On April 10, 2025, in Pakdasht, a town in Tehran Province, an 18-year-old Afghan girl
was killed by her 20-year-old brother, who stabbed her in the neck. According to state-
affiliated media such as Mehr News, the motive for the murder has been described as
an “honor-related” issue. The brother fled the scene following the killing and was later
arrested in the city of Hamedan.
The killing of this young Afghan woman at the hands of her brother once again reveals
the horrifying reality of so-called “honor” violence. In a society where migrant women
and girls—particularly those from Afghanistan—face compounded discrimination on the
basis of gender, ethnicity, class, and legal status, this killing reflects the deeply rooted
structures that enable men to commit killing in the name of “honor.”
Young girls, especially in culturally conservative families lacking legal or social
protection, often feel unsafe—not just at home, but in the broader society. Existing laws
are not only ineffective in preventing such crimes; they also undermine justice by
reducing sentences for perpetrators of honor killings, sending a chilling message:
women’s lives are worth less.
This killing of a young Afghan girl in silence should not be treated as just another news
item, but as a dire warning—to society, lawmakers, and civil institutions. Without legal
reforms, public education, strong protection for victims, and the criminalization of honor-
based violence, such tragedies will continue to occur.

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