By: Rezvan Moghaddam
On Wednesday, December 24, 2024, in the city of Naysar, east of Sanandaj in
Kurdistan Province, 27-year-old Ghazaleh Haddoudi was set on fire by a man whose
marriage proposal she had repeatedly rejected.
According to a source close to the “Stop honor Killings Campaign” Ghazaleh was a
respectable, strong, and independent woman. Two years ago, she divorced her
husband due to his addiction and maintained her independence, refusing to live under
the control of any man. Ghazaleh worked as a seamstress and supported herself and
her 11-year-old daughter.
For some time, a vendor near her workplace had been infatuated with her and had
proposed to her multiple times. Each time, Ghazaleh firmly said no, but the man,
identified as Sirvan Saedpanah, continued his persistent advances. On the day of the
incident, he arrived at her workplace carrying a jug of gasoline, doused her, and set her
on fire before fleeing the scene.
Eyewitnesses who reported to the police station confirmed that moments before setting
Ghazaleh on fire, Sirvan was seen chatting casually with her father, claiming he was
finished with his errands and was heading home. However, hours later, he returned to
her workplace with gasoline. After a verbal altercation, he committed the horrific act.
Ghazaleh was rushed to Kowsar Hospital in Sanandaj, but she succumbed to severe
burns and injuries. She regained consciousness briefly in the ambulance, during which
she was able to tell her father who had burned her.
According to sources from the ” Stop honor Killings Campaign”, Ghazaleh was part of a
Women Heads of Households program. With a small loan, she had purchased a sewing
machine and worked at a clothing production workshop. Her suitor, Sirvan, was
reportedly a recovering addict who had relapsed multiple times and had continuously
harassed and threatened Ghazaleh. She had previously filed a formal complaint against
him for threatening her life.
The killing of Ghazaleh Haddoudi is not just a personal tragedy but a stark example of
systemic violence rooted in misguided social beliefs and a culture of male ownership
over women. This heinous act highlights how rejecting a marriage proposal can
escalate into fatal violence, revealing deep flaws in societal attitudes toward women’s
autonomy and rights.
Ghazaleh, an independent and strong woman, managed her life after separating from
her husband, proving that one does not need to rely on others to lead an independent
life. Yet, this very independence appeared as a serious threat to some men bound by
patriarchal traditions. Her suitor, unable to accept her “no,” not only disregarded her

personal boundaries and right to make decisions but also ended her life with ruthless
violence.
In societies where distorted notions of “masculinity” are instilled as a positive trait, when
men face rejection from women, many do not perceive it as an independent decision or
a natural right of the woman but as an attack on their “manhood.” In cultures where
masculinity is defined by power, control, and dominance over others, rejection by a
woman can provoke feelings of failure, humiliation, and worthlessness.
In many societies, women are viewed as property or possessions of men. This
perspective leads men to see a woman’s “no” not as an individual decision but as a
personal insult that demands retaliation.
Additionally, the holiness of marriage and traditional gender roles: social pressures to
marry and the emphasis on outdated gender roles make men feel entitled to change
women’s decisions or force them into marriage.
Moreover, the lack of adequate laws to protect women: The absence of strict and
enforceable laws to prevent violence against women, especially in cases of threats,
allows such incidents to occur easily.

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