Honour killing story: Sabine (2010)

Sabine
Born: 1972
Attempted murder: 8 June 2010
Residence: Borken (near Münster)
Origin: Victim: Germany; Offender: Turkey
Children: 3 (at the time of the crime 10, 12, 15 years old)
Perpetrator: her divorced husband (41 years old)

In the early morning of June 8, 2010, Sabine is hit by a car belonging to her divorced husband outside her front door. She falls to the ground with her bicycle. He shoots several times with a gun, seriously injuring her. The 12-year-old son witnesses the crime.

Then the perpetrator flees, but turns himself in to the police shortly after. As a motive he gives jealousy and wounded honor. The man had become violent before. A few months earlier the court had forbidden him to approach the parental home. His occupation was given as a cab driver.

Sabine undergoes emergency surgery in the hospital after the crime and survives. In November 2010, the trial for the attempted murder begins in the Münster District Court. In December, the perpetrator is sentenced to 11 years in prison. The real name of the victim is not known.

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.