LGBT and honour violence

What does the situation for LGBT people that come from societies where it is illegal to even dream of a Pride festival look like? How should their specific problems be approached? Hans Knutagård, socionom connected to the University of Lund and Sara Mohammad, founder of the national association 'Never Forget Pela and Fadime' meet in a panel discussion arranged by HBT-liberals.

Heavy subject
It is a heavy subject that is being touched upon, and the issue of LGBT people's special situation divides the panel. Hans Knutagård  believes that what happens in a culture of honour actually is an expression for the same values that exist in the Swedish society, albeit at a different scale.
-At the basic level, it is a democratic problem. As long as we live in a society where a man earns more money than a woman does we are living in a honour culture.

Sara Mohammad did not agree.
- Even though one can find similarities it is a huge difference in consequences for a Swedish girl or boy that comes out as a homo- or bisexual compared to a person from a honour culture. How many women and men are involved in a rape on their son or daughter? The difference between a murder and an honour murder is that a honour murder is a pure execution where the judgement is made before the action is. Who, how and where it should be done is planned in advance, and the executioner becomes a hero and the whole community is responsible for upholding the honour.

How can one work constructively with changing the situation?
Even though the topic is difficult, the panel offers some concrete suggestions and thoughts on how one can work towards change. One part of the solution is to have a clearer target on both genders, another part is to change the notion of honour with shame. Take people seriously when they say that they need help and help them. Teenagers that put their food down will become role models themselves. The schools need to take more affirmative action and the  standard needs to be raised in all levels of public service and authority. It should not be considered ok that teachers in school or other authorities express homophobic opinions.

-We need more women and men with cocks and cunts in them, as Hans puts it, and the audience applauds loudly.

Two of the people in the audience are Rasha Ishaq and Karin Treviranius.

What did you think about the seminar?

-it is impossible to imagine something like this untill someone that has experienced it first hand speaks about it, Rasha Ishaq says.
- His battle for education and democracy: It should be lesson number one everywhere. I also think that it was good of Hans to try to place the phenomenon honourary murder in a bigger picture. Sara did this too, but she has other perspectives and motives for what she workds with. I identify alot with Sara because I myself have an immigrant background. Her empathy and experience makes her credible. Very interesting, Rasha sums it up.