Reported cases of femicide (defined by UN Women as killings driven by “discrimination towards women and girls, unequal power relations between women and men, or harmful social norms”) represent only a small fraction of the actual cases in Iran.
There are no accurate statistics because so many cases of femicide go unreported, or are falsely reported as suicides and accidents. Yet every study undertaken so far indicates significant numbers of such killings in Iran—and that they are steadily increasing.
The Femena organization noted the Iran Statistics Center reported that in the first half of 2023, of the 52 cases of femicide officially recorded across various cities in Iran, 21 percent of the cases involved girls under the age of 18. The HRANA human rights news agency, meanwhile, reported that in 2024, there were at least 114 murders of women, and at least 16,264 cases of domestic violence.
January 2025
January 5
A 52-year-old man in a village near Lahijan killed his wife’s father, mother and brother with a knife. He was arrested shortly after and gave only a vague motive, citing “family disputes.”
January 7
Zahra Shahbazi, 28, who was forced into marriage at 14, was shot dead by her husband in Ilam in front of their 14-year-old child. The 32-year-old husband fled and is still at large; officials have given only a vague motive, citing “family disputes.”
January 17
A man in Borujerd’s Ebrahimabad district shot and killed his three sisters with a handgun, then fled but was arrested hours later. No names have been released, and officials have offered only a vague explanation, citing “family disputes.”
January 18
A man in Maku fatally stabbed his wife Safa Mostafazadeh, 31, and her 11-year-old son Danial were fatally stabbed by her husband in Maku. Relatives said she had tried repeatedly to divorce him but was persuaded to stay; the killing has been linked to jealousy and family conflict.
January 25
A man from the village of Mashkan in Piranshahr fatally stabbed his daughter Kani Abdollahi, 17, from the village of Mashkan in Piranshahr, was fatally stabbed by her father and she later died in the hospital. Relatives said the killing was “honour-related”, triggered by her friendship with a boy.
January 25
Mohammad Gholami shot and killed his wife Sima Moradi, 35, and hisher daughters Mahoor, 9, and Zeynab, 16, were shot dead in their Kermanshah home by her husband, Mohammad Gholami, who. He fled after the killings and t. The motive remains unclear.
January 26
A man in Maragheh fatally stabbed his 37-year-old wife woman was fatally stabbed by her husband in Maragheh. He and fled the scene but was later arrested, telling police the killing stemmed from “family disputes.”
January 26
A man in Borujerd, Lorestan province, shot his wife dead during an argument, then killed himself. State media gave only a vague explanation, citing “family disputes.”
January 29
Atefeh Zaghibi, 17, was killed in Shushtar when her father and brother, disguised in military uniform, opened fire as she held her baby, shooting her 16 times. Relatives say the motive was her escape with a young man and their later marriage, despite the family having accepted a 600-million-toman “Fasl” settlement.
February 2025
February 2
A man in Jorqan, Hamedan province, shot and killed dead his wife, sister-in-law and mother-in-law. Officials gave only a vague motive, citing “family disputes.”
February 2
In Bonab, Abolfazl Ein-Ali Momaghani beat his 44-year-old wife Shiva Nabavi and hischildren Kimia, 15, and Amirali, 11, to death in their sleep using an iron pipe and a wooden stick.
February 5
In Kordkuy County, Mehdi Chaplia, Fatemeh Badeli’s husband, killed her by striking her with an axe and a brick in front of their children. Fatemeh, 35, a mother of two and a victim of child marriage, had returned to gather her belongings while seeking a divorce over his drug use and family issues.
February 16
A man in Rezvanshahr burned his wife Najibeh Hassankhani, 40, by locking her in her car and setting it on fire. She had recently filed for divorce.
February 17
A man in Kermanshah fatally stabbed his daughter Seyedeh Donya Hosseini, 23, who was forced into marriage at 14 and endured severe abuse, a day after returning home following her divorce.
February 20
A man in Qazvin ran over his wife with a car and she later died in the hospital from severe injuries. Police said the motive for the killing was “family disputes.”
February 21
A man living in a residential complex in Grogan fatally stabbed his wife, and confessed after being arrested. Authorities cited “family disputes” as the motive.
February 22
A man from the Zeytoon district of Gorgan fatally stabbed his wife and a mother of two named Arezoo Kami (34),. He was arrested shortly after and gave only a vague motive, citing “family disputes.”
February 25
In Jahrom, Kazem Mahmoudi fatally struck his 38-year-old estranged wife, Delara Jahandideh, after she sought a divorce an action for which she had been repeatedly threatened.
February 27
In Fardis, Alborz province, Valiollah Mohammadi murdered his 47-year-old wife, Sakineh (Anbar), by striking her with a meat tenderizer during a family dispute.
