Tel Aviv man sentenced to 15 years for ‘honor killing’

A man from the Tel Aviv area was sentenced yesterday in Tel Aviv District Court to 15 years in prison for killing his sister two years ago, in what is known as an “honor killing,” perpetrated to “uphold the family’s honor.” Walid al-Ubeid drove another brother, Khaled, to Herzl Street in Tel Aviv where they found the sister standing at a bus stop. Khaled then stabbed his sister, and forced her into the car Walid was driving. Khaled then continued to stab the sister until she died. The two brothers then drove to Jaffa, where they threw her body into the sea. After arrest, the two said they decided their sister should die because she was a prostitute who was using drugs.

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.