Award-Winning Journalist, Human Rights Advocate to Speak at JWU

Providence, RI – Nov 6, 2009 – Award-winning Jordanian investigative journalist Rana Husseini, author of the new book "Murder in the Name of Honor," will visit JWU’s Intercultural Center on Wed, Nov 11, for two sessions at 2:30 and 4:30pm. Sponsored by Feinstein Community Service Center and the Department of Social Sciences, the event is free and open to the public.

Husseini stunned the world when she exposed the international phenomenon of so-called crimes of honor, which are effectively defined as the murder of girls or women by their fathers, brothers or other male relatives to "cleanse their family honor." While these crimes account for nearly one-third of the murders of women in Husseini's native Jordan, they occur all over the world.

In her provocative new book, Husseini chronicles the many crimes that she has uncovered during years of investigative reporting. Though interviews and eyewitness accounts, she meticulously reconstructs each crime scene — not to shock but to help readers understand the multiple contradictions that allow these horrific crimes to occur.

Husseini's fearless activism has earned her numerous awards, including the The Ida B. Wells Award for Bravery in Journalism. Husseini's coverage of and dedication to ending this unjustified practice against women has helped to raise national awareness and a public outcry on this topic.

Husseini's book will be available for purchase and signing following the workshops.