Man Arrested for Setting Wife on Fire in German Tram

Unnamed Woman
Age: 46
Set on Fire: March 16, 2025
Residence: Germany
Origin: Georgia
Perpetrator: Husband Tengizi Kakiashvili

On Sunday, March 16, 2025, around 10:00 AM, a 46-year-old woman was doused in gasoline and set on fire by her husband inside a tram in Gera, a city about 60 kilometers south of Leipzig.

The husband, Tengizi Kakiashvili, originally from Georgia, managed to escape after passengers pressed the emergency button, which automatically opened the tram doors.

The tram driver used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames. The woman was severely injured and airlifted to the hospital. Her current condition has not been disclosed.

The police launched a manhunt for the suspect, releasing his name and photo. Within 24 hours, Tengizi Kakiashvili turned himself in to the police and was subsequently arrested.

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.