Honor killings in Iranshahr, Iran: Teenage boy and girl murdered

Mohammad Sarfarazi, Zinat Piroozi
Ages: 17, 15
Murdered: June 8/9, 2024
Residence: Khairabad, Iranshahr, Sistan and Baluchestan
Origin: Iran
Perpetrators: Uncle, Father of his girlfriend

According to local sources in Sistan and Baluchestan, a 17-year-old boy identified as "Mohammad Sarfarazi" and a 15-year-old girl "Zinat Piroozi," residents of Khairabad, were killed by the girl's relatives with "honor" as motive, and two other citizens were injured.

Informed sources state: "The girl's relatives, who found out about her relationship with the boy, lured him with a premeditated plan, kidnapped him on the evening of Thursday, June 6, tortured him until morning, which led to his death, and then shot him in the head, neck, and other parts of his body." Subsequently, "the girl was also killed by her uncle on Sunday, June 9, in connection with this case."

What is an honour killing?

An honour killing is a murder in the name of honour. If a brother murders his sister to restore family honour, it is an honour killing. According to activists, the most common reasons for honour killings are as the victim:

refuses to cooperate in an arranged marriage.
wants to end the relationship.
was the victim of rape or sexual assault.
was accused of having a sexual relationship outside of marriage.

Human rights activists believe that 100,000 honour killings are carried out every year, most of which are not reported to the authorities and some are even deliberately covered up by the authorities themselves, for example because the perpetrators are good friends with local policemen, officials or politicians. Violence against girls and women remains a serious problem in Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Serbia and Turkey.