March 2025
March 7
Fatemeh, 7, was abducted and fatally stabbed by her aunt's husband in Karaj, near Alborz. The motive was cited as “family problems.” Fatemeh’s body was discovered in a water canal.
March 9
Hamidreza Ja’farian (Salman), 35, in Charmahin, fatally shot his ex-fiancé, Zahra Rafiee, 30, and her mother, Shahin Ebn Ali, 50. Following their murder, Hamidreza then took his own life.
March 9
A. Sepahi, 24, fatally shot his sister, Farzaneh Sepahi, 38, in Sib and Suran County, after she returned home seeking a divorce. The motive for murder was cited as “family disputes.”
March 18
A husband fatally killed his wife, a 42-year-old mother, with a bladed weapon in Isfahan province on March 18, 2025. He fled but was arrested hours later, claiming “family disputes” as the motive.
March 24
A man fatally stabbed and dismembered his wife in Ssouthwest Khuzestan. He later explained that doing so was theira family’s customary reaction tofor a wife's disobedience. Names and ages were not reported.
March 26
A man murdered his wife in Tehran, initially claiming that she fell. Forensic evidence revealed she died from a broken neck due to domestic violence. Names and ages were not reported.
April 2025
April 2
In Estahban, a father fatally assaulted his 18-year-old daughter during a domestic dispute.
April 3
In the village of Sorkhak, Kermanshah province, Aylar Zaherpoor’s father shot and killed his 12-year-old daughter after she phoned her mother, who lived apart from them.
April 6
In Boroujen County, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, a man strangled his wife, Zahra Kordizadi, shot their five-year-old daughter, Arshida Moradi, and then killed himself.
April 7
In Tehran, Jalal Bayatloo killed his 34-year-old wife, Soraya Bayatloo, in her sleep with a sledgehammer; she had been forced into marriage as a child.
April 7
In Faruj County, North Khorasan province, a 45-year-old man stabbed his 39-year-old wife to death.
April 8
In Ilam, a man fatally shot his wife and two sons before taking his own life.
April 9
In Nour County, Mazandaran province, a man strangled his young wife to death with a noose.
April 10
In Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan province, a man brutally murdered his 30-year-old wife Nahid Najafi d in front of their four-year-old child.
April 11
In Abbasabad, Mazandaran province, 19-year-old Hediyeh Fallah Makrani was raped, bound, and hanged. Her body was discovered two days later. No arrests have been made.
April 13
In Khomam, Gilan province, a 31-year-old son bludgeoned his 49-year-old mother to death; her body was discovered three days later.
April 14
In Shazand, Markazi Province, a husband fatally beat his 51-year-old wife, who later died in the hospital. Her name has not been released.
April 17
In Eslamshahr, 18-year-old Fatemeh Soltani’s father was stabbed her to death by her father outside her workplace, a nail salon on 20-Meter Street. He had called her outside before attacking her with multiple knife wounds.
April 20
In Nehbandan, South Khorasan province, a man beat his pregnant wife identified only as Jamalzahi to death. Her six-month-old fetus also died.
April 20
In Shazand, Markazi province, a husband violently beat his 51-year-old wife, who later died in the hospital; he then attempted suicide and was taken into custody.
April 21
In Gogerd village, Khoy, 18-year-old Setareh Mosapour was shot and killed by her brother-in-law. She had fled her husband’s home due to ongoing abuse but was pressured by her family to return in order to ‘preserve honor.’
April 23
In Golestan province, a man fatally stabbed her young ex-wife at her sewing workshop. Her employer was also injured in the attack.
April 28
In Lachoon village, Zanjan province, a man bludgeoned his 30-year-old wife and the mother of a young child named Mahnaz Kasirloo, to death with a hammer.
April 30
In Mehrshahr, Alborz province, a man stabbed and injured his wife and killed their five-year-old daughter, Zeynab Hosseini, allegedly over suspicions of infidelity. He later buried the child’s body.
April 30
In Khorramshahr, Khuzestan province, a 50-year-old man fatally stabbed his 45-year-old wife and 24-year-old son. Three neighbors were injured while attempting to intervene.
April 30
In Yasuj, a rejected suitor and relative shot 24-year-old Mahrou Tondpoor dead in a pharmacy before taking his own life.
April 30
In Sirjan, Kerman province, Tahereh Khodami’s son shot and killed her using a hunting rifle.
May 2025
May 1
Mohammad Mohammadi fatally shot his wife, Batoul Mohammadi, mother-in-law, Fatemeh Mohammadi, and son, Saman Mohammadi, 30, in Kermanshah. He then ended his life by suicide. Batoul and Fatemeh’s ages were not reported.
