The term family honour, in fact refers to an entire social code of behaviour imposed upon women and girls in order to keep them in an inferior position and preserve male supremacy. The murder of women for the sake of family honour is actually just the tip of iceberg of an entire social institution based upon this code. This whole system simply assumes that the man’s honour resides within the body of his sister, daughter, mother, or wife.

In the Southeastern regions, the murders are usually committed by the under-aged male relative of the women. Obviously, the reason is to shorten the jail sentence time. According to the Turkish Criminal Code, the punishment of the first degree murder is 24 years. Moreover, if the murder is committed by a family member then the punishment is a life long jail sentence without parole. However, if there is provocation in the case, and/or the murder is committed by an adolescent, the duration of the punishment is significantly shortened. The claim or the defence of honour is one of them.