Missing Sawsan Mhamdi from Reuver found dead in Germany: husband arrested

Sawsan Mhamdi
born: 1987
murdered: June 15, 2022
Residence: Reuver, Limburg, Netherlands
Origin: Tunesia
Children: 2
Suspect: her husband (aged 43 at the time of the crime)

On June 15, 2022, 35-year-old Sawsan Mhamdi left on foot from her home on the Frans Halsstraat in Reuver. Since then, nothing has been heard from her. On June 19, she is reported missing to the police.

On Wednesday, October 19, Dutch police receive a report from German police that a severely burned body of a woman was found on June 15 near an overpass in the Mainz-Bingen municipality. Based on forensic technical examination, it could be determined that the body belongs to the missing Sawsan Mhamdi from Reuver.

Mhamdi's 43-year-old husband was subsequently arrested. Police suspect him of involvement in the missing/murder and are starting a trace investigation at the home in Reuver.

The couple's two children are being cared for by the municipality.

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.