Honour killing story: Ann-Christin Khoudor

Ann-Christin Khoudor
born: 1986
stabbed: May 21, 2014
Location: Minden
Origin: Victim: Germany; perpetrator: Turkey / Yezidi Kurd
Children: 2 (4 & 7 years) and one unborn
Perpetrator: her boyfriend/ex-boyfriend Ridvan M. (24 years)

On 21 May 2014, Ridvan, a Yezidi Kurd from Turkey, reports to the police that he has stabbed his girlfriend. The victim is Ann-Christin Khoudor, born Wimmer, a German who has converted to Islam. She may have been married to a Lebanese Kurd. This can be deduced from her surname and the names of the two children from this marriage. Ann-Christin is pregnant again. The unborn child belongs to the perpetrator with whom she had a three-year relationship.

The perpetrator (whose profession is referred to as a plumber) had entered the door of the apartment, chased the two children into the living room and stabbed his girlfriend 31 times with a knife in the bathroom.

The police find the body with huge stab wounds and the knife in the victim's apartment. The children had fled to their neighbours, who also informed the police.

After the deed it appears: The perpetrator is forced by his parents to marry another woman. Soon there will be a wedding, 1000 guests are invited. The Yezidian marriage traditions are very strict. But because Ann-Christin is pregnant with Ridvan, he wants to persuade her to abort the wedding. She refuses. Then it comes to the deed.

Strictly speaking, this act is not a "real" honour killing if the motive is to cover up a pregnancy. However, the act is unthinkable without the Yezidi concept of honour. In November 2014, Ridvan will be sentenced to life imprisonment. The defence announces an appeal.

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.