Whether it was done for religious reasons or because it’s part of the culture, this story about a Turkish girl buried alive is simply horrifying. 16 year old Medine Memi was buried alive and her father and grandfather have been arrested in connection with the so called “honor killing.” An autopsy revealed large amounts of dirt in her lungs and stomach which indicate without a shadow of a doubt the teenager was put in the ground before she was dead.
Turkish honor killings apparently are quite frequent and Medine Memi’s death appears to be just another in the long line of culturally acceptable murders. The teen’s hands had been tied behind her back, with no apparent signs of bruising and no indication that she had been drugged. She was simply placed in a hole in the ground behind her family’s house and buried. For a picture of the horrific hole go here.
This story of a Turkish girl buried alive in an honor killing immediately conjures up images of Islamic sharia law in which such killings are legal. The area in which Medine Memi was gruesomely killed is a heavily religious area. It is home to the Naksibendi Islamic sect.
Media outlets are trying to portray this as some sort of cultural killing other than a killing that would have taken place as part of sharia law. My contention is this; would the “culture” allow such terrible things to occur if it were not allowed under the religious laws of the land? It’s almost like the age old argument of the chicken and the egg; which came first?
Under these laws, if a girl dishonors the family in some way, it falls upon the male members of the family to restore that honor. The community as a whole decides when, where, and how the girl will be put to death. Can you imagine a group of “elders” sitting around discussing the details of Medine Memi, the Turkish girl buried alive?
The truly sickening thing about her case is the fact that to dishonor her family she only had to speak to a boy or some such thing. The transgression didn’t have to be something truly disgraceful. This Turkish girl buried alive died from ignorance. Ignorance on the part of her family and her culture; there is no excuse for such madness to occur. Religion or culture. It is reported that half of all murders in Turkey are honor killings.
February 7th, 2010 at 4:11 pm
And these people wonder why their region of the world has been and continues to be the a$$hole of creation since its beginnings.
I dont know, maybe they think its considered progress since the whole honor killing thing really is more of an Indian cultural aspect than it has anything to do with Islam
February 7th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
I guess thats how they keep up the demand for virgins in camel jockey heaven. Find some poor unsuspecting Muslim girl who looked at some guy a little too long or showed a bit too much ankle. Cuz I mean really, do the math, theres no way they could assure 73 virgins for every martyr if they didnt knock off a few making there sure were enough waiting. Then again, no ones ever answered me if these virgins are actualy female, or human for that matter
February 7th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
No body accepts this act and this is not allowed in Islam. I challenge anyone to show me where in the Quran or the Sayings of the Prophet peace be upon him or the actions of his companions that shows that this is part of Islam.
This is a cultural tradition that is present in many places of the world. I challenge the author to explain where is his source. Instead of just saying what ever you want why don’t you cite where your information is really from? Did they not teach you that in journalism school??
What a disgrace!!
February 7th, 2010 at 4:57 pm
These are the most backward people in the world.
They cannot progress into the 21st century because of their ignorance. What a bunch of funky b@st@rds! The ones who committed this crime should be put to death also…especially the girl’s mother who stood by and let it happen.
This is the reason that NOBODY likes those people! My God!!!!
February 7th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
I WILL HAVE TO AGREE WITH DIDI, IMEAN WHAT
KIND OF SCREWED UP RELIGION IS THAT, THAT WOULD
BE LIKE ME PUTTING MY OWN DAUGHTER TO DEATH
BECAUSE SOME GUY IN HER SCHOOL ASKED HER TO GO OUT WITH HIM ON A DATE. YEAH AND YOU WONDER
WHY THIS WORLD IS SO SCREWED UP, I WILL BE
GLAD WHEN THE LORD RETURNS, HE WILL STRAGHTEN
EVERYTHING OUT, PRAISE GOD…
February 7th, 2010 at 5:35 pm
wonder what kman would do to his daughter if she wanted to go out with a black/hispanic/asian/middle eastern guy hmm?
