Athlete and wushu coach Rahaleh Siavashi murdered by her husband in Nahavand femicide case

Hengaw – Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Rahaleh Siavashi, a 26-year-old wushu champion and coach from Nahavand, Hamadan Province, was murdered by her husband in an “honor”-related femicide. The perpetrator took his own life shortly after committing the crime. Siavashi was the mother of a two-month-old infant.

According to information obtained by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Siavashi was attacked by her husband, identified as Homayoun Siavashi, who stabbed her multiple times in the head, leaving her critically injured. The attack took place on Thursday, October 2, 2025, and she died two days later in hospital from her injuries.

A source informed Hengaw that the perpetrator, who was also Siavashi’s cousin, opposed her participation in a sports training camp and her continued athletic career. He attacked her with a knife before taking his own life.

The same source said that due to the family relationship between the victim and the perpetrator, relatives attempted to conceal the crime by claiming it was a car accident.

Rahaleh Siavashi was a professional wushu athlete and coach who had won several national titles in recent years, including third place in the 2021 national championship.

Her body was laid to rest on Sunday, October 5, 2025, at Bagh-e Behesht Cemetery in Nahavand.