May 1
A man used a machete to brutally murder his wife, Fatemeh Barkhordari, a teacher in Sabzevar. She had previously warned the Education Department about his threats and history of domestic violence. Ages were not specified.
May 3
A 27-year-old man deliberately ran over and killed a 49-year-old woman in Damghan following a verbal dispute. Names were not released.
May 3
A man used mace to kill his wife, Maral Talebian, in Golbahar, Mashhad. “Family disputes” was the cited motive. Names and ages were not reported.
May 4
A man in Kermanshah fatally shot Samira Noorbakhsh, 37, after she rejected his marriage proposal. The killer remains at large.
May 6
A 28-year-old man in Mashhad fatally stabbed Maedeh Khatibian, 21. The killer then attempted suicide by cutting his wrist.
May 7
A 30-year-old man in Kordkuy, Golestan, fatally shot his wife, Mobina Kondabi, 28, in an "honor killing." The mother of two died shortly after the attack.
May 10
A woman, identified only as Darvishi, and her brother were fatally shot and run over by her husband in Kerman due to past disputes. Another woman was also strangled by her husband in Tehran. Ages were unspecified.
May 17
Yasaman Nosrati, 20, was strangled with a belt by her 26-year-old husband, Parsa, in Shahrood, Semnan. The killer confessed it was an "honor killing" due to suspicion of infidelity.
May 17
A man fatally stabbed his spouse, Elyana Kouhi, 23, and her mother, Farideh Bagheri, 45, in Firuzabad, Fars, after Elyana requested a divorce. The husband has been arrested.
May 20
A 36-year-old man fatally stabbed his spouse, 40, for attempting to end their temporary marriage. Names were not specified.
May 21
A 45-year-old man in Tabriz fatally stabbed his wife, Roqieh Gharib, and severely injured their daughter, citing “family problems” as the motive for his crimes. The husband was arrested. The daughter's and wife's ages were not specified.
May 23
A 26-year-old man in Kermanshah fatally shot his 23-year-old wife and injured her two sisters, citing “family problems” as the motive for his crimes. The husband then died by suicide using the same gun.
May 24
A man named Shouri fatally stabbed his spouse, Zahra Aliyari, a middle-aged woman in Miandoab, citing “family disputes” as the motive. was brutally stabbed to death by her husband, Shouri, due to family disputes. No specific ages were provided.
June 2025
June 3
The dismembered remains of 26‑year‑old Afghan refugee Kobra Rezaei, who had been missing for fifty days, were discovered in a garbage pile on Tehran’s outskirts. According to investigators, she was abducted and killed while on her way to work.
June 4
In Khor, Fars Province, 22-year-old Samira Mehravran’s husband killed her, then shot another young man he suspected of being involved with her before turning the gun on himself.
June 6
The stabbed body of 24‑year‑old beauty salon worker Elaheh Hossein‑Nejad, missing since May 25, was discovered in Tehran’s outskirts, authorities said.
June 7
In Fariman, 23‑year‑old arm‑wrestling champion and PE student Haniyeh Behboudipour Amaghan was strangled and bludgeoned to death by her husband, who said he acted in anger over her recent sporting success and the town’s congratulatory banners. She is survived by a four‑year‑old daughter.
June 7
In Maneh and Samalqan County, a man stabbed his 47‑year‑old wife Omolbanin Gholizadeh to death, after threatening her repeatedly when she tried to leave him.
June 11
In Karaj, a 32‑year‑old man fatally stabbed his 31‑year‑old wife during a family dispute, then turned the same blade on himself before jumping from the roof.
June 17
In Javanrud, Yavar Salehi attacked his 25-year-old wife, Mehri Abdolghaderi, with acid, severely injuring her and blinding one eye; their 8-year-old son also suffered hand burns trying to intervene..Abdolghaderi is in critical condition at Golestan Hospital in Kermanshah with her son.
June 19
In Razaviyeh town, Mashhad, a man strangled his wife Hananeh Farjamito death in what sources describe as an honor killing.
June 22
In Ilam, Mahboubeh Dalavari’s husband struck the 42-year-old teacher in the head with a flower pot, killing her during a financial dispute.
June 25
In Golshahr, Karaj, a 32‑year‑old man stabbed his 31‑year‑old wife to death before using the same weapon to end his own life.
June 28
In Urmia, Solmaz Abbasi’s husband fatally stabbed the volleyball coach at her lawyer’s office, reportedly over her divorce request.
July 2025
July 1
A man killed his sister in the city of Jask in the Hormozgan province. The motive was cited as the brother's opposition to his sister's marriage. The killer, identified as "Yousef B," reportedly strangled her and fled the scene.
