Agents of the Welfare Department of Urmia raided a safe shelter giving refuge to victims of domestic violence. They raided and evacuated the safe shelter called “Mehr-e Shams Afarid,” on Sunday, April 28, 2024.
Urmia is the capital of West Azerbaijan province in northwestern Iran.
The director and manager of the safe shelter, Ms. Fatemeh Babakhani, is a jurist. Her social activities are said to be the reason for the closure of the safe house.
Mehr-e Shams Afarid received official operation license in 2020. Since 2021, it had given refuge to many women victimized by domestic violence. It provided special services to more than 50 battered women, every month.
There are not many shelters for victims of domestic violence and battered women in Iran. The latest statistics indicated that there are only 34 safe shelters in provincial capitals throughout the country. And even in these limited number of shelters, the conditions for allowing battered women are difficult.
The shelters accept women with their daughters and sons if they are under 8 years of age. But if their sons are older than 8, they will be sent to the centers for street children.
