Honour killing story: Kübra - Investigate Honor Killing

Kübra
born: 1994
Shot: September 11, 2015
Residence: Herbolzheim near Freiburg
Origin: Turkey
Children: probably none
Perpetrator: her stepfather Murat (42 years old)

Kübra works as a beautician in a beauty salon in Freiburg and is well integrated. In the summer of 2015 her stepfather Murat threatens to kill her in an argument. He sees his claim to power in the family threatened. The family is forbidden to approach her.

On September 11, 2015, Murat enters the beauty salon and shoots his stepdaughter in front of her colleagues with 3 shots. Then he surrenders to the police and hands over the gun to the police. Kübra dies in the hospital.

In January 2016, the trial in the Freiburg court will begin. The perpetrator claims not to remember the crime, but accuses the victim of sexual misconduct - which is not unusual for honour killers. It is said that an uncle wanted to warn Kübra's brother about the crime, but he did not answer his cell phone.

In February, the accused was sentenced to life imprisonment (without establishing the particular seriousness of the guilt). The reason for the verdict states that the perpetrator felt hurt in his honour and wanted to demonstrate his power with the deed.

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.