Honor Killing in Ahvaz, Iran: Woman murdered by her father due to her divorce

Fereshteh
Age: 32
stabbed to death: July 17, 2023
Residence: Ahvaz, Khuzestan
Origin: Iran
Children: 2
Perpetrator: Father (58)

Forced into an unwanted marriage at 15, Fereshteh's life was marked by adversity. After 15 years of marriage, she sought a divorce, taking refuge with her father temporarily.

On the morning of July 17, 2023, driven by her divorce from her husband, Fereshteh's father took her life, inflicting fatal knife wounds. The femicide occurred in the garden of his home in Ahvaz, Khuzestan.

Leaving behind two children, Fereshteh's life was cut short. The perpetrator is unlikely to face severe consequences, as similar cases have seen fathers released on bail within months by the Iranian regime, all in the name of 'honor'.

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.