Honour killing story

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Aysin T.
born 1975
shot dead: 26 March 2008
Residence: Hamburg
Origin: Turkey
Children: a 7-year-old son at the time of the crime
Perpetrator: her ex-boyfriend Ali U. (age 36 at the time of the crime)
Already during the long relationship of Aysin and Ali, the Turk beats his wife and their common young son. In October 2007, Aysin divorces, but her ex-boyfriend doesn't leave it at that, he lurks around and harasses her. He is said to be a member of a violent bouncer scene. In February 2008, he holds her captive for a few hours and mistreats her. Aysin files a report and receives a court order from the district court in Hamburg. Ali is no longer allowed to approach her or her son.

Nearly seven weeks later, Ali shoots his ex-girlfriend in her apartment in front of her 7-year-old son.

The killer calls the police himself. The emergency doctor tries in vain to save the 33-year-old. She bleeds to death. The traumatized son goes to the children's emergency service, later probably to relatives.

Aysin's brothers Ahmet and Ayhan testify that the perpetrator had visited three gas stations owned by Aysin's family the week before. There he allegedly displayed the illegally obtained weapon and threatened to use it to kill his ex-girlfriend. The killer had been known to police since 1999 for a sex offense and several violent crimes.

In November 2008, Ali was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Aysin's siblings announce an appeal. They do not understand why the perpetrator was only convicted of manslaughter. The newspaper Bild quotes the presiding judge who said that he could not imagine that someone would plot such an act in the presence of the child. However, this is often the case in honor killings. The act is staged in front of others. Everyone is supposed to see that the man is defending his honor. It is also a warning to other women, "Look here, this is what will happen to you if you disobey."

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:

Questions about honour killings

  • 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.

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