Women are granted equality under the Jordanian Constitution, but at the same time, they are denied legal competence under some discriminatory laws in Jordan’s Penal Code. There are two articles in Jordan’s Penal Code which allow for honour killings to occur with limited punishment for the perpetrators. Articles 340 and 98 are located under the section “Excuse in Murder.”

Article 340 allows for a man who catches his wife or one of his female relatives committing adultery and kills her to be exempt from penalty. This contradicts Article 7 which states that Jordanians are to be guaranteed personal freedom.

Article 98 allows for a man to receive a reduction in penalty if he commits the crime in a fit of fury so long as the victim was engaging in an unlawful or dangerous act. For example, when a man was charged with murder for killing his unmarried cousin, the court found favour with him. He had killed her a month after learning that she was pregnant, and the court decided that losing his temper was justified because she had brought disgrace to the family.

Some women turn to the police for help, but creating public awareness of domestic abuse is scorned by the police and society, and there is a great risk of retaliation. Those who ask for help are usually ignored, and the police tend to display bias in favour of the male party.