in the matter, either.

The violence might come from the husband, but the husband in immigrant families is many times part of the woman's extended family (a cousin, for example).

That, at least, is classic honor violence.

In the case of an ethnic European woman, her family would obviously not feel that her chastity reflects on their honor. Her husband might feel slighted if he's not obeyed, though. He might call in his clan and have them threaten or otherwise assault his wife. If the husband is powerful enough, the clan might act. Just as a clan might act to protect any of its members.

But would the clan really feel that the foreign woman is part of their clan and reflects on their family honor? Is this a new development?

I don't think it's a theoretical issue either. Such a determination could affect the best way to both deal and prosecute such cases.

More on this story on YLE, h/t Tundra Tabloids