Two killed in family drama in Espelkamp: Sati K. and Muharrem K. (2021)

Sati K. and Muharrem K.
born: 1970, 1973
shot dead: 17 June 2021
Residence: Espelkamp (NRW)
Origin: Turkey
Children: 3 or 4 (aged 18-29 at the time of the crime)
Perpetrator: her ex-husband Ercan K. (at the time of the crime 52 years old)

Sati and Ercan have 3 or 4 adult children and live in Diepenau (Lower Saxony). Sati gets divorced and moves out with the children, Ercan starts stalking her. The occupation given is bricklayer.

On June 16, 2021, there is an appointment with the lawyer for a divorce. To protect Sati, her brother Muharrem is at her flat in Espelkamp (NRW) the next day. The ex-husband breaks in and shoots the brother. Sati flees into the street, her ex-husband shoots her 100 meters from the house.

Neighbors call the police. They find the brother's body in the apartment and Sati badly wounded on the street. Shortly after, she dies at the scene.

Ercan initially barricades himself in his home in Diepenau (Lower Saxony), but then has himself 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.