Four, Including a Woman, Publicly Executed for Adultery in Pakistan

In Pakistan's remote Khyber agency area, a woman and three men were shot to death after they were pronounced guilty of adultery by the local elders, BBC reports.

The area which is on the Afghan-Pakistan border functions under the orders of local "jirga", a traditional council of elders.

The report quotes a local resident's comment to news agency Reuters. "We found a man and a woman in a compromising position along with another man who was drunk and had already committed adultery, and the owner of the house," the resident said.

Pre-martial and extra martial sex is a taboo in Pakistan and rural areas like Khyber, those suspected are often punished with death.

It is reported that around 600 people viewed the execution.

Pakistani Women and Girls are Often Victims of Honor Killings

In 1999, Amnesty International released a detailed report on honor killings in Pakistan. The reports details horrific details of young girls being brutally murdered by their family, sometimes their own parents, brothers for bringing "shame" on the family.

In one such incident in province of Punjab, young girl named Ghazala was burned to death by her own brother and her body was left on the street for about two hours, no one came forward for her. She was suspected of having an affair with a neighbor.

Honor Killings and Domestic Violence in Western Nations

Incidents of honor killings in western countries are increasingly becoming public.

International Campaign Against honor Killing website has a list filled with details of honor killings in Germany, Turkey, UK, France and Sweden.

In one such incident a 19-year-old woman of Turkish heritage was stalked by her family members, accused of bringing shame to her family after she decided to leave her 50-year-old husband who was abusive towards her. She is now in Germany and fears for her life.

Even Men are Victims

Like in this incident where three men were killed for "adultery", there are many more incidents where like women, men are also victimized.