Honour killing story: Filiz Y. (2010)

Filiz Y.
Born: 1980
nearly murdered: 1 december 2010
Residence: Dusseldorf
Origin: Turkey / Kurds
Children: 3 (at the time of the crime 5, 9, 11 years old)
Perpetrator: her husband Ramazan Y. (38 years old)

At about the year 2000, Filiz and Ramazan got married. They have three children. The marriage is violent, there is abuse and death threats, even in front of the children. Filiz files charges against her husband several times, but withdraws the charges, presumably due to family pressure.

On December 1, 2010, the oldest son takes the two younger siblings to kindergarten and school in the morning. Then he returns. Presumably in the bedroom, the father stabs Filiz 16 times. Then he kicks her head with his foot to see if she is dead. When she doesn't move, he smokes a cigarette.

The son has already notified the police. It is possible that the perpetrator also calls the police after the crime. An emergency doctor is able to save Filiz's life. She later testifies that Ramazan had previously claimed the passports of the 3 children to flee with them to Turkey after the crime.

In July 2011, the trial begins before the Düsseldorf District Court. The perpetrator is charged with attempted manslaughter. He confesses, but states that he cannot remember anything else. In August, he is sentenced to 8 years in prison for attempted manslaughter and inflicting grievous bodily harm.

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.