Honour killing story

Stefanie Celik and her mother Karin (survived)
Born: 1980 (1952)
stabbed to death: 18 October 2004
Residence: Berlin
Origin: Victim: Germany, Perpetrator: Turkey
Children: 2 daughters (3 and 6 years old at the time of the crime)
Perpetrator: her husband Mahmut Celik (28 years old)
In 1998 Mahmut and Stefanie (some newspapers write Steffanie) get married. This gives Mahmut the right to stay. However, he does not have a German passport. Stefanie brings a daughter with her into the marriage. The two have a second daughter.

Mahmut is violent, the police are often called. For a short time in 2002, Stefanie is in a women's shelter. In August 2004, she gets a restraining order. Mahmut is no longer allowed in the family's apartment. He threatens to kill her several times.

On October 18, 2004, Mahmut stabs his wife to death in a snack bar in Prenzlauer Berg - probably in front of their three-year-old daughter. He also attacks his mother-in-law Karin (age 52), but she survives badly injured in the hospital.

A manhunt across the country has opened for Mahmut Celik. Police point out the danger to the mother of the slain and the daughters of the perpetrator.

Three days after the crime, Mahmut turns himself in to the police. During the trial he remains silent. A witness says that after the crime the perpetrator told him that he had saved his honor.

In May 2005, Mahmut is sentenced to life in prison - for murder, attempted manslaughter and inflicting grievous bodily harm.

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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