Recent shocking news of the murder of four women in Canada in the name of "honor killing" has brought this centuries-old crime to the forefront.

As seen in most of the cases, the perpetrators in Canada were close family members: in this instance, parents and a brother.

At their sentencing, the judge aptly stated: "It is difficult to conceive of a more despicable, more heinous, more honorless crime. The apparent reason behind these cold-blooded, shameful murders was that the four completely innocent victims offended your completely twisted concept of honor, a notion of honor that is founded upon the domination and control of women."

Human rights watch has defined honor killings as "acts of vengeance, usually death, committed by male family members against female family members, who are held to have brought dishonor upon the family."

The organization further states a woman can be targeted for reasons that include refusing to enter into an arranged marriage, seeking a divorce, allegedly committing adultery and being a victim of sexual assault.

Though religions are "claimed" to be the source of teachings for honor killings, this practice has been going on for thousands of years.

Norma Khouri, a Christian Arab writer, traces the origin of honor killings to the belief that a woman and her virtue are the possession of her family.

Khouri says this "cultural norm" started under the rule of Hammarabi and other Assyrian tribes dating back to 1200 B.C.

Another scholar suggests the honor killings were accepted as a noble act in ancient Rome, where men who did not punish the women accused of adultery were hounded. The rape of a woman was tantamount to the end of any hope of an honorable life, and "honor killing" was considered a sympathetic act by the family members.

In many ancient cultures, including the Babylonian, Egyptian, Native American and Persian cultures, women convicted of infidelity were given harsh sentences. Chinese husbands would cut off the hair of wives accused of illicit relationships and crush them to death by elephants.

Cultural norms play a major role in these acts going unpunished.

Unfortunately, laws in many countries in the Middle East and South Asia are very lenient with respect to this crime, and even with persistent efforts by human rights groups, the governments at times have not been able to change it due to cultural or political pressures.

Though historically this terrible act is practiced in different parts of the world, today it is seen more in Muslim countries.

There are many factors contributing to this: strong male-controlled societies, governments not taking steps to match the punishment to the crime, and in some cases a lack of education.

Islam has given equal rights to men and women. Each adult is responsible for his or her acts, and a family does not have the right to take the life of a woman based on its perception of "honor."

Sadly, some religious leaders in Muslim countries also condone these acts and try to justify them according to their faith.

According to some estimates, about 5,000 women and girls are killed yearly in the name of honor. Though most of the human rights groups over the world believe this number is much higher. Many cases are reported as accidents or suicides.

Men who migrate to the West from these patriarchal societies at times feel out of control, alienated, becoming more rigid in their ideas. A poll conducted by BBC Asian Network showed that one in 10 young Asians living in Great Britian surveyed — a group comprised of 500 Sikhs, Christians, Muslims and Hindus — would condone honor killings.

Lots of work is needed to eradicate this crime by educating the societies on equality of the sexes, and by imposing stricter penalties for the offense.

This is not an issue of a faith or certain part of the world, this is universal issue as it affects woman everywhere.

Ghazala Hayat sits on the public relations committee of the Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis. Her Civil Religion blog is called, "BUILDING BRIDGES • Thoughts from a Muslim perspective."