Honour killing story: Elif Ö. (2012)

Elif Ö.
born: 1975
Shot dead: December 7, 2012
Residence: Hagen
Origin: Turkey / Kurds
Children: 6 (13-20 years)
Perpetrator: her husband Osmann Ö. (40 years)

Osmann is a tyrannical family man. He doesn't work, abuses his wife Elif, locks her up and forbids her to call. His 6 children are mainly used to obtain social benefits through fraud. The children are also beaten. The police are often called.

On December 7, 2012, Osmann hits his wife with an iron, allegedly - as the court later said - because the bathroom has not been cleaned. Then he pulls out a gun and shoots Elif in front of their son Sedar. Then he shoots him too. Sedar is wounded. Osman puts the gun on his son's forehead and pulls the trigger. But this time there will be no shooting. In an emergency surgery, Sedar can be rescued. Elif dies four days later in the hospital.

The perpetrator was arrested at the scene, the gun was recovered.

In May 2013 the trial will start before the jury court of Hagen. In June, Osmann is sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and attempted murder. The particular seriousness of the guilt is determined.

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.