The Federal Supreme Court (STF), unanimously, declared the so-called “honor defense” unconstitutional, holding that it violates the principles of human dignity, the protection of life, and gender equality. The ruling was issued in the context of a Claim of Breach of Fundamental Precept (ADPF) 779, filed by the Democratic Labor Party (PDT), following a preliminary injunction granted by Justice Dias Toffoli in February 2021.
The appellant, a Bedouin man, was convicted for murder with malice aforethought for killing his sister after she insisted that she would travel to Egypt alone. The appellant claimed that his charge should be reduced as the killing was the result of provocation. He further argued that the court should take into account that he was defending his family honor, as it was unacceptable in Bedouin culture for unmarried women to travel alone. The court ruled that no argument of “family honor” as a motive for killing someone will be allowed by a court in Israel.
