Iran: Za’feran Mohamaadi Murdered by her Family Members, Witnessed by Bystanders

On March 8^th, Za’feran Mohamaadi, from a Marivan County Village, Kurdistan Province of Iran, was executed by her father in  public and in front of the villagers.  Although honor killing in itself is not an all-together rare occurrence, her killing on this symbolic day  is highly controvertible.  

Za’feran was married at young age, and mothered five children.  She lived a deprived life both financially and emotionally.  Her husband suspected infidelity and developed an immense sense of distrust and suspicion towards her.  Consequently he imposed unbearable control over her to the point she was no longer permitted to leave her house; not even to visit her own family.  The extreme psychological and physical pressure that she was subjected to left her with no choice but to pursue divorce from her husband. 

A while after the divorce, she decided to remarry another man who was abruptly rejected by Za’feran’s father and brothers; not stopping short of threatening both her and her future husband. After a while, Za’feran and her future husband escaped to the village of Seyf Sofla (Marivan County).  One week after settling in Seyf Sofla, her family traced and found them.  According to eyewitnesses, the man escaped the scene but Za’feran was captured and forced to return to her village.

Za’feran’s family is in possession of a firearm licensed by the government.  Upon her arrival to her village, she was promptly shot dead in public and in front of the bystanders.

Reportedly, the villagers felt unable to intervene as Za’feran’s family had threatened to kill anyone who tried to prevent the killing. In view of the fact that the family works for the state, and the intricate consequences of intervention in a government agent’s act, they felt frightened and avoided intervention.  

No Funeral was held

According to Firat News, the Islamic burial rituals were not held for Za’feran and her corpse was buried, without bathing and shrouding and in a disrespectful, disgraceful and immoral manner.  There was neither any funeral service held for her. 

As until 13.03.3013 there has been no official investigation on the subject of her murder.  More disturbingly, it is widely suspected that due to Za’feran’s family close ties with the Islamic government of Iran’s elements, her death will go unrecorded and uninvestigated indefinitely.

Za'feran's father has been given a 6-months sentence for his crime!