28-year-old Zohreh strangled by husband in suspected honor killing in Marand, Iran

Zohreh
Age: 28
Strangled: 8 July 2026
Residence: Marand, East Azerbaijan
Origin: Iran
Children: 2
Perpetrator: husband

A 28-year-old woman identified only as Zohreh was strangled by her husband in the city of Marand, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran, in a suspected honor killing.

According to the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, the killing took place on 8 July 2026 inside the family home. Zohreh was the mother of two young children, aged two and five.

The husband strangled his wife to death in front of their children before fleeing the scene, leaving her body inside the house.The crime came to light after the couple’s five-year-old child told neighbors that his mother had been killed. Concerned neighbors went to the house, where they discovered Zohreh’s body and alerted the authorities.

The suspect’s motive was described as preserving the family’s “honor,” a justification frequently used in Iran for violence against women who are perceived to have violated family or social norms.

The suspect reportedly fled after the killing. No information has been released regarding his arrest.

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.