Afghan Couple in Germany Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Killing Their 15-Year-Old Daughter

According to the verdict issued on Friday (April 11) by the regional court of the city of Mainz, the two individuals were found guilty of premeditated murder with "base motives." The prosecution had earlier requested life sentences for the couple, which the court upheld.

Judges stated that the couple, originally from Herat province, killed their daughter in June 2024 because they considered her lifestyle a threat to the family. Investigations revealed ongoing disputes within the family, and the girl had a history of drug use and physical altercations with her mother.

According to judicial authorities, on June 15, the 34-year-old mother gave her daughter a sedative and, together with her husband, took her to the town of Worms near the Rhine River. There, after being administered additional medication, the girl became unable to defend herself. The father, who is now 40 years old, then dragged her to the riverbank with a scarf and threw her into the Rhine while she was unconscious.

The court emphasized that the mother was not present at the scene at the time of the killing. During the trial, the father confessed that he was also addicted to drugs and had previously attempted suicide. The mother said she was worried about her daughter’s association with bad friends and felt overwhelmed by the responsibility of raising her children.

It is worth noting that the couple migrated to Germany in 2015 and both stated that they converted from Islam to Christianity after their migration. They have three other children.