Iranian Teacher Killed by Husband in Street Attack

Iranwire – An Iranian teacher was killed by her husband in a street attack in northeastern Sabzevar on Wednesday.

Fatemeh Barkhordari was stabbed multiple times with a machete as she exited a vehicle with a friend.

She died from her injuries at the scene. The attacker, also an employee of the education department, fled after the assault.

Barkhordari had previously sent several official letters to authorities, including the education department, warning about her husband’s violent behavior and threats.

No protective measures were taken by the authorities, according to the Hengaw Human Rights Organization.

Barkhordari was a mother of three children and had been living separately from her husband. She had recently filed for divorce.

In Iran, official bodies do not provide accurate statistics on femicides, though incidents are reported in Iranian newspapers.

According to Etemad newspaper, 78 women were murdered by their relatives or family members between March and September last year.

In 2023, Shargh newspaper reported that male family members killed at least 165 women between 2021 and 2023.

Of these, 27 women were murdered in the first three months of 2023 alone, with “honor killings” cited as a primary motive.

These figures reflect only reported murders, and the actual number is likely much higher.