Palestinian woman’s murder by her father shocks Albania

The murder of a 24-year-old Palestinian woman in Tirana has sparked widespread shock and condemnation. Rayan Alwan was killed by her father, Fadi Alwan, in a rented apartment on February 22, in what authorities are investigating as a honor killing. New developments suggest that the victim’s mother may also have been complicit in the crime.

Why is this important: While Albania faces its own challenges with violence against women and girls, honor killings of this nature are extremely rare. The brutal nature of Rayan Alwan’s murder, along with the suspected involvement of her mother, has shocked and outraged the public, but has also reignited conversations about gender-based violenceand the protection of vulnerable individuals.

Context: Rayan Alwan had sought asylum in Germany, where she had previously filed a report alleging threats from her father, mother, and brothers. According to German authorities, her family had threatened her due to her desire to lead a Western lifestyle. In January, Rayan expressed fears for her safety, but she later traveled to Tirana, reportedly intending to transit through Albania to Lebanon to see her three children, who live with her ex-husband.

Just days after the murder, her mother left Germany and is believed to have reunited with Fadi Alwan in Lebanon. Investigators suspect her involvement in the crime, particularly after it emerged that she reported a false story to German police on February 26, alleging that her daughter was being blackmailed over an intimate video. This claim has not been substantiated, and Albanian authorities suspect it may have been a cover-up attempt.

Adding to the suspicion, a Lebanese media outlet falsely reported that Rayan had died in a car accident in Germany, leading investigators to question whether this was an attempt by the family to conceal the murder.

Next steps: The father fled to Lebanon immediately after the killing, and while Albania has issued an international arrest warrant, Lebanon does not have an extradition agreement with Albania, complicating efforts to bring him to justice. Meanwhile, the victim’s body remains unclaimed in a Tirana morgue.