Dutch Court Sentences Four Men for Gruesome Honor Killing

A Dutch court delivered a severe sentence on Thursday, convicting four men to 25 years in prison for the brutal "honor killing" of Roshin, a 28-year-old woman who was fatally stabbed in broad daylight in front of her three-year-old daughter. The tragic incident occurred in September 2023 in Apeldoorn, an eastern city in the Netherlands.

The court described the crime as particularly gruesome, stating that "A more gruesome end to a human life is hard to imagine." Roshin's young daughter witnessed her mother being attacked and killed in a horrifyingly violent manner. Alongside the eldest brother, Peshang A., who carried out the stabbing, three other men—two cousins and another brother—were also sentenced for their roles in the premeditated murder.

A Deliberate and Coordinated Act

The court emphasized that the four men acted with a chilling level of coordination and premeditation. Audio and chat messages exchanged between them revealed their collective decision to kill Roshin because they believed she had dishonored the family. After Roshin's divorce, her family demanded she move in with her parents in The Hague, but she chose to remain in Apeldoorn with her daughter and pursue a new relationship. This defiance sparked their murderous plot.

According to the court verdict, "The four men then made preparations together to carry out that plan, deliberately keeping the rest of the family out of the execution plans." The chilling evidence presented at trial painted a picture of a carefully orchestrated crime driven by a twisted sense of honor.

Justice Served, but Shadows Remain

Peshang A. reportedly attempted to flee the courtroom after the verdict was delivered, but police swiftly apprehended him. In addition to the lengthy prison sentences, the four men were ordered to pay $73,000 to Roshin's daughter as compensation for her loss. However, this financial settlement cannot fully alleviate the profound trauma inflicted upon the young girl and the wider community.

A Global Issue

“Honor killings” are sadly not uncommon in certain cultures, particularly in countries like Pakistan where a strict code of honor often dictates women's lives. Women in these societies are frequently subjected to control and violence based on perceived violations of family or societal norms.

Last April, Pakistani authorities arrested a man accused of filming his brother strangling their sister to death in an alleged "honor" killing that shocked the nation. In another harrowing case, four individuals were apprehended in 2023 for the murder of an 18-year-old woman based on fabricated social media evidence. These incidents highlight the urgent need for societal change and legal reforms to protect women from such barbaric acts.

According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, a staggering 384 "honor killings" were reported in 2022 alone, underscoring the severity of this issue in Pakistani society.