Human Rights: Cultural Take

In late June of 2009, three young women and their quasi step-mother were victims of honour killings. In the fall of 2011, their father, mother and brother were found guilty of their murders. Canadians from across this country followed the case carefully, and suddenly we were talking about the so called culture that gives birth to honour killing. A pamphlet that was being made available to new Canadians described honour killings as 'barbaric.'

Justin Trudeau, Liberal MP (and some say possible future leader of the federal Liberal Party) baulked at the word barbaric. He thought it was culturally insensitive. He was uncomfortable with the word barbaric.

Trudeau the multiculturalist uncomfortable with calling honour killing barbaric.

The United Nation Declaration of Human Rights says that human rights are Universal. There is no honour in the murder of these women or others who have broken some cultural code.