Brutal Killing of Wife and Infant Daughter in Boumehen

In August 2024, a man in Boumehen, Pardis County, killed his wife and their two-month-old daughter.
Government-affiliated media have reported that the motive behind the crime was labeled as “family disputes.”

The victim, a resident of Boumehen, was a child bride.
According to Hamshahri Online, the 28-year-old perpetrator killed his 19-year-old wife with multiple stab wounds and suffocated their two-month-old daughter by strangling her before fleeing the scene. Law enforcement conducted a swift and surprise operation, capturing the killer hiding in a garden in Isfahan. He was subsequently transferred to Pardis Police Intelligence for legal proceedings.

Both child marriage and so-called honor killings are directly linked to traditional cultures and gender inequalities, sharing common roots in patriarchal structures. In societies where these phenomena are prevalent, control over women and girls often begins at a young age, with child marriage being one of the main tools for enforcing this control.
Girls forced into marriage at a young age are frequently burdened with heavy expectations to uphold “honor” and “reputation.” If these girls fail to meet these expectations or are perceived as acting against cultural norms, they may become victims of honor killings.

This connection illustrates that child marriage not only infringes upon the rights and freedoms of girls but also paves the way for more severe forms of violence, including honor killings.
Cultures that encourage child marriage often reinforce traditional and patriarchal values, legitimizing violence against women and girls.