Honour killing story: Can Ö. (2019)

Can Ö.
born: 1978
stabbed: 30 January 2019
Residence: Berlin-Neukölln
Origin: Victim: believed to be Turkey; Perpetrator: Afghanistan
Children: unclear
Perpetrators: the brothers Neckmohammad and Nazar S. (34 and 38 years old at the time of the crime)

Can is a gas and water plumber and will be stabbed to death in the street on 30 January 2019 by the brothers Neckmohammad and Nazar. The reason is an affair with their sister a few years ago, which the brothers did not approve.

Can dies on the way to the hospital. 2 days after the crime, the brothers surrender to the police. The youngster is released in July. Apparently he is "only" burdened because of inflicting serious bodily harm.

In August 2019 the trial will start at the Regional Court of Berlin. The brothers remain silent. They come from Afghanistan, have German passports. The nationality of the victim is not known, they suspect Turkey. Can was a member of the Hells Angels.

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.