Fourth Quarterly Report on “Honor Killings” in 2024(186 case in a year)
By : Rezvan Moghaddam
This investigative report provides an analysis of the “honor killings” documented over the winter of 2024 (Iranian calendar year 1402). It follows prior reports from spring, summer, and fall, examining data compiled from publicly available sources. Below are the findings from this study.
Understanding “Honor Killings”
“Honor killings” are a severe form of femicide and one of the most violent expressions of gender-based violence. They typically involve a family member, often a woman or a transgender individual, being murdered by relatives who claim the victim has brought shame or dishonor upon the family, tribe, or community. These killings are often motivated by cultural, social, or religious beliefs that prioritize “family honor” over individual rights, including the fundamental right to life.
Triggers for such murders may include refusing an arranged marriage, engaging in a romantic relationship disapproved by the family, seeking a divorce, choosing a career, traveling without permission, or even becoming a victim of sexual assault. Many such killings are based on mere suspicion, with no evidence to justify the accusations.
Honor killings often receive tacit or explicit support from other family members. In some cases, authorities label these crimes as “private family matters,” resulting in lenient punishments or complete impunity for the perpetrators.
Efforts to combat these killings must include legal reforms, public awareness campaigns, and support services for those at risk. Since 2020, the Stop Honor Killings Campaign has worked to challenge the traditions and beliefs that perpetuate such violence, advocating for the rights and lives of women and LGBTQ+ individuals who are particularly vulnerable.
Key Findings of the winter 2024 Report
Statistics Overview
- Number of Documented Killings: 51
- Average Age of Victims: 32 years
| Monthly Breakdown |
| Month Number February 12 January 20 December 19 |
Motivation
| Motivations Behind Killings |
| Motive Count Percentage “Honor” 18 35% Family Disputes 17 33% Suspicion 7 14% Divorce 3 6% Financial Issues 2 4% Other (e.g., Cooking, LGBTQ-related) 4 8% |
While labeled as “family disputes” in many official reports, this terminology often serves to obscure the honor-based nature of these crime
| Perpetrators |
| Relationship to Victim Count Husband 20 Father 4 Brother 3 Ex-Husband 3 |
Examples of Documented Cases
December 12, 2024: A 25-year-old woman from Ilam was strangled by her brother, who cited “family disputes” as the motive.
January 18, 2024: Zahra Shafiei, a mother of three, was beaten to death by her husband and brother in Fars Province for alleged “honor” reasons.
February 3, 2024: A 19-year-old woman from Isfahan was murdered by her father, who claimed she had dishonored the family by having a boyfriend.
Distribution of Means Used in “Honor Killings” – Fourth Quarter (Table 3)
| Means of Killing | Count |
|---|---|
| Fire and head injury | 1 |
| Burning | 3 |
| Firearm | 17 |
| Knife | 9 |
| Knife and machete | 2 |
| Hanging | 1 |
| Strangulation | 14 |
| Stone and brick | 2 |
| Beating | 2 |
Statistical analysis of these killings reveals that out of 51 recorded honor killings in the winter of 1402 (2024), at least 17 cases involved firearms, including hunting rifles, handguns, and even Kalashnikovs. Following this, 14 victims were killed by strangulation, and knives accounted for the third most common method, with 11 victims stabbed to death with knives or machetes. Seven women were strangled, and three women were killed through burning, hanging, beating, or being struck with stones and bricks. These methods represent the range of physical elimination techniques used against the victims. (Refer to Table and Chart No. 3)
Table No. 4: Frequency Distribution of Honor Killings by Province in the Fourth Quarter
| Province | Count of Province |
|---|---|
| East Azerbaijan | 4 |
| West Azerbaijan | 2 |
| Ardabil | 1 |
| Isfahan | 3 |
| Alborz | 3 |
| Ilam | 2 |
| Tehran | 18 |
| Khorasan Razavi | 2 |
| Khuzestan | 2 |
| Fars | 6 |
| Kermanshah | 3 |
| Lorestan | 2 |
| Markazi | 3 |
| Total | 51 |
As shown in Table No. 4, of the 51 “honor” killings in the winter of 1402, Tehran had the highest number with 18 cases, accounting for 33%. Following Tehran, Fars province had 6 cases, making up 11%, and then the provinces of East Azerbaijan, Kermanshah, Markazi, Alborz, Isfahan, West Azerbaijan, Khorasan Razavi, Khuzestan, Ilam, Lorestan, and Ardabil were among the provinces where news of honor killings took place was reporte.
