Honor-Based Violence Rising in the Netherlands
Reports indicate that incidents of honor-based violence are reaching unprecedented levels in the Netherlands. This surge is largely attributed to the increasing number of immigrants arriving from Islamic countries, particularly Syria.
As per a report from the Dutch National Expert Center on Honor-Related Violence, it’s projected that there will be 757 cases of honor violence in 2025. This marks a 13% rise from 673 incidents recorded the previous year.
The report highlights that Syrians are involved in about 34% of all reported cases from last year. This number has notably increased over the past decade, coinciding with a significant influx of migrants from conflict-affected regions. For context, there were 257 reported cases involving Syrians in 2025, a stark contrast to just 37 in 2016.
Other ethnic groups are also represented, with Turks making up 15% of cases and Moroccans 11%.
Wilfred Janmaat, Director of the National Center of Expertise on Honor-Related Violence, articulated concerns regarding the impact of these new population groups. He mentioned that if there were a larger number of refugees from Yemen, honor-related incidents would likely be even higher.
He pointed out that a significant influx of people from the Middle East into the Netherlands often brings deep-seated notions of honor related to family. Many of these individuals have experienced trauma in their home countries. Upon arriving in the Netherlands, they face challenges such as unemployment, leading them to cling to family honor as a primary social anchor.
In terms of types of cases, the report indicated that 35% involved intimidation, while 34% were linked to physical violence. Other figures include 9% involving coercion, 4% related to rape, 3% to attempted murder or manslaughter, and 1% to actual murder.
Over the past 12 years, at least 121 individuals have lost their lives to honor killings in the Netherlands. While the narrative often highlights women as victims, it’s noteworthy that 66 men have also been killed under similar circumstances.
Janmaat observed that some individuals face violence for reasons as varied as being openly gay or having a relationship with a married woman. He noted that even innocuous social media posts featuring girlfriends can lead to violent repercussions from family members.
He added, illustrating the extremity of such situations, that there can be dire consequences for those involved, indicating that the stakes are incredibly high.
A particularly shocking incident occurred last year involving an 18-year-old girl named Ryan from Gyur. She was killed by her two brothers, following orders from their father. Her body was later discovered in a swamp, bound and thrown into the water. The case highlighted “serious honor-related factors,” resulting in lengthy prison sentences for her brothers, while her father managed to flee to Syria before he could be apprehended.
