Honor Killing in Isfahan, Iran: Young Woman murdered by Her Father

Zeynab HoseinKhani
Age: 19
Suffocated: February 19, 2024
Residence: Najafabad, Isfahan
Origin: Iran
Children: none
Perpetrator: Father

On Tuesday, February 19, 2024, a 19-year-old young woman named Zeynab HoseinKhani was murdered by her own father in Isfahan, motivated by so-called honor, through suffocation and multiple blows to her head with bricks. The suspect has been detained but there is no complainant, and according to the laws of the Islamic Republic, he may be released soon.

According to reports, Zeynab HoseinKhani was murdered by her father on the pretext of having a relationship with a young man. It is worth mentioning that Zeynab's mother passed away ten years ago, and the father of this young woman has prevented her and her thirteen-year-old sister Zahra from socializing with relatives for several years.

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.