Honour killing story: Ann-Kathrin K. (2020)

Ann-Kathrin K.
born: 1992
strangled: February 12-13, 2020
Residence: Hohn / Rendsburg (near Kiel)
Origin: Perpetrator: Tunisia
Children: 1 baby (6 months old at the time of the crime)
Perpetrator: Hamza D. (24 years)

Ann-Kathrin checks into a hotel in Rendsburg with her ex-boyfriend Hamza and their 6 month old baby. On the night of February 13, 2020, he strangles her. There was already a restraining order against him for violating the law on protection against violence. However, he had already violated that law at least 3 times before.

The perpetrator calls the police and is arrested. The baby remains unharmed and goes to a foster home.

In August 2020 the trial will start at the regional court of Kiel. The perpetrator reports that, among other things, there was disagreement about the fact that Ann-Kathrin had made "a Christian" out of their son.

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.