Honour killing story: Esther (1982)

Esther
Born:
shot dead: 9 June 1982
Residence: Rheinau (Baden)
Origin: Victim: Germany; Perpetrator: unclear, asylum seeker
Children: unclear
Perpetrator: her ex-boyfriend (52 years old at the time of the crime)

In 2015, a journalist is investigating murders in the Ortenau district on the border with France. His list includes a single sentence about the year 1982: "On June 9, a 52-year-old asylum seeker in Rheinau shot his former German partner with a gun out of jealousy."

Nothing else is known, not even the real name of the victim. We would welcome any information!

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.