Reasons why many honor killings are often not included in official statistics

According to available statistics and according to the United Nations, an estimated 5,000 honor killings are reported annually in different countries. Contrary to what some people think, these murders are not limited to countries like Iran, Pakistan, India, Turkey, Egypt, Syria, etc., but also occur in countries like Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Canada, the United States, and others.
Currently, the reported numbers are much lower than the actual numbers for various reasons; Here are some of them:

False reporting around honor killings by family members and witnesses:
A significant number of honor killings are often reported under titles other than murder. In these cases, the men of the family generally want to control the women and consider the woman or girl as their property, with the result that the slightest disobedience to orders, even though it is one of the most natural rights of every human being, is considered harmful to the family. As a result of these thoughts, in the name of lost reputation, zeal and prejudice, murders take place which are reported as suicides or natural deaths in collaboration with other witnesses.

The names of girls are not registered at birth:
In many countries, for various reasons, the names of daughters may not be registered at birth. In rural and remote areas in Ecuador and Kenya, for example, distance from government offices is one of the biggest barriers to registering children at birth. In Bangladesh, families must pay a fee to register and obtain a birth certificate, which is a small barrier for poor families. In Cameroon, mothers must have two witnesses if they want to register their children. Because girls' names are not registered at birth, their lives and deaths remain outside the statistics.

Police cooperation with the victim's family:
Police cooperation and manipulation of events at the crime scene in reporting is another reason that prevents access to the true statistics of honor killings. According to some women's rights activists, in some cases, the police do not authorize an autopsy, making it easier for the family to report the victim's natural death.

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.