Honor Killing in Salmas, Iran: Young woman killed by her father

Jana Choupani
Age: 22
Strangled : July 27, 2024
Residence: Salmas, West Azerbaijan
Origin: Iran
Children: 2
Perpetrator: Father Rouzbeh Choupani

Jana Choupani, a 22-year-old woman from Salmas County, was killed by her father in a so-called “Honor Killing”. According to the Kurdistan Human Rights Network, a private video involving Jana and a relative had been circulated on social media in recent days.

On July 27, 2024, Rouzbeh Choupani, her father, strangled her to death at the family home. It is reported that the suspect has been arrested in a border area of Urmia on charges of "premeditated murder." Jana Choupani was married and the mother of two daughters aged four and six.

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.