Table No. 5: Distribution of Frequency of Relationship of the Killer to the Victim in “Honor” Killings (Fourth Quarter)
| Relationship to Victim | Count of Relationship to Victim |
|---|---|
| Masked Individuals | 2 |
| Brother | 3 |
| Brother and Husband | 1 |
| Father | 4 |
| Son | 2 |
| Son-in-law | 1 |
| Husband’s Nephew | 1 |
| Son-in-law (husband’s son) | 1 |
| Son-in-law | 3 |
| Former Son-in-law | 2 |
| Friend | 2 |
| Brother-in-law | 1 |
| Unknown | 1 |
| Fiancé | 3 |
| Husband | 20 |
| Temporary Husband (Sigheh) | 1 |
| Mother’s Husband | 1 |
| Former Husband | 3 |
| Total | 51 |
Table and Chart No. 5 show the relationship between the killer and the victim. In previous quarterly reports, most killings were carried out by husbands, and in this report, 22 cases, or 43% of honor killings, were committed by husbands. Even former husbands, after separation, still felt a sense of ownership over their former wives, and 3 cases, or 6% of the 51 honor killings, were committed by ex-husbands.
Fathers, sons, former husbands, fiancés, temporary husbands (Sigheh), sons-in-law, boyfriends, husbands’ nephews, and a man who married a woman previously, have been involved in killing women from their families. Here are some examples of these killings:
On Sunday, March 20, 2023, a 27-year-old woman named “Ziba Syad,” from the village of “Hesar Kani Sepi” in the suburbs of Urmia, was shot and killed by her ex-husband using a firearm.
On March 8, 2023, in the southeast of Tehran, an unidentified man killed his 47-year-old temporary wife and his 20-year-old stepdaughter by shooting them with a handgun. Based on the information obtained, it appears the murdered woman had learned that her husband was having an affair with another woman. She had decided to end the marriage, which led to a long dispute, and the man was unwilling to end the marriage. A woman’s request for a divorce, if rejected by the man, can be one of the motivations for the killing of women.
On March 25, 2023, Maryam Razmjoo, a first-year resident in the field of radio-oncology at Razi University, was killed by her ex-husband with a firearm. According to a source familiar with the Stop Honor Killings Campaign, Maryam had separated from her husband and was living with her mother and brother. In addition to his ex-wife, the killer also murdered her brother and mother.
Based on what has been mentioned, in 2023, at least one woman was killed every two days by male family members. This statistic does not include killings related to theft or accidental deaths. This study focuses on femicides related to controlling women and their sexuality. Honor killings are not limited to the murder of women; they also encompass the LGBTQ+ community and men suspected of having a relationship with a woman from the family.
It is worth noting that the statistics provided do not reflect the exact number of women killed, particularly in honor killings, due to limited access to data. However, the effort of the Stop Honor Killings Campaign is to shed light on the dark aspects of this tragic phenomenon by documenting the cases that come to the campaign’s attention or are reported in the media, aiming to understand its dimensions and take effective steps in preventing violence against women.
Observations and Conclusions
Legislation and Impunity: Discriminatory laws create a safe haven for perpetrators, allowing many to escape punishment or receive light sentences.
Gender and Control: Most cases are rooted in controlling women’s lives, particularly their sexuality. The data also highlights the risk faced by LGBTQ+ individuals.
Increase in Cases: There has been a noticeable rise in honor killings, coinciding with intensified state repression and anti-women propaganda.
Despite the limitations in access to comprehensive data, this report aims to shed light on the scope of this pervasive issue. The Stop Honor Killings Campaign continues to document cases and advocate for systemic changes to prevent such violence.
#WomenAreNotProperty
#NoOneIsTheHonorOfAnyoneElse
