Germany: Another Honor Killing Case

If you have been following the British case of Tulay Goren, you will know what honor killing in the Muslim world is all about.  In that case, 15-year old schoolgirl Tulay Goren met 29-year old Halil Unal during a school vacation job. The 2 had an affair, which angered her father Mehmet Goren.  He considered that Tulay had brought shame on his family because Halil was twice her age and came from a different branch of Islam.  Also the family’s honor was tarnished by the affair, which “devalued” her as she had lost her virginity.  So Mehmet Goren killed her daughter Tulay Goren in what is described as an act of honor killing.

Now in Germany a similar case of honor killing has emerged.  20-year old  Turkish girl Gülsüm Semin was killed by her 50-year old father,  Yusuf Semin, in an act of honor killing. This took place early last year.

Gülsüm Semin met 25-year old Albanian Altin P., fell in love and had pre-marital sex. After Gülsüm Semin became pregnant, she was advised by her sister to undergo an illegal abortion in Amsterdam during her fifth month of pregnancy. Altin explained about the pregnancy: ”We were very pleased, but Gülsüm had panic stricken fear of her family”. 

From the very outset, Yusuf Semin was against the relationship. The family tried to find another man for Gülsüm Semin in an arranged marriage, but she refused.  Altin said: “Gülsüm was promised to a man in Turkey for marriage. Like her sister she should have an arranged marriage.” Gülsüm Semin was beaten several times as the family tried to stop her from seeing Altin. Later her family found out that she had lost her virginity and had undergone an abortion.  Yusuf Semin was enraged.

The murder of Gülsüm Semin was carefully planned to make it look like a robbery.  In court the prosecutors said that Gülsüm Semin was lured to a lonely country road near the small town of Rees on March 2, 2009 on a false story.  Her twin brother allegedly lured Gülsüm Semin to get into a car with him before picking up a friend of his. They then drove to the murder spot. There she was strangled with a clothes line till she became unconscious.  Gülsüm Semin was then clubbed to death.

Police have charged the father Yusuf Semin with ordering his son to kill Gülsüm Semin. The son is one of 2 twin brothers of Gülsüm Semin (making it a triplet). The father denied the charge, but the son admitted his role. Both father and son have been found guilty.

Speaking after the verdict last week, head judge Christian Henkel said: “This is a horrible act with a horrible outcome. Gülsüm became the victim of a terrible crime. This was the act of father and son, who both wished it and planned it.”

In court last week,  Gülsüm Semin’s 20-year old brother was sentenced to nine and a half years in prison. The father, Yusuf Semin was jailed for life for ordering the killing. Accomplice 32-year old Russian, Micro M., was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison.

German authorities have vowed to stamp out this custom among some Kurds, Turks and other ethnic groups of families murdering their own members who offend “family honor” through sexual relationships.

Think about it.  Why do some Muslim societies tolerate honor killing?  There are more than 50 reported honor killings in Germany in the past decade.  How can a father or a brother kill his own daughter or sister and not feel remorseful?  Is honor more important than human life?  Should it? Can murder be justified in the name of honor?

Previous posts

UK – Father Kills Daughter In Muslim Honor Killing
UK – Protecting Forced Marriages