So, threads like this one crop up from time to time, basically describing a victim (almost invariably female) being killed or injured for being sexually assaulted. These are described as honor killings, and appear to be occurring because of perceived shame brought upon the family of the victim as a result of the assault. So, when did this practice start? Where? Under what conditions? I know (or rather assume) that it's hard to look at the idea of crime, and perceptions thereof, throughout history (since something that's criminal today may have been acceptable in the past EDIT: and also clearly what's criminal in one place may not be in another, even within the same timeframe), but surely there's a context for what we see reported today.