Discommendation

Discommendation is a form of punishment found within the Klingon Empire. In discommendation, not only is an individual stripped of his or her honor and status, but the individuals' family is as well. As Klingons hold names to be extremely important, the taking of a person's name away from them is part of discommendation.

There are two known methods in which the punishment of discommendation is imposed. The first method is for a high ranking Klingon to tell another that he has no name, turn, and then walk away. This is the method Kobry used against Tron when Tron attempted to assassinate Kobry. (TNG novel Strike Zone).

The second, and more common method involves a group of Klingons - such as the Klingon High Council - imposes the punishment on an individual. In this second form, the group forms a circle around the individual to be discommended. The highest ranking Klingon crosses his arm, and turns away from the individual. All the other Klingons in the group follow. (TNG episode Sins of the Father and DS9 episode The House of Quark).