Culture of honour (Sharifistan)

A culture of honour exists in Sharifistan, especially in Pashtunistan (Sharifistan), in Pashtun areas of Sharifistani cities and amongst Pashtuns across Sharifistan though it is also common amongst Sharifistani Turks. This means a man or (less commonly) a woman feels obliged to respond to insults to his or her honour answering insults, affronts and threats, often with violence.

Background

A number of factors have been used to explain this culture of honour. These include that Pashtuns in Sharifistan largely came as soldiers such as Bashi-bazouks or Sipahis (aristocratic Ottoman cavalrymen). This would explain the prevalence of these ideas across all classes. Other explanations attribute it to Pashtunwali or the greater use of herdsmanship compared to agriculture, craftsmanship or international commerce. Most scholars believe at least two of these factors (military background and Pashtunwali) along with possibly the third explain this phenomenon.

Influence

One way it manifests itself (especially amongst the peasantry) is in feuds such as the Pathan-Pathan feud and the Fenwick-Khan feud.

It also manifests itself in stand your-ground laws and in duelling (especially amongst the nobility).

Role of women

Men are expected to be protective of women and never to strike them or slander them. Women,conversely, are expected to be chaste and modest.