Honour killing story: Aylin / Shari(2012)

Aylin / Shari
born: 1983
stabbed: 28 January 2012
Residence: Cologne-Holweide
Origin: Turkey
Children: no common, otherwise unclear
Perpetrator: her partner Mustafa G. (41 years)

On 28 January 2012, Mustafa stabs his partner (or lover) 30 times with a kitchen knife. A witness intervenes. Then Mustafa tries to hurt himself (which is quite unusual for an honour killing). Neighbors call the police.

The cops find the two wounded in the bloodstained attic. The crime took place in Aylin's apartment or in the hallway in front of her apartment. Both will undergo emergency surgery. Two days later, Aylin is still in danger. The reason given for the crime is the woman's intention to divorce. Mustafa couldn't handle this.

The newspaper claims that Aylin is not the woman's real name. In another place she is called Shari (also referred to as changed). In September 2012 the trial on attempted manslaughter starts at the regional court in Cologne. Aylin/Shari spent many months in hospital, survived and testified. She is still scarred by stab wounds. The verdict is not known.

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.