Reconstructing Honor Killing Through Siri’

A Cultural Perspective from Bugis-Makassar Society

Authors

  • Nur Fadhilah Mappaselleng Universitas Muslim Indonesia
  • Zul Khaidir Kadir Universitas Muslim Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37329/ganaya.v8i4.4858

Keywords:

Bugis-Makassar, Honor Killing, Siri’

Abstract

Honor killing within the Bugis-Makassar community cannot be fully understood through the lens of positive criminal law, as it is grounded in the normative system of siri’, which holds strong social legitimacy. This study addresses a gap in existing literature that overlooks local value systems as a source of normative justification for violence. It employs a qualitative method with a conceptual approach, using library research to explore siri’ as a regulatory structure. The findings reveal that siri’ positions collective honor above individual life, institutionalizing violence as a corrective obligation. The key contribution of this study is the introduction of cultural criminology as an alternative analytical framework to interpret violence legitimized by customary norms. These findings underscore the urgency of reforming criminal law to account for value pluralism within a legally plural society.

References

Ahmadin. (2021). Sociology of Bugis Society: An Introduction. Jurnal Kajian Sosial Dan Budaya, 5(3), 20–27.

AlQahtani, S. M., Almutairi, D. S., BinAqeel, E. A., Almutairi, R. A., Al-Qahtani, R. D., & Menezes, R. G. (2022). Honor Killing in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: A Narrative Review. Healthcare, 11(74), 1–8.

Arison, M. A. (2020). Criminal Law Policy against Actor of Criminal Performance Persecution. Jurnal Daulat Hukum, 3(1), 139–146.

Bustan, & Jumadi. (2024). Reaktualisasi Siri’ sebagai Pembelajaran Nilai Pada Kepemimpinan Masyarakat Bugis-Makassar. Innovative: Journal of Social Science Research, 4(3), 1100–1110.

Carvalho, H. (2023). Dangerous Patterns: Joint Enterprise and the Culture of Criminal Law. Social & Legal Studies, 32(3), 335–355.

Chancer, L. S. (2024). Cultural Criminology: A Retrospective and Prospective Review. Annual Review of Criminology, 7(1), 129–142.

Coca-Vila, I., & Irarrázava, C. (2021). A Criminal Law for Semicitizens. Journal of Applied Philosophy, 39(1), 56–72.

Fadholi, H. B., & Sari, S. D. (2022). Hukum Negara dan Hukum Adat: Dua Kutub Yang Saling Menguatkan. Jurnal Mengkaji Indonesia, 1(1), 18–31.

Garcia, G. S., íno-Solano, A. V., & Salazar, B. P. (2024). The Debate Concerning Deviance and Divergence: A New Theoretic Proposal. Oñatio Socio-Legal Series, 14(2), 505–529.

Ge, E., DongZhi, C., & Mace, R. (2024). Religiosity and Gender Biaas Structure Social Networks. Evolutionary Human Sciences, 6(23), 1–20.

Gregory, G. A., Fox, J., & Howard, B. K. (2020). Honour-Based Violence: Awareness and Recognition. Paediatrics and Child Health, 30(11), 365–370.

Handayani, L. D., Latief, R. Z., Muhtadini, R. L., & Setyani, A. I. (2024). Siri’ di Persimpangan Generasi: Peran dan Makna Nilai Siri’ Pada Dewasa Awal Suku Bugis. Suksma: Jurnal Psikologi Universitas Sanata Dharma, 5(2), 107–122.

Hajramurni, A. (2020). Brothers charged for alleged honor killing of sister in South Sulawesi. The Jakarta Post.

Huda, S., & Kamal, A. (2025). Honor Killings in Pakistan: Unveiling of Myths and Misuses of the Term. Women & Criminal Justice, 1(1), 1–11.

Imam, S. K. (2022). Community Policing: An Innovative Approach for Effective Law Enforcement. Journal of Law & Social Studies (JLSS), 4(1), 30–44.

Insani, N., B, S., Karimullah, S. S., Gönan, Y., & Sulastri. (2024). Islamic Law and Local Wisdom: Exploring Legal Scientific Potential Integrating Local Cultural Values. Kanun: Jurnal Ilmu Hukum, 26(1), 101–124.

