In May 2024, a 15-year-old girl named Ayla Pasdar was killed by her 18-year-old
brother with the assistance of her uncles in Izeh, a city in northeastern Khuzestan
Province. She was shot and killed at a relative’s home, and the motive behind the killing
was reported to be tied to “honor.” According to a source familiar with the case, after
Ayla’s father passed away, she lived with her mother and four siblings in a 12-square-
meter room in her uncle’s house, while the other rooms were occupied by her uncles
and their families.
At the age of 11, her family forced her into an engagement with a boy. However, by 15,
she separated from him due to his abusive behavior. Sometime later, Ayla decided to
run away with a boy she loved. They fled to another city but were apprehended by the
police. Ayla was returned to her family — only to be killed by her brother with the help of
her uncles.
Although the perpetrators were arrested, experience has shown that they are unlikely to
be punished and will likely be released after a year at most.
This horrifying news highlights one of the most painful dimensions of honor-based
violence in Iran — a crime in which women’s rights are blatantly ignored, and the family
becomes a place where death is seen as a solution to preserve “honor.” Ayla Pasdar,
a 15-year-old girl, lived in an extremely restricted and confined environment, under the
control of her uncles and male family members. From an early age, life-altering
decisions such as forced engagement were imposed on her.
Ayla’s attempt to escape family oppression didn’t lead to freedom — it led to tragedy.
After she was returned to her family, she was killed by her brother and uncles. The
excuse of “honor” used as the motive for her killing once again reveals the deep-rooted
and structural causes of gender-based violence. This is not only a reflection of
patriarchal and controlling attitudes within families but also a stark indication of the
judiciary’s failure to punish perpetrators and protect women’s rights.
This report clearly demonstrates how social and cultural systems, coupled with the
government’s permissiveness, pave the way for such bloody tragedies.
Strengthening legal protections and transforming cultural mindsets are essential to
prevent the repetition of such horrors and to truly ensure the safety and dignity of
women.

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