Zainab Ali Zaiter born: 1997
shot to death: 25 March 2023
Residence: Choueifat, Beirut
Origin: Lebanon
Children: 3
Perpetrator: her husband Hassan Musa Zaiter (27 years old at the time of the crime)
On Saturday afternoon, March 25, 2023, Choueifat, a suburb of Beirut, is rocked by a brutal murder. 27-year-old Hassan Musa Zaiter murders his wife, Zainab, in front of their three children by shooting 10 bullets into her head. Hassan flees the house, taking his children with him.
Neighbors label the murder an honor killing. Hassan was allegedly called by someone who pointed out to him that there were photos of Zainab without a headscarf on the Internet. Hassan allegedly searched Zainab's phone and found nude photos of her. Hassan felt betrayed and his honor violated. Zainab's phone was not found at the crime scene.
Zainab's brother sympathizes with the killer, saying in a video: "If he hadn't done this, I would have done it." He talks about restoring honor and washing away shame. He is not seeking "revenge."