‘Honour-Based’ Violence: Colonial Legacies, Systemic Racism, and South Asian Women's Experiences in the UK

Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a pervasive issue in the UK, disproportionately impacting Black and minoritised ethnic communities. For South Asian women, this violence is shaped by intersecting factors such as colonial legacies, racism, and sexism. This article focuses on ‘honour-based’ violence (HBV) as a specific form of GBV , shaped by historical, cultural, and systemic forces. Through a critical examination of colonial histories, migration patterns, and structural racism, the study explores how these dynamics continue to limit access to justice and support for South Asian survivors today. Navigating dual cultural identities, South Asian women often face cultural stigmas, isolation, and coercive control within both familial and community networks. High-profile cases such as the ‘honour’ killings of Shafilea Ahmed and Surjit Athwal exemplify how honour-related violence is perpetuated by harmful cultural norms and exacerbated by neglect within the criminal justice system. Meanwhile, cases like Zoora Shah reveal the inadequacies of existing GBV frameworks in delivering justice. This study seeks to display the intricacies of navigating modern cultural sensitivities while adopting nuanced approaches that balance respect for cultural practices with the need to challenge harmful traditions. The article concludes by calling for culturally competent structural reforms, survivor-centred approaches, and community empowerment to combat GBV and foster long- term social change for British South Asian communities.