Honour killing story: Homa (2019)

Homa
born: 1993
stabbed: March 10, 2019
Location: Halle / Saale
Origin: Afghanistan
Children: unclear
Perpetrator: Mohammad Suliman N. (33 years old at the time of the crime)

Homa comes from Afghanistan and lives separated from her husband. On March 10, 2019 another Afghan stabs her in her apartment in Halle. Homa bleeds to death. A friend finds the body.

First, the tenant of the apartment named Shoriye is suspected. But then a public search for Mohammad Suliman is launched. If the motive is to hide a crime (e.g. rape), it is not an honour killing. If it is to punish Homa for divorcing her husband, then it is an honour killing.

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.