Honour killing story

caret-down caret-up caret-left caret-right
Ramona S.
born 1982
drowned: 9 October 2004
Residence: Berlin-Spandau
Origin: Victim: Germany, Perpetrator: Lebanon
Children: 2 sons, at the time of the crime 2 and 3 years old.
Perpetrator: her partner Mohammed El-C., 23 years old at the time of the crime
In the summer of 2001, Ramona and Mohammed entered into an imam marriage, i.e. a religious union that is not recognized as a marriage in Germany. They have two small sons. The father is violent. The young mother flees several times, but always returns, presumably against the advice of her family.

Mohammed forbids his life partner to have contact with friends and acquaintances. But in October 2004, she insists on visiting her cousin in the evening. He refuses to take care of the children. She goes to the bathroom to get ready. There he attacks her, strangles her and finally drowns her in the bathtub. Her two young sons were presumably standing by.

In June 2005, Mohammed is sentenced to life in prison for murder out of ruthlessness and selfishness. The two children come to live with Ramona's mother.

The following year, the Federal Court of Justice overturns the sentence.

In March 2007, the newspaper Bild reports: Mohamed E. (25) strangled and drowned his wife Ramona (22). Verdict: 10 years for manslaughter instead of life imprisonment for murder. He had killed because he wanted to get his way, the Berlin district court said. His wife, who was married under Islamic law, had resisted his will because she wanted to visit a cousin.

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:

Questions about honour killings

  • 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.

Posted in Honour killing, Investigation and tagged , , .