17-Year-Old Girl Killed by Father in Ilam Province in So-Called 'Honor' Killing

Hengaw: Wednesday, August 28, 2024

A 17-year-old girl from Darreh Shahr city, Ilam province, identified as Mobina Zainivand, was killed by her father under the pretext of "honor."

According to a report received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, on the morning of Monday, August 26, 2024, Mobina Zainivand, from the village of Gorz- e Langar in the Majin district of Darreh Shahr city, was killed by her father, Rahim Khan, aged 56, who used a shotgun to commit the crime in their home.

An informed source indicated that the murder was motivated by "honor," as Mobina was killed due to her relationship with a teenage boy. The source added that Mobina's father disapproved of the relationship due to family differences between the two families, leading him to take his daughter's life.

In government media reports, the motive for this honor killing was once again vaguely described as "family disputes." The media also incorrectly reported Mobina's age as 18, whereas Hengaw's follow-up confirmed that she was 17 years old. The father was reportedly arrested hours after committing the crime.

Under Article 612 of the Islamic Penal Code, anyone who commits intentional murder and lacks a complainant, or whose complainant waives retribution, may be sentenced to imprisonment from three to ten years if the crime causes a disturbance in public order or threatens the safety of society. This legal provision often results in minimal punishment for perpetrators of honor killings, particularly when committed by fathers, brothers, or husbands.