When Toronto police arrived at the Khairi`s West End apartment a gruesome scene awaited them. Constable Shannon Smith discovered Randjida Khairi, 53, lying in a corner of the living room on a daybed, she had been stabbed. "She appeared halfway decapitated!" said Sergeant Stainslaw Baj of Toronto police at the murder trial on the 9th October 2012. Randjidas injuries were so severe that there was no chance she could have survived. One knife cut through her throat had pierced through skin and muscle, severing her airways and her spine leaving her to slowly choke and suffocate on her own blood. She had also recieved five other stab wounds in her lower chest,stomach and one in her back. Mr and Mrs Khairi had been married for over thirty years they had six children together, the police had no record of violence between them. Why had Peer murdered his wife?
At 3am on the 19th October, Peer Khairi sat in a police interview room saying very little. "I can't speak right now, I'm not normal," his interpreter translated. "I saw her on the bed but I didn't want her dead.".He then later admitted to stabbing and slashing his wife with two knives a larger one and a smaller one.There were however no concerns by Police officers about his state of mind. Interviewing officer Detective Sergeant Michael Barksy told CBC news, "I had no belief that any sort of mental health issues were causing him distress!"
There have now been 23 "honour killings" in Canada since 1990. They are victims of acts of murder committed against them by their families, those who should love and protect them.These victims mostly girls and women are killed for the crime of bringing supposed shame or dishonour to their families. It is to often the fate of women who engage in premarital sex, commit adultery or even those who are the victims of rape. But the list of reasons for an "honour killing" do not stop there.
It can extend to behaving in an inappropriate manner or dressing in a way that is deemed unacceptable. A girl could be killed for wearing a short dress for example. Most honour killings happen in the Middle East and South West Asia where women`s support groups estimate over 20,000 honour killings are conducted every year. In many households in Canada old traditions and values are still a powerful force but some are causing harm.
Peer Khairi informed police and the courts that Randjida had disrespected him. He blamed the murder on cultural differences in opinion, his wife had consistently sided with his six children supporting their choice to wear "un-islamic clothing " and to defy his strict rules on dating.They had often argued, on the afternoon of the murder Ranjida had called Peer`s mother "a whore.
In addition Randjida had planned to leave the family home and had "complained to virtual strangers" about her marriage. At a preliminary hearing Taman Khairi the couples adult daughter was asked the implications it would have on Peer`s if Randjida was to leave him she replied that it would "affect his honour" Randjida Khairi was to be the 16th victim of an honour killing since 2008 there have been a further seven victims and concerns are that this number is set to rise.
Dr. Amin Muhammad, doctor of psychiatry at the Memorial University of Newfoundland has researched honour killings. He originally began his scientific studies in his home country of Pakistan before moving to Canada. "In no country, I can say any country is honour killing being allowed to be a lawful entity," and, "The perpetrators distort the facts and abuse religion to try and get away with these types of killings."
Its not just Muslim's who have used honour killings as an excuse for murder but also Hindus, Sikhs and Christians, He also stated that there is a mental health element connected to these killings. "The perpetrators are those who would commit a crime, a murder, and not feel any remorse, these are signs of a personality disorder."
Dr Muhammad feels that the mental health afflictions suffered by the perpetrators of such heinous crimes are largely overlooked due to a lack of understanding in Western culture. The mental health care offered to people in developing countries where honour killings are most prevalent is inadequate. Muhammed is busy completing a report to present to the federal government regarding his findings on the subject of honour killings.
Charged with second degree murder a sobbing Peers attended a court case on the 6th November 2012 .His defence argued that Peer`s was mentally ill and suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), he had at the time of his wife's murder been suffering from recurrent major depression. Throughout the case Peer`s maintained he had never meant to kill his wife of 30 years. He had felt increasingly furious at her defiant behaviour and had been provoked by her constant insults. "I just couldn't take it anymore," he told the Court. The Khairi family were originally from Afghanistan and had immigrated from India to Canada in 2003. Peers defense argued that he was also suffering from "resettlement stress."
Many people from immigrant communities in Canada are struggling to integrate into Western culture. New Muslim immigrants especially are often reluctant to talk about the many issues which they face in Western society concerning family life. But said Imam Zijad Delic of the Canadian Islamic Congress, "These issues are being addressed in Mosques and community centres."
Peer Khairi pleaded not guilty, but the issue is not whether he killed her but rather the degree of his culpability in criminal proceedings. The question is a matter of parole and how soon he would be released after sentencing. The minimum term is 10 years and the maximum is 25 years, sentencing comes on November 20, 2012, in a Toronto courtroom. The prosecutor, Robert Kenny said, "He wanted her dead." He added, "That is why he cut her throat right down to the bone."
