Honour killing story: Emine S. (2008)

Emine S.
born: 1984
shot dead: 28 January 2008
Residence: Munich
Origin: Turkey
Children: one daughter (5 years old), shot
Perpetrator: Servet S., 45 years old at the time of the crime, had been in Germany for more than 20 years

From 2001 to 2005 or 2006 Emine is married to a Turk and lives in Wuppertal. During that time, a daughter is born (paternity is not one hundred percent clear).

When her husband finds out that she is having an affair with his uncle Servet, he files for divorce. Shortly thereafter, Emine also ends her relationship with Servet.

But he does not want to accept the divorce. Presumably to secure herself, Emine moves with her daughter to Munich in early 2007.

In April, a complaint is filed with the Public Prosecutor's Office, allegedly because of an insulting letter from Emine to Servet. However, the case is dropped.

On January 28, 2008, Emine brings her daughter to kindergarten in the morning. Servet lures her into an ambush on the street. She tries to escape, but two bullets hit her in the back. As she lies on the ground, Servetus puts a third bullet in her head.

Then the killer shoots twice at the 5-year-old daughter and then at himself. The girl survives with a bullet through her chest.

The Mirror brings up another reading: perhaps Emine married under duress. When she is a little older and more independent, she gets a divorce. As a result, the family wants to marry her off to another male relative. Since she is no longer a virgin, only an older man is an option. So an uncle is chosen. To escape from him, Emine moves to Munich. Because Servetus feels that his honor is hurt by her rejection, he kills her. The affair with Emine, possibly only alleged, is a minor detail that occurs in some honor killings.

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.