When a woman is killed in front of her children: Marzieh’s Story

On Wednesday, September 10, 2025, in Mashhad, a 50-year-old man named Mehdi Ali
entered the home of his former wife, Marzieh, and killed her with multiple knife wounds
in front of their two daughters before fleeing the scene. This was not the first time the
victim had been threatened; local sources reported that Mehdi Ali had previously
threatened Marzieh in front of their eldest daughter due to “rumors about her.” Yet, no
protective mechanisms were provided to safeguard the woman and her children from
domestic violence.
Khorasan Newspaper, in a brief crime report, only mentioned the details of the “stabs to
the abdomen and side,” reducing what was an honor killing, the most extreme form of
systemic violence against women to a mere police incident.
Most reports in domestic media share fundamental flaws:
 Anonymization of the victim: The woman is referred to merely as “40-year-old
woman” or “former wife,” erasing her identity and reducing her to statistics.
 Cold, detached language: Violence is described as an “incident,” “family
dispute,” or the result of “anger,” rather than as part of a broader social crisis.
There is no mention of the lack of protective laws, safe houses, or social
intervention mechanisms. The media do not question why a threatened woman was
left unprotected.
 Avoidance of precise terminology: The term “honor killing” is absent, even
though this crime fits exactly within that framework. Honor killings stem from
structural discrimination, the absence of deterrent laws, and the inaction of
responsible institutions. Media responsibility extends beyond reporting; it
includes exposing this cycle of violence and demanding accountability.

#StopHonorKillingsCampaign
#SafetyForWomen
#WomenHaveTheRightToLive
#IslamicRepublicResponsibleForWomenKillings
#NoToViolenceAgainstWomen
#Maragheh_HonorKilling
#NoToMisogynisticCulture
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Stop Honor Killings Campaign

Follow news in the Stop honor Killings Campaign Telegram group:

https://t.me/stophonorkilling
Support the Stop honor Killings Campaign with Your Donations via PayPal:
https://paypal.me/stophonorkillings?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US