Honour killing story: Nalan S. (2010)

Nalan S.
born 1971
stabbed: 21 January 2010
Residence: Gelsenkirchen
Origin: Turkey
Children: 2 girls (at the time of the crime 10, 12 years)
and 2 boys (aged 14, 17)
Perpetrator: her divorced husband Murat S. (at the time of the crime 38 years)

In August 2008, cashier Nalan moves out of the shared apartment with their four children. Murat does not accept the divorce and begins to threaten his wife. There is an attempted murder. The office worker is remanded in custody as a result. It is said that while in custody he would have agreed to a divorce.

In December 2009, Murat is sentenced by the District Court of Gelsenkirchen to a suspended prison term of 10 months for his murder threat. Two psychiatric reports classify him as harmless.

Murat has only recently been released when he breaks into his wife's apartment again on January 21, 2010. The children are at school. Neighbors report an argument. Then he stabs his wife. Then he stabs himself.

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.