Between March 24 and April 9, 2025—over a span of two and a half weeks—at least 13 young women and girls were killed in cities and towns across Iran, most at the hands of male relatives — fathers, husbands, brothers, etc. These tragic incidents highlight the ongoing epidemic of gender-based killings and violence in the country, where perpetrators often act with impunity and victims are left without protection or justice.
Case Reports:
Tehran-March 26, 2025
In yet another case of domestic violence in Iran, a woman was killed by her husband in their home in Tehran. According to initial reports, the couple had previously experienced ongoing tensions over unspecified issues.
The husband initially claimed that his wife had died after falling from a stool while cleaning the house. However, a forensic investigation revealed that the cause of death was a broken neck resulting from physical trauma — injuries inconsistent with a simple fall. These findings directly contradict the husband’s account and point to intentional violence.
Khuzestan -March 24, 2025
In a far more gruesome incident in the southwestern province of Khuzestan, a woman was brutally stabbed and dismembered by her husband. According to local sources, after committing the crime, the man sat down to eat lunch next to his wife’s mutilated body. He reportedly intended to kill their two children as well, but the crime was reported in time, and police in the city of Minushahr intervened and arrested him.
The suspect’s statements in custody have shed light on disturbing cultural justifications for such violence. He reportedly told authorities: “It is a tradition that when a woman disobeys her husband, her body is used as a serving dish.” He added that his father had murdered his wife — the suspect’s mother — in the same way years ago and was released after a brief detention due to the family’s decision not to press charges.
Kuzaran, Kermanshah – March 26, 2025
Farzaneh Moradi, a 30-year-old pregnant woman and mother of two daughters aged 5 and 8, was shot and killed in Kuzaran, Kermanshah, by her husband, Pedram Safaei, using a handgun. Moradi was expecting twins — a boy and a girl — and according to reports, her husband murdered her due to his objection to the unborn female child.
Estahban, Fars – April 2, 2025
An 18-year-old girl was beaten to death by her 42-year-old father in Estahban, Fars Province. The father fled the scene but was apprehended within hours. He later cited “family disputes” as the motive for the killing.
Qorveh, Kurdistan – April 3, 2025
Azita Fallahi, a 36-year-old mother of two, was brutally beaten to death in her home in Qorveh by her husband and father-in-law. The perpetrators initially claimed suicide, but a forensic examination revealed evidence of homicide. The husband has since been arrested.
Eslamabad-e Gharb, Kermanshah – April 3, 2025
Aylar Zaherpour, a 12-year-old girl living in the village of Sorkhak, was shot and killed by her father, Kiumars Zaherpour, using a hunting rifle. The father, who had custody of the child after a divorce, reportedly killed her after discovering she had contacted her mother.
Lulman, Rasht – April 7, 2025
A 30-year-old woman was stabbed to death by a 31-year-old male friend in the village of Lulaman near Rasht. The assailant took his own life after the killing. Authorities cited “personal disputes” as the motive.
Tehran – April 8, 2025
Sorayya Bayatloo, a 34-year-old survivor of child marriage, was murdered in her sleep by her husband, Jalal Bayatloo, who used a sledgehammer to kill her. The perpetrator, reportedly suffering from mental illness, remains at large. The couple’s two children reported that the murder stemmed from their father’s suspicions and so-called “honor” motives.
Borujen, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari – April 8, 2025
In the village of Emam Qays, a 40-year-old man strangled his wife, Zahra Kordizadi, and then shot and killed their five-year-old daughter, Sheyda Moradi, with a hunting rifle. He subsequently took his own life. No clear motive has been reported.
Ilam – April 8, 2025
In the city of Ilam, Yusef Kahzadian shot and killed his wife, Zahra Nour-Mohammadi, and their two sons before turning the gun on himself. The motive remains unknown.
Faruj, North Khorasan – April 8, 2025
A 39-year-old woman was murdered by her 49-year-old husband using a knife. Authorities attributed the killing to “family disputes.”
Nur, Mazandaran – April 9, 2025
In the Baladeh district of Nur County, a young woman was strangled with a rope by her husband. He has been arrested and cited “family disputes” as his reason for the murder.
Article 612 of the clerical regime’s Penal Code, in particular, frequently shields offenders—especially fathers, brothers, and husbands—from severe punishment, perpetuating a cycle of injustice. The persistent failure to implement robust legal protections not only endangers countless women but also reinforces a culture where honor killings and femicide remain tragically unchecked.
