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Iranwire – While the Islamic Republic transforms the streets into violent battlegrounds for women to enforce mandatory Hijab, another trend emerges – a rise in “honor killings.”
Reports from reliable sources indicate that women are either being killed by close male relatives or driven to suicide by familial coercion.
In the latest incident, IranWire has learned of the murder of a young woman named Fatemeh Masrouri by her husband in Miandoab, located in West Azerbaijan province.
Fatemeh, an employee at the Social Injuries of Education Department in Miandoab, had recently expressed her desire to end her marriage.
According to IranWire’s investigation, Fatemeh’s husband, Mohammad Ali Mohammadnia, fatally shot Fatemeh and then took his own life by shooting himself in front of her workplace.
Family members reveal that Fatemeh was subjected to her husband’s abuse and sought to break free from their marital ties now that she had achieved financial independence.
Meanwhile, women’s rights activist Fariba Baluch, based in London, has brought to attention the killing of another young woman, Hadis Mirabi, in Saravan by her own brother.
Hadis, who had relocated from Zabul due to family conflicts, was financially self-sufficient and sought her rightful inheritance following her father’s passing.
However, her request led to her demise at the hands of her brother.
Fariba Baluch emphasizes that such atrocities are not only about inheritance disputes but are symptomatic of a society where women’s rights are grossly disregarded, leaving them vulnerable to violence sanctioned under the guise of honor.
Additionally, IranWire reports a 21-year-old girl in Abadan was murdered by her 75-year-old father and his siblings.
Suspecting her of a relationship with her husband’s cousin, they brutally ended her life but faced no repercussions.
These are just a few examples amidst a disturbing trend of honor killings and femicides across Iran.
The case of Fatemeh Safdari in Khomein and several other reported incidents underscore the pervasive nature of gender-based violence in the country.
In another case, Saba Amiri, a 34-year-old victim, fell prey to her husband’s baseless suspicions and maltreatment.
Despite seeking divorce and enduring abuse, societal pressure to maintain the marriage persisted, ultimately leading to her death.
Similarly, Esra Khairkhah succumbed to her family’s pressure, choosing to end her life rather than continue living in an unfulfilling marriage.
Gender-based violence thrives in Iran under the current legal and social structures even after the nationwide protest Woman, Life, Freedom, seeking to establish women’s rights, swept the country in 2022. However, the protest faced a violent crackdown by the government.