February 7th, 2010 at 5:50 pm
You are aware that “honor” killings are a Kurdish tribal custom, arent you? The location of the murder should give you a hint that the girl and her family are Kurds. Google “Dua Khalil Aswad” for a case where a Yezidi (ie non muslim ) Kurdish girl in Iraq was murdered by her family who bashed rocks against her head until she died. Savage stuff, really
February 7th, 2010 at 6:00 pm
kman and the rest. These honor killings are not an indictrinated practice of Islam, it is not a part of their religion.
Still, its in this part of the world that you find the most backa$$wards crap being commited in the name of Allah, icluding the terrorist acts being commited against Americans. Its all about being able to establish an autocratic rule based on theology. But it only works if you moleste that theology.
Abu3baid, nowhere did I see the author place the blame directly on “ISLAM” but rather asked “what kind of culture regardless of religion” allows such a thing.
Chill Bill
February 7th, 2010 at 7:15 pm
I kinda look at this story as the pot calling the kettle black.Christians, and Muslims have more than one thing in common they practice middle east based religion.Christians and the Muslims both practice their own forms of honor killing.Those of you on the right claim all life is importantant yet I don’t hear you protesting when a good Christian family throws their child out, or forces them to run away or gives that child enough emotional dstress that they take their own lives because their lesbian,gay, bisexual or transgender.I don’t see you making a big stink about the fact Iran kills homosexuals and sadly I’ve heard that you actually support the long prison sentences and death sentences in Uganda.I heard you complaining about the hate crimes legislation signed by President Obama and calling it a special right but not offering to give up your special protection.You use words that inspire some to act in violent and irresponsible ways yet aren’t held responsible because you hide behind the bible like they hide behind the Koran.If you truly want to stop the Muslim honor killings try leading the way by stopping yours.Oh in case you didn’t know the pot is black also!
February 7th, 2010 at 7:28 pm
My sister was born in Turkey in 1956. We only lived in Turkey for a few years, my sister and I cannot remember living there, though my older brothers can remember. My father had a tempory job there as an engineer, which only lasted a few years. When it was time for us to move back to the United States the Turkish government did not want us to leave because my sister was born there. We did leave anyway(including my sister), I think we had to get help from the U.S embassy so that we could leave the country(I really need to discuss this with my mother to get the entire story, I realize I am not really knowledgeble about it). My sister has always said that if she went back to Turkey they would not let her leave, perhaps she is right about this. I really need to discuss this with my mother to get the entire story. Years ago my mother told me that when we lived there, she found a rat in my crib. Rats would come up the back of the toilet into the house(the toilets are different in Turkey than the U.S.). Also years ago my father told me there was an mild earth quake and we had to stand in a door way. Turkey is not a travel destination for the weak in heart.
February 7th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
Oh please Steve, give it a rest. Christianity has moved on with the times compared to Islam which seems to be stuck in pre crusade era.
Christian families are not beheading or burying their kids alive becausw they are gay,
Sheesh
February 7th, 2010 at 7:53 pm
Seems to me that it takes two to tango. If a boy was involved there should be two in the grave. I wonder what punishment males receive for the same behavior. Are they victims of honor killings too? The whole practice is just gruesome. Although it is beyond sick maybe it was better for the girl to die quickly than to endure years of torture and probably rape with her husband.
February 7th, 2010 at 8:08 pm
Just thought I would add to the previous response that I wrote-it’s horrible that they buried this poor girl alive, what she went through I can’t even imagine. To people who are thinking about commiting a horrible crime-you just might receive an extremely horrible punishment for commiting that crime in the next life-it just might happen!
February 7th, 2010 at 8:08 pm
Brenda.
Middle eastern men can pretty much do what they want. Divorce for no reason etc…
February 7th, 2010 at 8:44 pm
That poor little girl had to die such a gruesome death for talking to a boy? By the hands of her own father? This is called honorable? All people need to respect all people! Stop listening to all religion! They are all discriminatory! Treat others as you want to be treated. It really is very simple.
