Honour killing story: Fatima (2010)

Fatima
Born: 1991
Abducted: March 5, 2010
Residence: Münster
Origin: Turkey / Kurds
Children: none
Perpetrators: her mother (52 years old at the time of the crime) and her brothers and sisters (24, 25, 30 years old)

On March 5, 2010, Fatima is abducted from her car in Münster. The perpetrators are her mother, oldest brother and 2 other siblings. The mother beats, strangles and threatens her because the 19-year-old has a German boyfriend. The oldest brother drives the car. The head of the family (possibly Fatima's father) allegedly ordered the abduction from Turkey. Because Fatima has a German boyfriend.

Fatima had probably been previously detained by her family in Turkey. As a result, she had violated visa regulations with her German passport and could not re-enter Turkey. Instead, she will be taken to the Syrian part of the Kurdish region in the triangle Syria, Turkey, Iraq.

Whether Fatima will be held there or killed is unclear. The first destination of the kidnapping is the Italian Adriatic coast. From there, Fatima will be shipped to Greece. In the restroom, Fatima asks a British tourist for help. The Italian police help the young woman.

The trial begins in March 2011 for causing bodily harm and deprivation of liberty before the Münster District Court. It speaks of an "act of barbarism," a "violent asphyxiation" and "vigilante justice in its crudest form." The mother claims it was just a vacation trip.

The mother is sentenced as the main offender to 2 years and 6 months, the oldest brother to 2 years in prison without parole. A sister receives a suspended sentence of 8 months for failure to provide assistance. Another brother receives 1 year of probation.

The name Fatima is given as changed. In January 2013, the verdicts are confirmed by the district court of Münster.

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.