AMMAN, Jordan, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- Jordan's parliament voted Monday to reject imposing harsher punishments for men who kill female relatives in what are known as "honor killings".
The BBC said it was the second time since June's elections that the lower house, the Chamber of Deputies, quashed such a bill. Honor killings are mostly committed by brothers and fathers against women who have had sex outside of marriage.
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Islamists and conservatives opposed to the new law said it would encourage vice and destroy social values.
The United Nations estimated there are about 5,000 such killings annually in Jordan.
Under existing laws, people found guilty of committing honor killings often receive sentences as light as six months in prison.
