Honour killing story: Stela G. (2019)

Stela G.
born: 1987
Attempted murder: February 26, 2019
Residence: Frankfurt/M. / Erlensee
Origin: Victim: Bulgaria; Perpetrator: Turkey
Children: unclear
Perpetrator: her ex-boyfriend Mehmet O. (55 years old at the time)

You can read this murder as an honour killing or as violence typical of the environment. Or as the act of a pimp who doesn't want to let his prostitute go.

Stela is a prostitute and has an affair with the 23 year older Mehmet. She is getting a divorce on 24 February 2019. Reportedly, she and her mother will take to the streets at the fair in Frankfurt.

On February 26, 2 days after the divorce, Mehmet shoots her in the head on public roads. Then he turns the gun at himself. Both survive.

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.