Femicide in Sib and Soran, Iran: Man Murders Wife and Mother-in-Law

Sharfnaz Khaki & Zolikha PoorMohmmadiö
Ages: -
Shot to death: August 10, 2024
Residence: Sib and Soran, Sistan and Baluchestan
Origin: Iran
Perpetrator: Husband

A man in the Sib and Soran County of Sistan and Baluchestan Province, a remote and underdeveloped region in southeastern Iran, shot and killed his wife, Sharfnaz Khaki, and his mother-in-law, Zolikha PoorMohmmadiö. The motive for the crime has been stated as "family disputes."

This incident occurred on Saturday, August 10, 2024. The son-in-law of this family, after his request for his wife Sharfnaz Khaki to return home was rejected, used a gun to shoot at his wife and her mother.

According to the news outlet Hal Vash, the killer had also previously, due to a dispute, shot and killed his father-in-law several years ago. After that incident, Sharfnaz Khaki lived with her mother. On the day of the murder, the killer threatened his wife with a gun, demanding that she return home, and when this request was rejected, he killed her and her mother.

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.