Honor Killing in Eslamabad-e Gharb, Iran: 12-Year-Old Aylar Zaherpour Murdered by Her Father

Aylar Zaherpour
Age: 12
Murdered: April 3, 2025
Residence: Sorkhak, Eslamabad-e Gharb, Kermanshah
Origin: Iran
Perpetrator: Father

On April 3, 2025, 12-year-old Aylar Zaherpour was murdered in Sorkhak, near Eslamabad-e Gharb in Iran’s Kermanshah province, by her father, Kiomars Zaherpour. Aylar, the child of divorced parents, lived with her father, who had custody. Kiomars shot his daughter with a hunting rifle because she had been in contact with her mother. Shortly after the murder, he attempted to take his own life using the same weapon and was admitted to a hospital in critical condition.

Honor-based violence remains a widespread issue in Iran, partly due to Article 301 of the Islamic Penal Code. This law allows for reduced sentences if the victim’s family forgives the perpetrator, which in some cases results in minimal punishment for fathers who murder their daughters.

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.