Honour killing story: Brigitte H. (2020)

Brigitte H.
born: 1982
stabbed: February 18, 2020
Residence: Bad Soden-Salmünster (Hesse)
Origin: Perpetrator: Croatian
Children: 1 daughter, 1 son (13 and 15 years at the time of the crime)
Perpetrator: her husband Rudolf (42 years)

On February 18, 2020, Rudolf stabs his wife Brigitte to death with a kitchen knife in front of his children in the early morning. Neighbors call the police.

The perpetrator first flees the scene of the crime, but reports to the police the same day. The knife has been found.

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.