Honor Killing in Fars, Iran: Young woman killed by husband and brother

Zahra Shafie
Age: Young
Shot death: January, 2024
Residence: Kazeroon, Fars Province
Origin: Iran
Children: 3
Perpetrators: Husband, brother

In January 2024, Zahra Shafie, a young woman from the village of Saif Abad in Kazeroon, Fars Province, became the victim of an honor killing perpetrated by her husband and brother.

Zahra, the mother of three children, was forcibly taken to the deserts surrounding the village by her brother and husband, where she was subjected to severe beating and ultimately shot with a gun.

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.