A 13-year-old girl was allegedly
beheaded by her own father in a brutal ‘honor-killing’ in Iran while she was
sleeping. Romina Ashrafi was killed with a farming sickle after fleeing her
family home with a 34-year-old man after her father expressed outrage at their
plans to get married.
beheaded by her own father in a brutal ‘honor-killing’ in Iran while she was
sleeping. Romina Ashrafi was killed with a farming sickle after fleeing her
family home with a 34-year-old man after her father expressed outrage at their
plans to get married.
The young woman had initially fled the
family home with a 35-year-old man she had fallen in love with after her father
had refused to allow her to marry, Iran International TV said.
family home with a 35-year-old man she had fallen in love with after her father
had refused to allow her to marry, Iran International TV said.
The two were eventually arrested by
the police after their families lodged charges. Romina returned home following
‘repeated reminders’ that she feared for her life until her father reportedly
killed her with a sickle on May 21.
the police after their families lodged charges. Romina returned home following
‘repeated reminders’ that she feared for her life until her father reportedly
killed her with a sickle on May 21.
After the murder, the girl’s father
allegedly handed himself in and admitted to the murder, while still holding the
blood-soaked weapon.
allegedly handed himself in and admitted to the murder, while still holding the
blood-soaked weapon.
District Governor Kazem Razmi has
reported that the girl’s father is being held in detention and an investigation
of the case is underway. Speaking to local media, the governor added that
“the details of this case will be made public after the legal process has
taken place.”
reported that the girl’s father is being held in detention and an investigation
of the case is underway. Speaking to local media, the governor added that
“the details of this case will be made public after the legal process has
taken place.”
But a report by Al Arabiya claimed
that Romina’s father will escape death penalty because he was Romina’s
‘guardian’, and Islamic Penal Code means he is exempt from ‘qisas’, or
‘retaliation in kind.’
that Romina’s father will escape death penalty because he was Romina’s
‘guardian’, and Islamic Penal Code means he is exempt from ‘qisas’, or
‘retaliation in kind.’
The Sharia law states that only ‘blood
owners’ and immediate family members are allowed to demand execution for the
murder of a relative.
owners’ and immediate family members are allowed to demand execution for the
murder of a relative.
Reacting to the news, Fariba Sahraei,
a senior editor at Iran International, said: ‘Every year in Iran, women, and
girls are killed by their male relatives under the guise of defending their
honour, but the nature of Romina Ashrafi’s murder is one that has shocked the
country and the rest of the world.’
a senior editor at Iran International, said: ‘Every year in Iran, women, and
girls are killed by their male relatives under the guise of defending their
honour, but the nature of Romina Ashrafi’s murder is one that has shocked the
country and the rest of the world.’
