Honour killing story: Serap Y. (2010)

Serap Y.
Born: 1975
Attempted murder: 14 October 2010
Residence: Hamburg
Origin: Turkey
Children: she was pregnant
Perpetrator: her brother Ibrahim (age 38 at the time of the crime)

Serap is 35 years old and pregnant by a Kurd. Her Turkish brother Ibrahim sees this as a violation of family honor.

In October 2010, he visits his sister in her apartment. He threatens, "I have come to kill you." First he tries to make her jump out the window. Then he forces her to take pills. He hopes he can fake a suicide. When she tries to escape, he throws the heavily pregnant woman to the ground and stomps on her stomach and back, finally standing on her. Only when she faints does he let go of her.

Serap survives badly injured and, despite everything, gives birth to a healthy daughter. At the end of 2011, the trial for attempted abortion and infliction of grievous bodily harm is in progress at the Court of Appeal in Hamburg. Serap does not want to testify in court, but the perpetrator admits the charge. He said he was very concerned about the family's honor. An article says that Serap had undergone a torturous course of beatings. Shortly before Christmas, the perpetrator is sentenced to probation.

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.