Bisma Bukhari
The brutal murders of Bano Bibi and Ehsan Ullah for choosing to marry have once again exposed the horrific practice of „honour killing“ and the socio-economic forces driving it. This was not an isolated crime; it’s a symptom of a deep social crisis. The state, through tribal chieftains, enforces so-called traditions that give them a license to trample on women’s freedom and human rights. Revolutionary socialists vehemently condemn these barbaric acts, seeing them as a direct result of the social decay within the semi-colonial capitalist system.
A class issue, not a cultural one
Honour killing is a class issue. While some in the Balochistan Assembly attempt to downplay it as a matter of „honour“, revolutionary socialists view it as a grotesque expression of class oppression and a deeply ingrained patriarchal system. In this system, women are treated as the property of men, and their right to make personal decisions is completely denied. A love marriage, which represents an individual’s freedom, poses a direct threat to this patriarchal and tribal order. The system links a woman’s sexual freedom to the family’s „honour“, punishing any perceived violation with the harshest penalties.
In Balochistan, the state has imposed tribal chieftains and respects their „traditions“, because it benefits from this arrangement. These leaders support such crimes to crush any emerging ideas of freedom in society, thereby preserving their power.
The state’s role and capitalist failure
The Pakistani state, acting as a semi-colony in the global capitalist system, uses these crimes to maintain its authoritarian grip. This failure isn’t due simply or primarily to incompetence; it’s a reflection of the system’s class nature. The ruling class has no interest in challenging or even changing this outdated social structure because it serves their interests. Despite laws against it, „honour killings“ are increasing, and perpetrators are rarely punished, proving that the law provided no effective protection whatsoever. If at all, the police and other state institutions act slowly when it comes to “honour killings” and other forms of femicide.
This is in stark contrast to cases where women stand up for their rights. The arrest of peaceful Baloch activists like Mahrang Baloch highlights how the state uses its power for oppression. Mahrang Baloch has been fighting against enforced disappearances, state tyranny, colonial occupation and patriarchy and has become the leader of the human rights movement Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC). She faces false charges, arrests and harassment to silence her struggle. She and other women are targeted while demanding justice for their missing loved ones, showing that the state turns a blind eye to tribal atrocities while actively suppressing those who demand justice and change.
The State’s Vested Interest
The state has an implicit agreement with tribal chieftains. These leaders maintain their tribal control through crimes like „honour killings“ and in return they help the state maintain a form of „peace“ in the region, no matter how brutal.
By focusing on events like „honour killings,“ the state tries to divert attention from the larger issues of national oppression and enforced disappearances in Balochistan. It promotes the idea that Baloch society is inherently backward and the state is trying to fix its problems, when in reality, this backwardness is a result of state policies, just as we all know that “honour killings” and femicide are widespread in the whole of Pakistan.
When the Baloch Yakjehti Committee protests, the state discredits their struggle by labelling them „terrorists“ or „anti-state“ to deny them legal and public support.
How to Fight Patriarchy
It’s crucial to raise awareness about the patriarchal mindset and its harmful effects. Gender equality and women’s rights must be central to the struggle of the working class, the poor and all oppressed. We must fight for an education system, which is equal for all and controlled by committees of workers, women and oppressed. Women must be economically empowered to make their own decisions, free from family or tribal pressure. This requires equal access to education, training and employment.
We must organise women and build a strong public movement against the patriarchal system. Activists like Mahrang Baloch are at the forefront of this struggle and deserve our full support. We must challenge the interpretations that justify violence against women. We need to promote progressive and modern views based on equality and justice.
The working class, youth, and all oppressed people must unite to end this oppressive system and build a society where love is not a crime, but a matter of free choice. The Baloch workers and the oppressed, who face both patriarchy and national oppression, can play a key role in this revolutionary struggle.
The Revolutionary Path Against Patriarchy
Revolutionary socialists believe the root of the problem lies in the decaying capitalist system, which fuels both class inequality and patriarchy. Until the working class controls the means of production and a socialist society is established—where everyone has equal rights and freedom—these atrocities will continue.
Ending barbaric acts like „honour killings“ and the patriarchal system requires mass resistance and organisation and, ultimately, a social revolution, not just individual reforms or laws. The Revolutionary Socialist Movement argues that the only way to achieve liberation is through a socialist revolution led by the working class. This revolution would not only dismantle the capitalist system but also uproot all forms of tribal oppression and patriarchy.