Honour killing story: Caroline Z. (2020)

Caroline Z.
born: 1981
killed: 28 May 2020
Location: Villingen-Schwenningen (Black Forest)
Origin: victim: Germany; perpetrator: unclear
Children: 3
Perpetrator: her ex-boyfriend Simo Z. (49 years at the time of the crime)

Caroline stays in a shelter with 3 small children. One morning she returns to her apartment and is beaten to death by her ex-boyfriend Simo. A neighbor calls the ambulance service. The paramedic diagnoses her death.

A few hours later, the perpetrator is arrested. The name Simo Z. suggests a Serbian or Croatian background.

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.