Honour killing story: Freshta Akhundzada (2012)

Freshta Akhundzada
born: 1982
Assassinated: 11 July 2012
Residence: Hamburg
Provenance: Victim: Afghanistan; Perpetrator: Iran
Children: 1 son (6 months)
Perpetrator: her partner Babak S. (32 years)

Freshta works in her father's grocery store. She has been living together with the Iranian Babak S for over 2 years. They have a 6 month old son and a joint custody.

On 11 July 2012 Babak reports his partner as missing. He hangs up posters.

Three-days later, a hiker finds Freshta's body cut into pieces in a plastic bag at the Hummelsbütteler Mooren in Hamburg. That same evening, her partner is arrested. He confesses to the crime. The baby comes to Freshta's family.

In April 2013, Babak will be sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for manslaughter by the Hamburg District Court.

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.