Attempted homicide of spouse: Wiesbadener faces imprisonment
In a shocking turn of events, a 38-year-old Afghan asylum seeker has been convicted for attempted femicide by the Wiesbaden Regional Court. The man, who resides in a refugee accommodation, attacked his wife with a knife several months ago, leaving her paralyzed.
The attack took place in October 2024 in the same accommodation where his mother-in-law and their son were in the adjacent room at the time. The court heard that the man saw his wife as "property" without her own rights, and he attacked her from behind in the kitchen.
The prosecution demanded a 14-year prison sentence, but the man's lawyer argued for a prison sentence for severe bodily harm, which could have resulted in a maximum of five years. The court, however, did not agree with the lawyer's argument and sentenced the man to serve 11 years in prison.
The court also imposed a substantial fine of 100,000 euros on the man. The judge described the crime as cowardly and motivated by low instincts, and the court considered the man's description of the act as a "mistake" to be a mockery.
The court's decision reflects the current legislative and policy landscape in Germany. Germany lacks a distinct femicide law; femicide acts are prosecuted under existing homicide and violence laws. Sentences for attempted femicide follow general penalties for bodily harm or attempted murder, with no specialized sentencing yet.
However, Germany is enhancing protective measures for victims, including ankle bracelets and longer penalties for protection order violations. No specific legal provisions or damages rules differentiate asylum seekers in cases of attempted femicide.
Legal experts from Germany’s Max Planck Institute criticize the current murder provision for its inadequacy and argue in favor of creating a special criminal offense for femicide to provide clearer legal recognition and more targeted justice. However, such specific femicide legislation has not yet been adopted.
The woman, who is ten years younger, wanted to leave her husband. The man's actions led to her being paralyzed, as previously reported. Remarkably, the woman was able to defend herself enough to prevent him from stabbing her in the neck.
This conviction comes at a time when Germany is facing a significant increase in domestic violence and femicide cases. Official statistics show that femicides nearly tripled in 2023 compared to the previous year, averaging a woman killed almost every day, often by a (ex-)partner. In response, Germany is enacting measures to better protect victims, including plans to implement nationwide use of electronic ankle bracelets for offenders modeled after Spain’s system to prevent violence recurrence and the government's commitment to expanding support services and counselling nationwide by 2032 with significant funding allocated.
References:
[1] Domestic Violence and Femicide Rising in Germany. (2025). The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/15/domestic-violence-and-femicide-rising-in-germany
[2] Germany to Introduce Electronic Ankle Bracelets for Offenders. (2025). Deutsche Welle. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/germany-to-introduce-electronic-ankle-bracelets-for-offenders/a-58727484
[3] Germany Commits to Expanding Support Services for Domestic Violence Victims. (2025). The Local. Retrieved from https://www.thelocal.de/20250515/germany-commits-to-expanding-support-services-for-domestic-violence-victims
[5] The Need for a Femicide Law in Germany. (2025). Max Planck Institute. Retrieved from https://www.mpg.de/17835883/femicide-law-germany
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