That thing called 'Izzat' (From Asian Image)

That thing called 'Izzat'

2:22pm Monday 16th April 2007 in News features By Sarvat Jabeen Khan

There exists a concept that could potentially bring down a whole dynasty, an atrocity that incurs a punishment that goes beyond that dealt to a murderer.

What is this most heinous punishment? That would be 'bayzatee', the word, which is a combination of 'bai and izzat', literally translates as 'without pride'.

It appears we conduct our lives in a certain way to avoid this dreaded word, not through choice but in fear of the WWPS concept (that is the What Will People Say notion).

This is something that could quite literally ruin the 'family name' something that is guarded with more passion than the family gold (trust me, there's a lot of family gold).

Anyone of Asian descent will fully understand this to be a life or death situation.

Be that living in an unhappy marriage, hiding the crimes of a relative (uncle VAT fraudster) or participating in a calamity so as to protect the 'brothers'.

I was interested to find out what Islam's stance on this was.

Is it better to do the right thing by the rules laid out in the holy book or do you conduct yourself in a manner where upon you can live peacefully in society?

So I tried my best to get a comment from various holy men' concerning the subject but surprisingly (or unsurprisingly whichever way you look at it) no-one wanted to give one.

Looking deeper into the subject matter these same sentiments of 'family honour' are felt by people from the Indian sub continent be they Hindu, Sikh, or Muslim.

Bangladesh, India or Pakistan they hold the sentiments when it comes to 'family honour'.

If we think out of the box then can we say that even white families who hold traditional values, have wealth and maybe family name to protect are also conforming to requirements decided by society?

Does the unhappy marriage of Charles and Diana ring the familiar chimes of doom that many an Asian courting couple have to surrender to when they are forced to part?

After all he had an arranged marriage with a 'suitable' girl chosen by his parents. The future king have a love marriage to a divorcee, whatever will they say!

Looks like even the Royal family of Windsor had to conform as the 'B' word hung like a noose overhead. It was both Christianity and society that stood in the way of this couple's happiness. Moreover, sometimes that word can lead to terrible events. What was the fundamental factor in all the recent Asian females murdered by their husbands?

May that murder have been committed by arson or any other way - I find it disgusting that some people I spoke to following the events felt little pity for the woman and even mentioned the word Bayztee' in defending the man's actions.

Does the 'family pride' aspect hold any responsibility? These type' of killings are a well documented phenomena.

But one must ask how has this little thing called bayzatee' now travelled across the sea's to a place we now call home.