Honour killing story: Claudia (2019) - Investigate Honor Killing

Claudia
born: 1976
Burned alive: August 11, 2019
Residence: Münster
Origin: Perpetrator: probably Turkey
Children: 1 son
Perpetrator: her ex-husband Ahmed J. (36 years old at the time of the crime)

Ahmed lives in an apartment in a hotel in Münster, where he used to work. On 11 August 2019 he pours petrol over his ex-wife and sets her on fire. It is unclear why she is in his apartment at all and takes a bath in the early morning. The apartment burns down completely.

Hotel guests call the fire department. The door of the apartment is broken open. The victim is flown to a special clinic and brought into an artificial coma. She survives. More than 40 percent of her skin surface is burned. She will be mutilated for life.

It is said that the victim and the perpetrator had recently been on vacation with their son. Nothing is known about the victim, not even her real name. Only the first name Ahmed is known of the perpetrator, which could indicate Turkish descent. The age difference rather suggests a German victim. But it can also be very different.

In February 2020 the trial for attempted murder will start at the regional court of Münster.

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.