Sixteen years in prison for honor killing in Turkish teahouse in Rotterdam

Metin Degmez
Born: 1969
Shot dead: 10 January 2013
Residence: Rotterdam
Origin: Turkey
Children: unknown
Perpetrator: His business partner Abdulkerim K. (40 years old at the time of the crime)
The 44-year-old Metin Degmez was the owner of a kind of tea house in Rotterdam for Turkish men born in Kirsehir since the end of 2012. He ran the NDV, Dutch Demirliler Association, together with a companion named Abdulkerim.

On January 9, 2013, the two Turks had an appointment at the teahouse to discuss something. The next morning Metin Degmez is found dead by an employee of the NDV. He appears to have been shot at close range with three bullets. Two hit him in the chest and one in the head.

Abdulkerim said he had left earlier that evening because he was not feeling well and that his companion had scheduled another appointment with French later that evening.

That appointment was about the cannabis trade, because although Metin Degmez is portrayed by family and friends as a friendly social man, he also has another side. In France he has been detained for almost 1 year for cannabis trafficking.

The story of Abdulkerim is implausible because camera footage shows that he parked his car near the tea house after midnight. His phone also gave off a signal.

According to the police, Abdulkerim is the shooter and the motive must be sought in the line of honor killing. Abdulkerim had discovered in late 2012 that his wife was having an affair with his friend/companion Metin. This affair would have come to light after he had given his wife a spyphone as a present. That way he could eavesdrop on the conversations between them.

According to the prosecution, Abdulkerim is lying when he says he knew nothing about his wife's secret relationship with Metin. Shot remains were found on his clothing and he returned to the crime scene after the murder, most likely to retrieve the victims' cell phones. Moreover, his wife's conversations with her mother-in-law, which were overheard by the police, are very incriminating for him.

Abdulkerim has always denied being behind the murder. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison and to pay damages of 114 thousand euros to the relatives.

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:

Questions about honour killings

  • 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.

Geplaatst in Honor killing, Investigation.