The Role of Traditions Contrary to Islamic Sharia in the Crime of Murder: A Case Study of Samawat Village, Khost Province
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69892/diwan.2026.151Keywords:
Ancient Traditions, Customary Justice, Ethnic Factors, Cultural Factors, Honor Killing, Murder, Blood revenge, Jirga (Council of Elders)Abstract
This study looks into how Samawat Village, which is in the Khost Province's Ismail Khel and Manduz districts, is affected by cultural and ethnic characteristics when it comes to homicide incidents. The high rate of homicides in this region is mostly due to ingrained cultural values, customs, and tribal expectations; these frequently center on ideas like honor and shame, blood vengeance (vendetta), land and resource conflicts, and marital disagreements. These conventional beliefs support violence and killing in opposition to the value of human life, even though they are firmly ingrained in society. The study emphasizes how reliance on jirgas and flaws in official legal enforcement contribute to the continuation of violent cycles. The usage of ethnic and cultural variables in the murder is examined in this qualitative study. Information was gathered through customized questionnaires from various ethnic groups, conversations with victims, and interviews with ethnic leaders. The province of Khost is where the target sample was chosen. It is stressed to respect the ethical principles of the participants and to preserve their privacy when researching security limits and providing incorrect information to some individuals.
The usage of ethnic and cultural variables in the murder is examined in this qualitative study. Information was gathered through customized questionnaires from various ethnic groups, conversations with victims, and interviews with ethnic leaders. The province of Khost is where the target sample was chosen. It is stressed to respect the ethical principles of the participants and to preserve their privacy when researching security limits and providing incorrect information to some individuals.
References
قرآن کریم
1. أبو زيد، أحمد. جرائم الشرف في المجتمعات العربية: دراسة سوسيولوجية. جامعة الكويت: مجلة العلوم الاجتماعية، ۱۹۹۶ م.
2. الزحيلي، وهبة بن مصطفى. جرائم الشرف في الفقه الإسلامي والقانون. دمشق: دار الفكر، ۲۰۰۵ م.
3. القرضاوي، يوسف. فقه الجريمة والعقوبة في الإسلام. القاهرة: مكتبة وهبة، ۲۰۰۱ م.
4. Aliyu, Taofeek Kolawole et al. “Cultural Themes Related to Oral Health Practices, Beliefs, and Experiences in Nigeria: A Scoping Review.” Oral 5/2 (2 April 2025), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.3390/oral5020023
5. Barak, Gregg et al. Class, Race, Gender, and Crime: The Social Realities of Justice in America. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2010.
6. Caterini, Martina. “Moving Towards More Inclusive Definitions of Femicide: Intersectionality and Marginalised Identities.” Contemporary Challenges: The Global Crime, Justice and Security Journal 4 (October 8, 2023), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.2218/ccj.v4.9119
7. Daniel, Udom - Ben, Victor. “Cultural Definition of Diseases and Healthcare for Infants and Children in Africa: The Experiences in Southeast Nigeria.” Journal of National Issues 2/1 (March 28, 2025), 65–74. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15049127
8. Dayan, Hava. “Ethnocultural Diversity in Homicide Crime Scene Staging.” Homicide Studies 28/1 (February 2024), 99–121. https://doi.org/10.1177/10887679221082910
9. Dayan, Hava et al. “Exploring Homicide Diversity: Femicide Across Sociocultural Groups.” Crime & Delinquency 70/1 (January 2024), 234–256. https://doi.org/10.1177/00111287221086273
10. Islam, Z. “Dynamics of Rural Crime in South Asia: A Criminological Overview.” International Journal of Social Science, Technology and Economics Management 1 (2024), 289–310.
11. Khaskheli, Muhammad Bilawal et al. “Comparative Analysis of Honor Killing Phenomena in China and Pakistan.” Journal of Law and Criminal Justice 6/2 (2018), 15–34. https://doi.org/10.15640/jlcj.v6n2a2
12. Mencken, F. – Froese, Paul. “Gun Culture in Action.” Social Problems 66 (20 November 2017), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1093/socpro/spx040
13. Noor, Neeha. “Honor or Oppression? A Critical Discourse Analysis of Media Representation of Honor-Based Violence Against Women in South Asia.” International Review of Social Sciences 13/3 (2025), 12–24.
14. Oguntibeju, Oluwafemi Omoniyi. “The Interrelationship Between Culture and the Use of Medicinal Plants in Healing: Perspective from Selected Cultures and Countries.” Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences (PJLSS) 23/1 (2025), 63-83. https://doi.org/10.57239/PJLSS-2025-23.1.00651
15. Ojukwu, Chidimma Evelyn – Biereenu-Nnabugwu, Makodi. “Criminals’ Recourse to Indigenous Spirituality and Crisis of Crime Control in Anambra State: A Study in Interpretive Analysis.” Socialscientia: Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities 10/2 (20 July 2025), 99-107.
16. Okeke, Sylvester R. et al. “Addressing Health Disparities Among Migrants in High-Income Countries: Using Sociocultural Beliefs and Norms as Resources.” Handbook of Concepts in Health, Health Behavior and Environmental Health. ed. Pranee Liamputtong. 1–20. Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore, 2025. 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-0821-5_65-1
17. Owusu, Emmanuel Sarpong. Superstition-Driven Violence Against Children and the Elderly in Ghana and Kenya: A Criminological Analysis. England: School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Portsmouth, 2025.
18. Park, Sanghee – Mwihambi, Yesse Charles. “Reducing Hate Crimes: The Role of Racial Contexts and Minority Representation in U.S. State Protective Services.” Public Performance & Management Review 48/3 (4 May 2025), 497–524. https://doi.org/10.1080/15309576.2024.2443136
19. Qadeer, M. et al. “Honour Killing in South Punjab, Pakistan.” Journal of Applied Linguistics and TESOL (JALT) 8/2 (16 May 2025), 690–703.
20. Shafti, Saeed Shoja. “Shame Killing: Characteristics and Outlooks.” Annals of Public Health & Epidemiology 1/3 (2020), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.33552/APHE.2021.01.000515
21. Sharpe, Tanya L. et al. “Exploring Research on the Coping Strategies of Black Survivors of Homicide Victims: A Scoping Review.” Homicide Studies 29/1 (February 2025), 6–44. https://doi.org/10.1177/10887679241277126
22. Wainwright, John et al. “A Lack of Cultural Understanding and Sometimes Interest: Towards Half a Century of Anti-Racist Policy, Practice and Strategy within Probation.” Probation Journal 71/2 (June 2024), 116–138. https://doi.org/10.1177/02645505231213977
23. Welsh, Brandon C. – Piza, Eric L. “Crime Prevention for Social Impact and Social Justice: The Ideals, the Challenges, the Progress.” The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 714/1 (July 2024), 8–21. https://doi.org/10.1177/00027162251351061
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Diwan

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.











