Honour killing story: Kumru A. (2008)

Kumru A.
born: 1977
stabbed to death: 19 July 2008
Residence: Elmshorn (district of Pinneberg)
Origin: Turkey
Children: 2 daughters, at the time of the crime 9 and 11 years old
Perpetrator: her divorced husband Mesut A.,
37 years old at the time of the crime

Kumru was stabbed to death on the street in Elmshorn near Hamburg by her divorced husband on July 19, 2008. He had ambushed her at the front door and argued with her all the way to the bus stop. When he got on the bus, the Turk stabbed his wife in front of the other passengers. She rescued herself from the bus, but the man followed her and gave her the last fatal stabs.

One of the witnesses calls the police, who arrest the man on the spot. Kumru dies in front of the passengers. At the autopsy, 23 stitches are counted.

In December 2008, Mesut is permanently admitted to a psychiatric facility. An expert deems him insane, barely treatable and very dangerous. Already during their 12-year marriage, he had repeatedly accused Kumru of having affairs and had severely abused her.

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.