Honor killing in Iran: Anita Khordmand (26) killed by her husband because she wanted a divorce

Anita Khordmand
Born: 1995
Murdered: 2 August 2022
Residence: Gonabad-e Kavusin, Golestān, Iran
Origin: Iran
Children: son (5 years)
Perpetrators: her husband with 3 helpers

Witnesses state to the activist Iranian news organization HRA-News that Anita Khordmand was murdered by her husband on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, near Azadshahr, in Golestān Province, Iran. He was reportedly assisted by 3 other persons in the process.

The mother of a 5-year-old son reportedly left for her father's house about a month ago with the intention of divorcing her husband. A local witness stated, "She was planning to go to a wedding with her family members on the night of the murder." That evening, Anita said she would leave her child with her husband and come to the ceremony.

The suspects were arrested by the police.

The murder is considered an honor killing and the punishment for it is very low in Iran because their law is based on sharia law and is not in line with international laws and regulations.

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.