Syria: Information on whether a father has the right to do anything to a daughter, including murder her, with impunity
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 January 1994 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | SYR16141.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Syria: Information on whether a father has the right to do anything to a daughter, including murder her, with impunity, 1 January 1994, SYR16141.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abbb77.html [accessed 21 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
KIMSPublisher:Toronto Front
According to a Syrian sociologist specializing in women's issues in Syria, a father does not have a legal right to kill his daughter (21 Dec. 1993). Although in traditional families and according to custom a father does have a lot of power, legally a father cannot kill his daughter because it would amount to murder (ibid.). Among Bedouins however, who represent a very small percentage of the Syrian population, custom might tolerate a father killing his daughter if she, for example, had sexual intercourse with a man before marriage (ibid.).
According to a representative of the Embassy of Syria in Washington, DC, a father is not permitted by law or tradition to abuse, beat or murder his daughter (4 Jan. 1994). Both civil law and Sharîa prohibit such behaviour (ibid.).
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Embassy of Syria, Washington, DC. 4 January 1994. Telephone interview with representative.
Sociologist specializing in women's issues in Syria, Hull. 21 December 1993. Telephone interview.