July 2
Mohammad Naghi Azadi fatally shot his wife, Sedigheh Rostami, and sister-in-law, Leila Rostami, in Ilam. “Family problems” were cited as the motive. Mohammad then ended his life by suicide. Ages were not specified.
July 2
A 14-year-old girl, Aida Alizadeh, a victim of child marriage, was murdered in Hormozgan. She disappeared after visiting her fiancé's house, and her body was later discovered in front of the same house on Hormoz Island. The details of the killing and the identity of the murderer are not yet known.
July 7
A man named Mojtaba fatally struck Niloufar Fothouhi, a mother living in Fuman city, after she chose to end their relationship. The killer, who was married and had promised to marry her, dumped her body in a canal before being arrested.
July 12
Four brothers in Taybad killed their 21-year-old sister, Simin Joghataei, after a week of torture. The murder was cited as an honor killing in reaction to Simin’s alleged phone contact with her boyfriend. While the brothers were arrested, they may be released following parental consent.
July 13
Mohammad Karami lured and killed his former spouse, Mohadeseh Mirzaei, on July 13, 2025, in Kermanshah. She was a 30-year-old woman and mother of a five-year-old boy. He lured Mohadeseh to a meeting with the promise of discussing reconciliation and, after an argument, murdered her.
July 13
In Shahrebabak, a man killed a 17-year-old family member named Zahra with the cooperation of other relatives. The family claimed the cause of death was “suicide,” but signs of bruising, a head wound, and bleeding from her ear contradict this claim. Zahra had previously spoken about threats from her family members.
July 15
A young Afghan woman and her three small children were murdered in their home in Tehran. The woman was killed with a cold weapon, while her children were strangled. The victims' bodies were discovered ten days after the killings. The woman was the second wife of a man who had recently returned to Afghanistan.
July 17
A man in Dehgolan murdered Chenour Abbasi and her husband, Payam Sarmasti, with a gun and a knife in their shop. The killer, who wanted to marry Chenour, committed the crime after she refused to leave her husband. Their young daughter witnessed the murder, and the man was arrested at the scene.
July 19
In Khorramabad, Hamid Bastami murdered his two wives, Farzaneh Sadeghi and Elham Salari, and his two children, Amir Abbas (10 y.o.) and Amir Mehdi (11 y.o.), with a cold weapon. He attempted suicide but survived, and is now under medical care. He claimed the motive was job dissatisfaction after being denied a promotion.
July 23
A man killed his wife, Homayra Fazel Manesh, after she protested his extramarital affair. He buried her body in the desert for 50 days. She was the mother of an 11-year-old child.
July 26
A man in Tehran murdered his wife and their 13-year-old daughter in their Chitgar home following a domestic dispute. He initially hid the weapon and gold, then staged a scene before confessing to the crime.
August 2025
August 1
A man fatally attacked his 72-year-old wife using farm tools in Aligudarz, Lorestan. Authorities reported that the killing stemmed from “family disputes.” The man has been arrested and has confessed. The victim’s name has not been released.
August 4
Shahla Arifkhani, 22, originally from Nishapur and living in Tehran, died after ingesting aluminium phosphide, known as “rice pills”. Her husband claimed a joint suicide attempt, but forensic bruising and relatives’ testimony point to forced poisoning. He now faces a murder charge.
August 11
A man has fatally stabbed 15 year-old, Shida Kardegar, for refusing his marriage proposal. He committed this crime in the Dorun-kola Sharqi village of Babol county and has been arrested.
August 12
A man fatally shot his wife with a handgun inside their home in Firuzkuh, Tehran. He was arrested and confessed to the crime, claiming “personal disputes” as the motive. The victim’s identity has not been released.
August 18
Gol-Baji Barzegar Nodehi, 78, was fatally stabbed in her Sari-area home. Police say a 35-year-old health worker and her husband posed as visitors checking blood pressure, then killed her to steal jewellery. Both are in custody.
August 19
A man fatally in Zahedan shot his 20-year-old daughter for refusing to return to her husband after a dispute. Her name was Nasībeh Tafakkori and she was a mother of one.
August 21
A man fatally stabbed his sister seven times in Tehran’s Yusefabad district. Neighbours stopped the attacker as he attempted to flee. His niece was injured when she intervened. Both the suspect and the niece were taken to the hospital.
August 23
A 26-year-old man fatally stabbed Sanambar Fereidouni, 57, in her home in the village of Tabaqdeh, Miandorud county, when attempting to steal her gold. He was arrested and confessed soon after.
August 25
In Mashhad, 44-year-old Omid A. fatally shot his wife Vajiheh, 41, in their car before turning the gun on himself. Local media say she had sought a court order to seize his assets over an unpaid dowry. Videos on his phone showed him practising with the handgun, suggesting the attack was planned. The couple leave two young children.
