Yeganeh Rostami from Mahallat (Iran) was killed by her uncle

Yeganeh Rostami
Age: 23
Shot to death: October 4, 2023
Residence: Mahallat, Markazi
Origin: Iran
Children: -
Perpetrator: uncle Ahmad Esmaeili

According to Hengaw Human Rights Organization, on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, 23-year-old Yeganeh Rostami, a resident of Mahallat in Markazi Province, was killed by her uncle because of ‘honor’ with a hunting rifle. Yeganeh Rostami was traveling from Mahallat to Tehran in search of a job when, in Qom city, she was forced off the bus by her uncle, Ahmad Esmaeili. After being transferred to the "Gol Cheshmeh" village near Mahallat, she was shot several times in the head. Yeganeh Rostami had separated from her ex-husband two days before the murder.

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.