After reading this headline: Turkish girl 'buried alive' in a family garden. I thought, what could she have done? Did she kill someone, steal, was she involved in drug trafficking? It was none of those things. She was caught by her father and uncle for talking to a group of 16 year old boys, not having sex, not kissing, not stripping - simply chatting.

This minor named Medine Memi, was found after an anonymous tip to police. Medine was discovered under a concrete block sitting in a six foot grave, hands tied behind her back; her lungs and stomach fill with dirt. There was minor bruising and no drugs in her system. Medine was very much alive as she was lowered into that hole.  It takes no stretch of the imagination to know how painful her suffering was.

The father and grandfather were arrested buy not charged. They're defense is it a honor killing, claiming it's not a religious act rather a custom or cultural killing. As if that makes it better.

The reports are that this small Kurdish region known for its very conservative and religious views was once run by the powerful Islamic sect Naksibendi. The Official Turkish claim is that such practices have been banned in modern Turkey. However, this fanatism seems not ruled out or really enforced against. Some even contend there is a rise in this pr actice. Which leads me to think, if we don't raise our voices it will slowly creep into our society. Those currently in power are slave to fighting those who wish to take them down.

In my mind, this is about religious fundamentalism or in an mondern day media vernacular 'family values.' That is the arc of fundamentalism and the justification by these groups to live in 3000 B.C., yet they use 21st century communication tools to spread their word and world of oppression. They choose the follow rules that exert punishment for rules broken, rather than use their energy to embrace love and make change in that vain. We can say that, it doesn't affect me personally and go on with our day. But, then you have to look at the bombing in Spain in Madrid at the train station killing 200, or look at the bombing in England of their underground or The World Trade Center. All I'm suggesting is that you make your voice heard when someone seems to condone or pass the blame off regarding human rights violations. This is our fight, this is about everyone we love, everything we hold dear. This is violence against women, children and animals.

Take a moment from a game you're playing, or a tv show,  or another post and send or tell someone you know about this story. The more people who understand what women are suffering around the globe empowers us all the more. One way of protecting ourselves is to keep ourselves informed.

if you wish to read the article itself: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8501181.stm

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