Honour killing story: Homa Z. and her daughter (2020)

Homa Z. and her daughter
born: 1982
Murder: February 29, 2020
Residence: Berlin-Marzahn
Origin: Afghanistan
Children: unclear, how much
Perpetrator: Ali H. (32 years old at that time)

It is unclear whether the motive in this case is honor or greed. At the end of 2014 Homa and her family will come from Afghanistan to Germany. She has at least one daughter, but probably more children.

On February 29, 2020, the car mechanic Ali stabbed her and her 9-year-old daughter. He lives in the same house and is a friend of the family.

Father Ahmad works at a market stall during the crime. In the evening he cannot enter the apartment, calls the police, finds the bodies and collapses. Fire foam from a fire extinguisher is spread around the apartment, probably to hide traces.

A month after the crime, Ali is arrested. He himself is father of 3 children. A robbery is suspected. The reason for the murder of the daughter would then be to silence her forever as an eyewitness.

In September 2020 the trial will start at the regional court of Berlin. The murder weapon has not been found. It is said that the crime was particularly cruel, which does not necessarily fit a robbery.

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.