Egypt shocked by murder of 21-year-old student Naira Ashraf who refused marriage proposal

Naira Ashraf
born: 2000
stabbed to death: 23 June 2022
Residence: Mahalla, Egypt
Origin: Egypt
Children: None
Perpetrator: Ex-boyfriend Mohamed Adel (21 years)

21-year-old Naira Ashraf and Mohamed Adel are students in their third year at the faculty of arts at Mansoura University in Egypt. The two are former lovers. Mohamed does not want to accept the end of their relationship and keeps urging her to marry him.

After yet another rejection, he sends several threatening messages saying he will kill her. Naira blocks him on social media. In April 2022, she reports Mohamed to the police for threatening and stalking. Her parents had begged Mohamed not to harm Naira.

On Thursday, June 23, 2022, Mohamed and Naira boarded the same bus. When they got off, Mohamed pulled out a knife and stabbed his ex-girlfriend several times in the back and slit her throat. Naira dies from her injuries. Mohamed is restrained by passersby and security until police arrest him.

The prosecutor would later state that Mohamed confessed to the premeditated murder of the victim because of disagreements between them and her refusal to marry him.

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.