Ethics Class Not the Solution | Services from Deutsche Welle | DW | 04.03.2005
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Ethics Class Not the Solution

Responding to an article on the murder of a Turkish woman in Berlin by her own brothers and the concept of "honor crimes," DW-WORLD readers dismissed the idea of ethics class to counter entrenched attitudes.

Hatin Sürücü was gunned down on a Berlin street by her brothers

Hatin Sürücü was gunned down on a Berlin street by her brothers

The following comments reflect the views of our readers. If you would like to have your say, click on the feedback button below. Not all reader comments will be published. DW-WORLD reserves the right to edit for length and appropriateness of content.


Ethics classes may touch some of the people in the Muslim community, but I don't think it will solve all the problems with Islamic traditions meeting western law and values. The law is the law and I believe the Germans bend their principles too often to appease the Muslim community. Perhaps the punishment for these crimes should be expanded -- more years in prison or expulsion for the entire family from Germany all together. The claim that a family can carry out these "honor killings" under the pretense of Islamic tradition is simply a cover for murder, plain and simple -- Boyd Lawrence, United States


The idea of a class being offered to change deeply held cultural/ religious beliefs and practices is absurd. What needs to be done is enforce the law rigorously and abandon the pretense that is "multi-culturalism." Call murder, murder and promptly try and punish the perpetrators and let it be known that Germany will not condone killing done in the name of honor or of religion -- Manuel H Rodriguez, United States


Germany is a secular country that supports the right of an individual to practice his or her own religion. This practice should in no way be harmful to the rights and privileges of others nor be in violation of existing laws, criminal and civil. A small percentage of the Muslim population commit crimes of 'honor' and therefore efforts to prevent acts and modify conduct may have limited effectiveness since the minority of Muslims involved are likely to resist change. I think the Germany might consider creating enforceable contracts between the government and Muslims based upon secular values, individual rights and public conduct to cover individual, family and group responsibility for action and inaction resulting in unlawful conduct. These contracts would require Muslims abide by the laws of Germany. With a large Muslim population, Germany already has peaceful relations with the vast majority. The small percentage responsibly for this type of shocking behavior need to be prevented from doing so -- Thomas Clark

I doubt a class on democratic values will work to help Muslim women in German society. I think it will take a much more forceful action by the government and police. Whenever religion is used to justify hurting others especially young children and women, a simple class will not work. It was even more disturbing that these Muslim families use German laws to further expand their actions by immigrant spouses. Thank you for putting on such a good news article -- John Reynolds

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  • Date 04.03.2005
  • Author DW staff (sp)
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  • Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/6KHI
  • Date 04.03.2005
  • Author DW staff (sp)
  • Print Print this page
  • Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/6KHI
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