Honour killing story

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Sinat A. and Idris B.
born: 1980 and 1985
shot dead: 10 August 2009
Residence: Schweinfurt
Origin: Iraq / Kurds
Children: Sinat has 2 daughters, Idris has 5 children
Perpetrator: presumably Idris' cousin Basar A. (at the time of the crime 28 years old)
Sinat is divorced and works as a single mother of two daughters in a craft business in Schweinfurt. Her husband is back in Iraq. Idris is married and has five children. Sinat is Idris' sister-in-law, so he is having an affair with his wife's sister, which the families do not approve of.

In August 2009, Basar executes them both in a parking lot in Schweinfurt with 3 shots through the head. The bodies are found the next day in the driver and passenger seat. The police question over 100 people and are then able to arrest Basar. He is Idris' cousin, his occupation is given as a contractor. Initially, his younger brother was probably also arrested, but later released.

In August 2010, the trial begins at the district court of Schweinfurt. There more details come to light: the perpetrator Basar probably also had a relationship with the deceived wife Soaad. It is rumored that he is the father of their 5th child. It also comes up that Idris is violent towards his wife. Nevertheless, he is a "brilliant Muslim," according to a relative. The oldest brother of the female victim admits in court that he too offered to kill his sister if necessary.

Some things go wrong with what was considered certain circumstantial evidence, and Basar is released from custody in January 2011. In February, he is acquitted for lack of evidence. The prosecutor requests an appeal. How the Federal Court will rule 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:

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.

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