Honor Killing in Almere, the Netherlands: Body of Missing Syrian Woman Found, Ex-Husband on the Run

strong>Safa
Age: 24
Murdered: August 7, 2025
Residence: Almere
Origin: Syria
Children: 5
Perpetrator: her ex-husband

The 24-year-old Syrian Safa was a mother of five children and was staying in a shelter for victims of domestic violence after being repeatedly threatened by her 34-year-old ex-husband Omar Alhamad, also from Syria. Safa wanted a divorce, but her husband refused to accept it. According to multiple sources, there was a case of severe domestic abuse.

On August 7, 2025, Safa was last seen in Almere when her ex-husband took her in a car. After her disappearance, the police launched a search, and alerts were issued to locate Safa and Omar. A week later, on August 14, 2025, her body was found in a wooded area on the outskirts of the city – barely a kilometer from where she had been taken.

Safa had previously sought protection in a shelter in another province, but even there her ex-husband managed to find her. He called and threatened her, demanding that she return to him.

Omar Alhamad has been on the run since the murder. Sources report that he may have fled to Germany or Syria.

Safa’s murder follows the pattern of an honor killing: control, threats, stalking, and ultimately lethal violence.

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.