Cultural Oppression Disguised as Religious Obligation: A Fatal Misrepresentation to the Advancement of Muslim Women’s Rights in the Context of the So-Called Honor Killings

Advocates of women’s rights have faced various struggles throughout the decades in the advancement of women’s rights and emancipation in Muslim-majority countries.  Much of the struggle is caused by the long-held misconception that the principal barrier to the advancement of such rights is due to the religion of Islam or, more accurately, the prevailing interpretations of Islam.  In fact, historically, Islam has helped to further women’s rights.  If that is so, then there must be another reason so as to why Muslim women living in Muslim-majority countries or Muslim communities in the west are often deprived of the same rights that are granted to their western counterparts.  The answer lies within the culture itself.The dangers of misconstruing culture with religion is apparent.  For one, mixing up religion with culture does not create an accurate depiction of Islam, which is why Muslim communities in different parts of the world practice “Islam” differently.  What often occurs is different communities often mix their culture with religion, resulting in different versions of Islam being practiced from one community to the next with dire consequences for women.  Second and more relevant to this discussion, if one were to perceive tension between women’s rights and religion, the advancement of women’s rights would be much more difficult to achieve.  That is because opponents often hide behind arguments that religion takes precedence over all other rights.Because of the complexities caused by mistaking cultural norms as religion, this Article aims to lay to rest the misconception that women’s rights are hindered by religion.  By arguing that it is culture and tradition that are the main obstacles to the advancement of women’s rights in Muslim communities, this Article hopes to defeat any potential arguments that aim to hinder the advancement of women’s rights under the false guise of religion.  In doing so, this Article will look at one practice that is erroneously perceived as being governed by Islamic law: honor killings

The Pivotal Role of International Human Rights Law in Defeating Cybercrime: Amid a (UN-Backed) Global Treaty on Cybercrime

On May 26, 2021, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a resolution approving the drafting of a new global treaty on cybercrime, which commenced in February 2022. The proposed UN agreement on cybercrime regulation has garnered significant criticism among the international community, namely by state delegates, human rights advocates, and nongovernmental organizations. Fears stem from the belief that such a treaty would be used to legitimize abusive practices and undermine fundamental human rights. National cybercrime laws already unduly restrict human rights. However, at a time where the global community has moved toward a digital world, it becomes even more necessary to legislate on a global scale against the commission of cybercrime. This Article aims to provide guidance on how to ensure respect for human rights in the drafting of a global treaty on cybercrime in the hopes that it will help guide the process and facilitate a smoother transition. The Article concludes that national security concerns stemming from threats of cybercrime should be viewed not as dichotomies but as complementary, where one cannot be achieved without respect for the other, concluding that the best approach is one that integrates human rights into the text of the treaty, thereby ensuring that human rights are not trumped by national security concerns in the name of cybercrime regulation