Honour killing story: Marta (2019)

Marta
born: 1994
Attempted murder: July 14, 2019
Residence: Duisburg
Origin: Perpetrator: Bulgaria
Children: unclear, probably no
Perpetrator: her boyfriend (at that time 23 years old)

On 14 July 2019, a 23-year-old Bulgarian stabs his 2-year older girlfriend (or wife) with a kitchen knife. When he thinks she is dead, he calls the police. The cops find the woman seriously injured. After an emergency operation her life is still in danger.

The perpetrator has been arrested. The real names are unknown, neither the origin of the victim nor the motive. It can also be a crime of drug intoxication.

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.