honor Killing of Two Women in One Week in Gilan

On Thursday, June 20, 2024, in the village of Gisavandan in the Sangar district of
Rasht, Gilan province, a 40-year-old woman named Narges Mousavi was brutally
murdered by her husband with multiple machete blows due to so-called “honor”
motives.
According to a source close to the Stop honor Killings Campaign, Narges Mousavi, 40,
was the mother of two children, aged 8 and 15. She had been suffering from
Parkinson’s disease from a young age and, after the death of her first husband,
remarried out of “necessity.” Narges faced constant domestic violence from her second
husband, leading her to recently request a divorce, which her husband vehemently
opposed.
On the day of the incident, Narges’s husband first subjected her to severe beating and
then killed her with multiple machete blows to the heart, kidneys, and neck. Narges’s
sister, who attempted to intervene and prevent the tragedy, was also attacked and
injured in the process, losing four fingers due to the assault by her brother-in-law. The
perpetrator was arrested after the crime and is currently detained in Lakan Prison in
Rasht.
Women in Gilan have historically enjoyed more freedom compared to other regions in
Iran for several reasons. Gilan has a long history of local cultures and customs that may
differ from the rest of Iran. For example, women have historically had prominent roles in
the local economy and agriculture. Women actively participate in economic activities,
including agriculture, handicraft production, and tourism-related work, which contributes
to their independence and greater freedom. Additionally, certain local customs in Gilan
might grant women more freedom compared to other regions of Iran. For instance, in
some local ceremonies and festivals, women play more prominent roles.
However, in recent years, there has been an alarming increase in violence against
women in Gilan. The spread of misogynistic propaganda and the education imparted
through media and textbooks, which instill patriarchal views in men, undoubtedly
contribute to the rise in violence against women.

Razvan Moghaddam

Stop honor Killings Campaign