February 7th, 2010 at 8:47 pm
i’ve visited turkey which is the most westernized of all muslim countries. got “held prisoner” in a topless bar in istanbul until i handed over $200 in travelers checks, which i later voided at the hotel. quite a story of contrasts in turkey, where you can see a horse-drawn wagon on one side of the street, and a businessman on a cell phone on the other.
February 7th, 2010 at 8:54 pm
To all you who read this story and comment without thinking, congratulations. You have just made fools of yourselves. Do we expect to tell other cultures how to live and what is appropriate without allowing them to do the same? I have studied, in a private christian school I might add, the topic in question, and I can say that none of you knows a thing about what you just said. As a christian, I allow others to practice what they believe to be right, and I expect the same courtesy. If any of you who have tried to trash Islam, muslims, or arab cultures in general would step out of your racist, better than thou box for half a second, you would realize just how hypocritical you really are. I don’t agree with honor killings. However, I wish to practice my religion without others trying to interfere by publishing stories that take things out of context and make me look like a monster when I’m not. Let’s start truly practicing our religion guys, by showing a good example to our fellow men, not by trying to make ourselves sound better.
February 7th, 2010 at 9:51 pm
allforfairness, I just invented a new religion called “McCain Saves Knuckleheads” which requires that I beat you on the head with my mouse 1,000 times for making us all stupider for reading your comment. Thanks a lot for your moral relativism that tolerates cannibalism, rape, child killings, and mouse beatings. You da man.
February 7th, 2010 at 10:06 pm
Micky in case you didn’t notice I didn’t tar and feather all Christians.But I would say if you don’t think certain American Christians have a lot of blood on their hands you’d be a fool.Also take a real good look at the child abuse coverup perpetrated not just by the Catholics but by others seeking to lay the blame on gay men of faith not on the real abusers those who allowed it to happen for many years.
February 7th, 2010 at 11:38 pm
First, this family is Kurdish, and Kurds are not Turks.
Second, this is unfortunately a part of the culture of Kurds, the very savage people that Turkey has long been trying to civilize.
February 7th, 2010 at 11:40 pm
it amazes me just many hateful people there are,
those who are stupid and proud of it. who refuse
to use their brain and are apparently have no
respect for anyone. the hateful, blanks who aapparantly enjoy hurting others as evident in their comments.
February 8th, 2010 at 12:03 am
if i was obama’s daughter i would not talk to any boys … just saying
February 8th, 2010 at 1:26 am
Dears…its true that we have the right to express our own views but we are supposed to respect every religion…this news has nothing to do Islam & Christianity..its just a part of some evil practices being carried out for years by some backward tribes..the news ofcourse has shocked every reader..its impossible to imagine the pain of being buried alive & this pain doubles bcoz its carried out by her own family..we really hope that Human Rights & other organizations prevent such things in future..but apart from this…its better to be accustomed to your traditional values..this poor girl..when she knew how her surroundings react & even after being tortured..she should not have continued to do such things which her family doesn’t like…we really feel sorry for her & pray that no other sister goes through these kinds of tortures…do respect your traditions to avoid such gruesome acts.
February 8th, 2010 at 1:46 am
she knew how her surroundings react & even “after being tortured..she should not have continued to do such things which her family doesn’t like………do respect your traditions to avoid such gruesome acts.”
right … it was her fault …
i knew Pope Nicholas V should have supported constantinople
February 8th, 2010 at 8:34 am
Steve, to make a comparison is asinine.
Catholic child molesters is the best you can come up against a hijacked religion (and parts of it not hijacked) that stones people in public over rumors, beheads them for conversions, wishs and attepts to commit genocidal extermination of an entire people,kills people and destroys entire cities over cartoons. Todays Christian has an awful lot more value for life as opposed to what we see todays Muslim generations.
For very Catholic preist that violates some child theres a hundred atrocities going on in the name of Allah.