Young woman in Alashtar, Iran, murdered by brother in honor-related crime

Raziyeh Hasanvand
Age: 20
Shot to death: October 12, 2023
Residence: Alashtar County, Lorestan
Origin: Iran
Children: 1
Perpetrator: brother Bahman

After a marriage of several years, Raziyeh Hasanvand, a young woman from Alashtar, Lorestan province, divorced her cousin against the will of her family. Later, her brother Bahman wanted her to marry someone of his choice. When she would not comply, he attacked her in her parents' home, shooting her.

Raziyeh fell into a coma and died on Friday, Oct. 12, 2023. This femicide highlights the ongoing problem of honor-related violence in Iran, where murders because of honor are punished leniently by the judiciary. For example, the father of Romina Ashrafi, who murdered his daughter in her sleep, received a two-year sentence because Article 301 of the Iranian Penal Code allows for reduced sentences for honor-related violence.

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.