Subject: Opinion Poll on Honor KillingMargin of error: ± 3%Sample size: 1200 Palestinian youth in the West Bank and GazaPalestinians Ready to Abolish the Legal Clause that Allows Honor Killing:
- Three quarters of Palestinian youth support abolishing the legal clause on honor killing.
- There is eual support for abolishing the clause on honor killing among supporters of Hamas, Fatah and leftist groups.
A recent poll among 1200 Palestinian youth in the West Bank and Gaza (15-17 January 2012), reveals that there is a near consensus among Palestinian youth on the need to abolish the legal clause that protects men from being prosecuted if they killed a female relative accused of shaming family honor.The poll reveals that a majority of all social and political groups join in supporting such a historic change in the law:
- Three quarters of Palestinian youth support the abolitioof the clause on honor killing.
- The majority of West Bank youth (77 percent) and Gaza youth (71 percent) support the abolishment of the clause.
- The majority of men and women support the proposed abolishment, with more support among women (82 percent) than men (67 percent).
- Refugee camp residents are more supportive (83 percent) than city residents (73 percent) and villagers (71 percent).
- 81 percent of respondents with high income are supportive; 75 percent of the middle income and 67 percent of the low income respondents are supportive.
- University students are most supportive (78 percent), followed by youth who completed 9-12 years of education (75 percent). The least support (71 percent) is among the least educated and the most educated.
- Wearing the Hijab does not play a significant role in views of honor killing, as 80 percent of women wearing a full Hijab and 84 percent of women covering with a head scarf are supportive of the abolishment of the clause on honor killing. 89 percent of women with modern dress share the same view.
- The gap is larger within the male cohort in correlation with growing a beard for religious reasons. Men who are not bearded for religious reasons are more supportive (70 percent) than men with beards (56 percent) of abolishing the honor killing law.
- There is no correlation between political affiliation and views of the law that allows honor killing. Support for abolishing the clause on honor is equal among supporters of Hamas, Fatah and leftist groups (74 percent). It is slightly higher among independents (77 percent).
Views on honor killing are more progressive than views on other political and social issues:
- Youth are divided on assessing the situation of Palestinian women: 22 percent of the youth believe that women are extremely oppressed and 47 percent believe that they are somewhat oppressed. In contrast, 30 percent believe that women are not oppressed.
- The position of a President still denied to women by a majority: 51 percent of the overall youth sample will not support the appointment/election of a qualified woman to the position of President of the Palestinian Authority. In contrast, 47 percent support having a woman as President.
- Majority of West Bank youth are supportive: The regional gap on this issue is significant, where 55 percent of West Bank youth are supportive of a woman as President; only 32 percent of Gaza youth share the same view.
- Persistent gender gap: Support for appointing a woman to the position of President is much higher among women (56 percent) than men (38 percent).
- Type of dress is correlated: Women wearing modern dress are more supportive (73 percent) than women with full Hijab (46 percent).
- Breaded men are most resistant: Only 20 percent of bearded men are supportive of a woman as President, compared with 42 percent of non-bearded men, and 56 percent of women.
- Fatah and Hamas express similar views: 46 percent of Fatah supporters and 43 percent of Hamas supporters agree that a woman could become a President. That view is shared by 51 percent of the leftists and 56 percent of the independents.
- Two thirds are willing to vote for a woman in a parliamentary election: Youth are more supportive of having women in the parliament than in the President post. Two thirds say that they are willing to vote for a female candidate and 31 percent say that they are unwilling.
- Women bear the bulk of housework: 73 percent of the youth say that only women do the housework or that they do most of it. A quarter says that women and men equally do housework. Only 2.5 percent say the men do more housework than women.
Dr. Nader Said, President of AWRAD, noted that the results of this poll are historic and pave the way for the legislator to approach this issue with greater courage.He stipulates that a majority resistance to changing the clause on honor killing is presumed as a fact and used by decision-makers as an excuse to stand in the way of real change. He continues to say, that the present poll is a window of opportunity to immediately delve into a genuine process that will lead to abolishing the clause that justifies and pardons killing women in the name of honor.Dr. Said insists that politicians from all political orientations now have no excuse to be silent about the killing of women when the vast majority of their constituency is supportive of change. To him, public opinion is ahead of the political process and the politicians, who must immediately cater to the wishes of their constituencies.To view the Arabic report and PowerPoint presentation, please access the following materials:
Arabic reportPowerPoint presentation