GARCIA-NAVARRO: She says Basra also saw an upsurge of honor killings for the same simple reason.

NPR: Iraqi Army Eases Militias' Grip on Women in Basra

And there have been at least three instances of honor killings in America in recent months in Texas, Atlanta, and New York.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Rifqa Bary, 'Dead Girl Walking'

She reports that Britain has reopened 110 cases in which murders occurred last year that are now all suspected of being honor killings.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Rifqa Bary, 'Dead Girl Walking'

So-called honor killings, in which members of a family kill relatives because of behavior that they say shames the family, claim about 5, 000 lives a year around the world, according to the United Nations Population Fund.

CNN: British court convicts parents in 'honor' murder

But the jury also heard from an expert witness on honor murders -- a term CNN is using in the interest of clarity rather than the more common "honor killings" because the latter phrase does not properly describe the alleged crime.

CNN: Family convicted in Canada 'honor murders'