Honour killing

Honour killing story: Farzana and Muhammad (2003)

Honour killing story

Farzana and Muhammad
Born: 1971, 1983
Murdered: 12 October 2003
Residence: Goldenstedt/District of Vechta
Origin: Pakistan
Children: probably none
Perpetrator: Mehmood A. (49 years old at the time of the crime, living in Germany for 20 years)
Mehmood comes to Germany as a construction worker in 1985 and brings his wife and 5 children from Pakistan in 2000. When his daughter Farzana is 20, she secretly goes to Pakistan and marries her childhood sweetheart. Mohammed, who is 10 years older, comes to Germany. Farzana's parents do not know about this at first.

In October 2003, Farzana tells them about the wedding. Her father reacts seemingly calmly and invites the couple. The first two days of the visit seem to pass peacefully. But on the third night, Mehmood kills his daughter and her husband with a kitchen knife. The husband's body shows 10 stab wounds and numerous wounds to his face, presumably from being kicked. A friend of the family is called. He informs the police while the perpetrator goes into hiding in Pakistan.

There he is arrested years later and held in extradition detention for nearly 3 years. Although there is no extradition treaty with Germany, he is brought to Germany in August or September 2011. It is (as far as is known) Pakistan's first extradition to Germany.

The prosecutor's office in Oldenburg resumes the investigation. In March 2012, the trial will take place before the Oldenburg Jury Court.

In May, in addition to the maximum sentence, the public prosecutor demands that the special guilt severity be established. However, for the prison stay in Pakistan, a mitigation of 9 years should be granted due to the poor prison conditions. The accused first refuses to testify and then claims that his son-in-law attacked him. The accused's wife does not want to testify, nor does his second daughter. The son testifies but does not want to remember anything.

The verdict follows the prosecution's request: a life sentence, special culpability, sentence reduction for imprisonment in Pakistan due to "inhumane conditions." The defense is appealing.

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.

Ralph Geissen

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