Honour killing story: Ahlam Younan (2021)

Ahlam Younan
born: 1992
shot dead: -
Residence: Liege, Belgium
Origin: Syria
Children: none
Perpetrator: probably by her brother(s)

On Sunday evening, January 3, 2021, the lifeless body of 28-year-old Ahlam Younan is found by her sister in her apartment in Liège, Belgium. It is unclear exactly when the facts took place, Ahlam was last seen on 29 December 2020.

The circumstances under which she was found indicate an execution because Ahlam's hands were tied and she was shot in the head.

Rumor has it that Ahlam was murdered because she was too westernized. One of her five brothers is said to have warned her in the past, but Ahlam didn't care. On her Facebook page she wrote: "Live your life the way you want, someday you'll die anyway".

Her sister, Fadja, believes that at least one of her five brothers is responsible for the murder. "We were like whores to him," she said. "Being a barmaid in a pub or in a nightclub, going out and choosing your own boyfriend, was not appreciated".

The morgue where Ahlam lies is guarded by the police. "To make sure that no one there disturbs the peace.

No arrests have yet been made. We would be happy with any clues!

What is an honour killing?

An honour killing is a murder in the name of honour. If a brother murders his sister to restore family honour, it is an honour killing. According to activists, the most common reasons for honour killings are as the victim:

refuses to cooperate in an arranged marriage.
wants to end the relationship.
was the victim of rape or sexual assault.
was accused of having a sexual relationship outside of marriage.

Human rights activists believe that 100,000 honour killings are carried out every year, most of which are not reported to the authorities and some are even deliberately covered up by the authorities themselves, for example because the perpetrators are good friends with local policemen, officials or politicians. Violence against girls and women remains a serious problem in Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Serbia and Turkey.