Nisha, I read all the comments to Joss's commentary on the Whedonesque Web site, and they are articulate and heartfelt and impassioned. But, as someone who's worked in the area of "honor" killings for a long time, I was a little disturbed by how quickly people wanted to act without first educating themselves about what they are and what they aren't. Also, just a knee-jerk collective leap to support a nonprofit he supports without doing due diligence or researching what else might be needed to protect people like Dua and to locate other worthy nonprofits.

I would encourage people to do a little more homework. One recently published book on this subject that actually provides empirical data (rare in relation to "honor" killings) and offers some insights into the underlying thinking is a book called "Reclaiming Honor in Jordan" by Ellen R. Sheeley, which is available on the American version of Amazon. The "honor" killing book by Norma Khoury, which she presented as nonfiction, has been largely discredited, so I wouldn't recommend people buy or read that one unless they realize that it is a work of fiction (though fairly representative of crimes that actually do occur).