In just 15 days, Iran witnessed at least 9 cases of femicide in Iran—women brutally murdered as victims of domestic abuse, so-called honor killings, and the chronic failures of protective institutions. Each of these killings is a human tragedy, yet they are often lost in official statistics and gradually normalized in the public conscience.
The relentless recurrence of such crimes is not the result of “momentary rage” or “personal disputes,” as often portrayed, but rather the direct consequence of structural inequality, a culture that tolerates violence, and the silence of responsible institutions.
These horrific cases of femicide highlight the escalating crisis of gender-based violence in Iran, where systemic legal shortcomings enable perpetrators to act with impunity.
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.
A Glimpse into the Tragedies of Femicide in Iran
Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan – May 6, 2025
Maedeh Khatibian, a 21-year-old woman from Mashhad, was stabbed to death by her husband. The violence was so extreme that the authorities were initially unable to count the number of stab wounds. The attacker attempted suicide after committing the murder, the state-run Rokna.net reported.
Kordkuy, Golestan Province – May 7, 2025
Mobina Kandabi, a young woman from Kordkuy, was shot and killed by her husband in what has been described as an “honor” killing.
Kahnuj, Kerman Province – May 10, 2025
In the village of Chah Haji, a woman identified by the surname Darvishi Divan-Morad was first shot by her husband, then run over with a car. She later died in the hospital due to the severity of her injuries.
Tehran – May 2025
A young woman was strangled to death by her husband in their home during an argument over buying a mobile phone, as reported by the state-run daily Etemad. The husband later confessed, citing “intense anger” as his motive.
Shahroud, Semnan Province – May 17, 2025
Yasaman Nosrati, a 20-year-old woman, was strangled with a belt by her husband, identified as Parsa, in the Amiriyyeh district of Shahroud. The state-run Rokna.net reported that the man had suspected his wife’s loyalty.
Firuzabad, Fars Province – May 18, 2025
Eliana Koohi, 23, and her mother, Farideh Bagheri, 45, were stabbed to death in their home. According to the state-run Etemad Online, the killer, Eliana’s husband, claimed his wife’s request for a divorce as the reason for the attack.
Tehran – May 20, 2025
A 40-year-old woman was brutally stabbed to death by her husband in their home on Kharazi Street. The murder was carried out with exceptional violence through 40 blows of the knife.
Tabriz, East Azerbaijan Province – May 21, 2025
In a frenzied attack, a man assaulted his wife and daughter with a blade. His wife was killed, and his daughter was severely injured. Authorities reported “family problems” as the supposed motive behind the assault, wrote Tasnim news agency.
