Honour killing story: Lezime K. (2005)

Lezime K.
Born: 1966
Attempted murder: May 23, 2005
Residence: Hannover
Origin: Kosovo
Children: 4
Perpetrator: her husband

We wouldn't have found this attempted honor killing at all if it hadn't come back to the newspapers in 2018. At the time, Lezime lived with her disabled son Liridon (now 27 years old) in a flat in Hanover. Fearing for the husband, they bought a fighting dog. The dog's name was Chico and it bit Lezime and her infant son to death in April 2018. Both are bleeding to death in their apartment.

The attempted honor killing, however, is from 2005. Lezime has 4 children with her husband and is divorcing. On May 23, the perpetrator lies in wait for her and hits her with an axe.

In December 2005, the perpetrator is sentenced to 10 years in prison by the district court in Hanover. However, he is released in 2012 after 2/3 - apparently regardless of the danger he posed. Lezime has been in a wheelchair since the attack. Shortly before the perpetrator was released, she bought the puppy Chico for her protection. After biting them to death, they put him to sleep.

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.