Femicide: Three women killed in Saqqez, Sanandaj, and Kermanshah

Hengaw: Thursday, January 9, 2025

In recent days, three young women from Saqqez, Sanandaj (Sine), and Kermanshah (Kirmaşan) have been brutally murdered under horrific circumstances. They are identified as Kosar Darabi, a victim of forced marriage; Ghazaleh Hodoudi, a victim of child marriage; and Sara Karami, who were killed by their husband, an unknown assailant, and a rejected suitor, respectively.

According to a report received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, Kosar Darabi, 18, from Kermanshah, was fatally shot by her husband on the outskirts of the city. Sources report that Kosar was forced into marriage two months ago and had suffered severe physical abuse before her death. The perpetrator is currently in custody.

Sara Karami, another woman from Saqqez and mother of a 6-year-old boy, was murdered recently by unknown individuals in her family home in the Baharestan Bala neighborhood of Saqqez. According to informed sources, Sara, who was in the process of obtaining a divorce, was killed while alone in her home. Her body was found with bruises around her neck and blood coming from her ears, indicating a violent death.
Also on Wednesday evening, December 25, 2024, Ghazaleh Hodoudi, 27, a mother of an 11-year-old daughter and a victim of child marriage, was set on fire by her suitor, Sirvan Sa’edpanah, in her tailor shop in the Naysar neighborhood of Sanandaj.

Reports state that Sirvan attacked Ghazaleh after she rejected his marriage proposal. During the incident, Sirvan himself suffered burns while igniting the fire and is currently under medical care.