Honor Killing in Apeldoorn, Netherlands: Prosecution Demands 25 Years in Prison

Roshin
Age: 28
Stabbed to death: September 5, 2023
Residence: Apeldoorn, Netherlands
Origin: Syria
Children: 1
Perpetrators: brothers Peshang A. (37) and Ahmad A. (28) and cousins Ahmad A. (37) and Walid A. (27)

On September 5, 2023, 28-year-old Roshin was attacked around 11 a.m. by her 37-year-old brother, Peshang, in Apeldoorn, Netherlands. She was stabbed from behind and died on the spot from 28 stab wounds. The murder took place in the presence of her 3-year-old daughter.

The police arrested Peshang shortly after the murder. Officers stated that he confessed to coming specifically from Denmark to kill his sister.

Hundreds of phone messages revealed that Roshin's brothers and cousins believed that, following her divorce from her cousin Ahmad (37), Roshin should have returned to her parental home. However, Roshin had other plans and a new relationship, which her family did not approve of. Peshang stated: "We are a clan. Everything has limits."

"Peshang must wait for her," the brothers and cousins wrote to each other in Telegram chats. "If she is not killed, then she will be disabled. It doesn't matter. It must be resolved."

Referring to the phone messages, the Prosecutor concluded that Roshin's brothers and cousins jointly planned the murder. A weapon, a car, and accommodation were arranged for Peshang.

Peshang claimed to have been "forced by the family" to act. "If I don't do it, my father will," he said. Peshang was appointed by the clan as the executor because he had no job and no family of his own.

On January 23, 2025, the prosecutor demanded an unconditional prison sentence of 25 years for the (co-)commission of murder against Roshin’s brothers Peshang and Ahmad, and cousins Ahmad and Walid.

Roshin's daughter is being cared for in a foster family. The court will issue its verdict on February 20, 2025.

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.