On October 1^st, more than three hundred human rights and women's rights activists published a statement in objection to the request of our provinces in Iran for registration of an intra-tribal tradition called “cease-blood¹” to be placed on the National Iranian Heritage list. Those who objected regarded the request to be against the Human Rights Code and called the action anti-feminist.

In part of the statement they articulate:

“If only the councilors of The National Heritage Institute could have listened to the heartbreaking stories of these women who were the victims of conflicts among men. There exists a common proverb used in situations where a woman faces the unkindness and brutality of her husband's family “Am I an exchange for blood?” and for a woman whose blood has literally been exchanged for the lives of the other party, it is quite predictable what a miserable life she will experience. Cases of depression, running away, self-immolation and suicide is high among these women. Are the authorities aware of the consequences of such an endorsement in the community? Is it not true that in Islam treating women as commodities in marriage is prohibited by law and that a marriage against the will of the woman is to be annulled?”

The signatories close their statement by declaring a plea for the prevention of the addition of this inhumane tradition to The National Heritage List. They ask the authorities to collect the necessary data and to study the prevalence and consequences of these kinds of marriages. In addition they ask that the necessary conditions are established in order to prevent similar cases from occurring, and to further support the divorce requests and grievances from women who are involved in such situations.”

Statement by women's rights and human rights activists condemning the registration of Khoon-Bas (a tribal custom) in The National Heritage List: This is not a source of national pride!

The Cultural Heritage Organization's efforts to register the tradition of "Khoon-Bas" as a traditional practice has shocked and dismayed women’s and human rights activists.

Khoon-bas (cease-blood) is an inhumane tribal practice in which an innocent woman or sometimes a young child is put forward in the name of marriage and used as a means of reconciliation. The girl or woman is in fact considered to be blood compensation. The women trapped in this situation are sometimes married to a man who is much older and usually already married. She is not allowed to request a divorce, so she and her children are destined to suffer and be humiliated throughout their lives.

Surprisingly, those advocating registering this custom consider it a way to promote a culture of peace and forgiveness, and a preventative measure against future conflict and retaliation between different groups. Peace and reconciliation through mediation and forgiveness is of course positive and the women’s rights movement has always strived to prevent any form of death retribution, in many cases being successful. However, the culture in which the will of a woman in determining the circumstances of her own life is ignored is in no way endorsed by any of the death retribution opponents. How can a primitive culture in ancient times which demanded “blood for blood” and where there were no legislations, be representative of peaceful Iranian culture?

The way to prevent continued conflicts (and fatalities) between tribal communities is not to sacrifice the life and future of a woman who is offered as a "Khoon-bas", but to put an end to the tradition, law, and culture of retribution itself. Unfortunately, the authorities do not prevent the traditions of violent avengement, but even go as far as to legitimize, promote and disseminate them. This means that they themselves strengthen the roots of “khoon-bas”, and commend this kind of misogynistic and otherwise illegal practice. The way to deal with the destructive and ongoing conflicts is not to ruin the lives of more innocent human beings, but is to amend the current law, update it, and promote it nationwide.

If only the councilors of The National Heritage Institute could have listened to the heartbreaking stories of these women who were the victims of conflicts among men. There exists a common proverb used in situations where a woman faces the unkindness and brutality of her husband's family “Am I an exchange for blood?” and for a woman whose blood has literally been exchanged for the lives of the other party, it is quite predictable that she will experience a miserable life. Cases of depression, running away, self-immolation and suicide is high among these women. Are the authorities aware of the consequences of such an endorsement in the community? Is it not true that in Islam treating women as commodities in marriage is prohibited by law and that marriage against the will of the woman is to be annulled?

Is it logical to preserve a custom just because it has been practiced amongst some of Iran’s most ancient communities or to consider it a source of national pride?  It is crucial that the governmental authorities prevent the addition of this inhumane practice to The National Heritage list. We implore these authorities to collect the necessary data and to study the prevalence and consequences of these kinds of marriages, in order to establish the necessary conditions to prevent similar cases, as well as to support divorce requests and grievances from women who are involved in such situations.

A few days after this statement was published, the registration of Khoon-bas was abandoned.