Honour killing story: Mira (2020)

Mira
born: 1996
Attempted murder: 22 July 2020
Residence: Essen
Origin: Perpetrator: maybe Burkina Faso
Children: probably not
Perpetrator: her ex-boyfriend (25 years old at the time of the crime)

On 22 July 2020, a 24-year-old student is stabbed in the street by her ex-boyfriend. He flees, a manhunt is organized for him. At first it is emphasized that he was born in Würselen. During the manhunt it is then said that he has a dark skin color. The same day he reports to the police.

The names and nationality of the participants are not known. Only the particular relationship, the knife as a murder weapon and the staging on the public street could be indications of an honour crime.

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.