Religious role in honour abuse must be tackled, NSS tells inquiry

The National Secular Society has told an inquiry the government must tackle religious ideology which fuels so called honour-based abuse.

The inquiry was launched by the Women and Equalities Committee as part of their work tackling violence against women and girls.

The inquiry is examining the nature and prevalence of honour-based abuse, which is perpetrated to "protect or defend the honour" of an individual, family or community for perceived breaches of the family or community's code of behaviour.

The NSS said in its submission that honour-base abuse is "often rooted in religious ideology" but the role of religion is frequently "wilfully ignored". It said the government "must be willing to directly confront" religious ideology underpinning the concept of 'honour'.

The NSS identified key areas where religion may contribute to honour-based abuse:

• Education: The NSS said relationships and sex education (RSE) in faith schools is usually distorted by being taught from a religious perspective, which may result in perpetuating sexist stereotypes and stigmatising homosexuality. It highlighted how some faith schools have sexist policies, including the enforcement of 'modesty codes'. It also called for a compulsory register for all children not in school to protect them from honour-based abuse.

• 'Blasphemy' and 'apostasy': Criticising or leaving a religion can motivate honour-based abuse in some communities, the NSS said. It recommended the government promote free speech as a positive value and resist adopting a definition of 'Islamophobia' which could silence criticism of Islam.

• Unregistered religion-only 'marriages': The NSS recommended the government implement the Law Commission's proposed reforms to wedding law in England and Wales designed to protect women vulnerable to exploitation and abuse in religious 'marriages' with no legal recognition.

• Charities: Misogynistic and homophobic religious ideology, which can fuel honour-based abuse, is "disturbingly prevalent" in the charity sector, the NSS said. It said the role of the charitable purpose of 'the advancement of religion' in enabling charities to promote harmful ideologies should be examined. It expressed specific concerns about sharia 'courts' which operate as part of registered charities, as these have "acted in ways contrary to the law" and left women vulnerable to domestic abuse.

• Caste: The NSS said perceived 'caste' is a factor in many honour-based abuse cases across the world. It said the government should legislate to protect people from caste discrimination.

NSS: "Reluctance to criticise religion" can undermine efforts to end honour-based abuse

NSS head of campaigns Megan Manson said: "The subordination of women in many organised religions has contributed to abuse and violence against women and girls, including so-called honour-based abuse.

"But all too often, a reluctance to criticise religion means the misogynistic ideologies underpinning many incidences of honour-based abuse are left unchecked and allowed to proliferate.

"Authorities must take assertive action to prevent our education and charity sectors being used to promote misogyny, homophobia and other harmful ideologies that can lead to abuse, and ensure everyone has the freedom to robustly criticise religion and hold religious institutions to account."

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