It is thought it was an ‘honour killing’
A husband has reportedly paraded the head of his 17-year-old wife in front of a crowd in Iran, in a murder that has sparked anger across the country.
In footage that was shared on social media, Sajjad Heydari could be seen smiling as he held his wife Mona Heydari’s head aloft along with a knife in the southwestern city of Ahvaz on February 5.
The incident has caused outrage in the country and triggered debates around the prevalence of violence against women in the country, the Independent reports.
Yonah Diamond, an international human rights lawyer who focuses on justice issues in Iran among other repressive regimes, told the publication: “The Iranian authorities enabled the barbaric beheading of Mona Heydari – a child bride – for seeking a divorce from a violently abusive marriage, and bear full responsibility.”
Women’s rights are restricted in Iran, with women forced to wear a headscarf in public, and facing fines or imprisonment if they fail to do so.
Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran, said in a tweet: “The beheaded child bride #MonaHeidari might be alive today if #Iran‘s government had enacted laws against the cruel practice of child marriage, and protections against domestic violence. Iran’s government is as responsible for her death as her murderers.”
The beheaded child bride #MonaHeidari might be alive today if #Iran's government had enacted laws against the cruel practice of child marriage, and protections against domestic violence.
Iran's government is as responsible for her death as her murderers.#مونا_حیدری#کودک_همسری https://t.co/ETCkW8f38M
— Hadi Ghaemi (@hadighaemi) February 7, 2022
The husband has been arrested by local police, who have reportedly taken a woman’s body from a property.
Local media report that Heydari had escaped to Turkey after a row with her husband. However he managed to bring her back to the country and murder her in an ‘honour killing.’
Heydari is believed to have a three-year-old son she leaves behind.
Related links:
- ‘My son’s last words were his killers’ names – now they can be heard at last’
- SAS soldier ran through gunfire to save army dog shot after it helped kill sniper
- ISIS leader killed in raid carried out by US special forces