Jamaluddin, A. Bin, Zubaidah, S., Mahanal, S., & Gofur, A. (2021). Exploration of the Indonesian Makassar-Buginese Siri’ Educational Values: The Foundation of Character Education. International Journal of Evaluaation and Research in Education (IJERE), 11(1), 10–19.

Jihad, N. A. (2023). The Concept of Legality and Legitimacy. Journal of Juridical and Political Science, 12(2), 411–438.

Kadir, Z. K. (2024). Retributivisme Kultural: Eksplorasi Fenomena Pembunuhan Demi Kehormatan (Honor Killing) dalam Lensa Teori Kriminologi. Jurnal Litigasi Amsir, 11(4), 430–440.

Kadir, Z. K., & Mappaselleng, N. F. (2025). Reformasi Konsep Heat of Passion: Menuju Pembatasan Provokasi dalam Mengurangi Pertanggungjawaban Pidana Pembunuhan. Justitiable-Jurnal Hukum, 8(1), 119–136.

Maghniwi, R., & Oukassi, M. (2025). Neo-Banks in Morocco: Hybrid Distribution Models and Customer Experience. Review of Law and Social Sciences, 3(2), 59–69.

Mariani, S. (2024). Konsep Perpajakan dalam Perspektif Budaya Siri’ Na Pacce. Owner: Riset & Jurnal Akuntansi, 8(1), 971–982.

Migdal, J. S. (2023). Beyond State Law: Everyday Rules and the Fragile Public. Journal of Chinese Governance, 8(4), 452–472.

Nawaz, S., Kiran, A., Koser, M., Shabbir, M., & Zamir, A. (2022). The Role of Safety Manajement to Analyze the Current Situation of Honour Killing in Pakistan. Journal of Public Value and Administrative Insight, 5(2), 424–439.

Nonci, N., Harifuddin, Azuz, F., Iskandar, & Arifin, A. (2023). The Dialectic of Globalization and Social Transformation of Silariang in Makassar, Indonesia. Etnosia: Jurnal Etnografi Indonesia, 8(1), 127–144.

Nursalam, Haniah, S., & Hamid, W. (2023). The Existence of Siri Culture in the Era Digital Community. Journal Research of Social Science Economics and Mangement, 2(9), 1953–1967.

Obaidi, B. S. H. Al. (2021). Honor Crimes and Its Legal and Social Impacts Murder is a Wash of Shame as a Model. International Journal of Humanities and Educational Research, 3(4), 159–179.

Razack, S. H. (2021). Should Feminist Stop Talking about Culture in the Context of Violence Against Muslim Women? The Case of “Honour Killing.” International Journal of Child, Youth and Family Studies, 12(1), 31–48.

Rees, L. (2025). Rethinking Honor, Cultural (Mis)Understanding, and Conflict: Broadening How Honor and Honor Culture Individuals are Studied in Western Contexts and Beyond. International Journal of Conflict Management, 36(2), 396–427.

Robinson, P. H., & Holcomb, L. (2022). Individualizing Criminal Law’s Justice Judgments: Shortcomings in the Doctrines of Culpability, Mitigation, and Excuse. Villanova Law Review, 67(1), 273–338.

Sharma, G., & Kumar, M. (2023). A Socio Legal Study on Our Preparedness and Failure to Tackle the Problems of Honour Killing. ShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts, 4(1), 1404–1411.

Situmeang, S. M. T. (2022). Politik Hukum Pidana Terhadap Kebijakan Kriminalisasi dan Dekriminalisasi dalam Sistem Hukum Indonesia. Res Nullius Law Journal, 4(2), 201–210.

Suwindia, I. G. (2022). Lontara Pappaseng as a Philosophy of Life Tolerance of Religion Bugis Communities in South Sulawesi. Jurnal Penelitian Agama Hindu, 6(4), 305–322.

Thomas, K. J., Baumer, E. P., & Loughran, T. (2022). Structural Predictors of Choice: Testing a Multilevel Rational Choice Theory of Crime. Criminolog, 60(4), 606–636.

Downloads

Published

25-11-2025

How to Cite

Mappaselleng, N. F., & Kadir, Z. K. (2025). Reconstructing Honor Killing Through Siri’: A Cultural Perspective from Bugis-Makassar Society. Ganaya : Jurnal Ilmu Sosial Dan Humaniora, 8(4), 358–366. https://doi.org/10.37329/ganaya.v8i4.4858

Issue

Section

Articles