The horror show . . .

THE INDEPENDENT has a disturbing 2-part article by Robert Fisk, "The crimewave that shames the world". It's about how women have become murder victims around the world, just for being women. And it's not just a Muslim problem, even though the majority of "honour" murders are performed by them. When it comes to religion, apparently, everybody's doing it.

It is a tragedy, a horror, a crime against humanity. The details of the murders – of the women beheaded, burned to death, stoned to death, stabbed, electrocuted, strangled and buried alive for the "honour" of their families – are as barbaric as they are shameful. Many women's groups in the Middle East and South-west Asia suspect the victims are at least four times the United Nations' latest world figure of around 5,000 deaths a year. Most of the victims are young, many are teenagers, slaughtered under a vile tradition that goes back hundreds of years but which now spans half the globe.

A 10-month investigation by The Independent in Jordan, Pakistan, Egypt, Gaza and the West Bank has unearthed terrifying details of murder most foul. Men are also killed for "honour" and, despite its identification by journalists as a largely Muslim practice, Christian and Hindu communities have stooped to the same crimes. Indeed, the "honour" (or ird) of families, communities and tribes transcends religion and human mercy. But voluntary women's groups, human rights organisations, Amnesty International and news archives suggest that the slaughter of the innocent for "dishonouring" their families is increasing by the year.

Iraqi Kurds, Palestinians in Jordan, Pakistan and Turkey appear to be the worst offenders but media freedoms in these countries may over-compensate for the secrecy which surrounds "honour" killings in Egypt – which untruthfully claims there are none – and other Middle East nations in the Gulf and the Levant. But honour crimes long ago spread to Britain, Belgium, Russia and Canada and many other nations. Security authorities and courts across much of the Middle East have connived in reducing or abrogating prison sentences for the family murder of women, often classifying them as suicides to prevent prosecutions.

It's politically-incorrect, but I don't give a shit if dear reader gets his or her tighty-whities in a wedgie with long-gun registry mania. If I ran the country, every woman would have the right to conceal-carry the piece of her choice, and firearms training would be provided to every school-age female in Canada. Women and men are equal, but apparently, it takes Samuel Colt to make 'em that way. I'd go for a Desert Eagle .50, myself, but that's my macho, I guess. Paxton Quigley might agree with me, though.