According to information received by the Hana Human Rights Organization, on Thursday, August 20, 2026, the body of Latifeh Mohammadzadeh, a 49 year old woman from Saqqez, was discovered with severe injuries caused by a bladed weapon near the village of Qareh Naw. Her body is currently held at the Forensic Medicine Organization to determine the exact cause and time of death.
Latifeh Mohammadzadeh was a mother and the guardian of a 16 year old child. According to Hana’s information, during her marriage to her second husband, Omid Feizi, she faced domestic violence, and the matter had previously been brought before judicial authorities, but her husband was acquitted. The threats continued following their separation, and her former husband had recently visited Mohammadzadeh’s workplace to threaten her with murder.
As of the publication of this report, the identity of the perpetrator or perpetrators has not been independently verified, and Hana does not attribute responsibility to any specific individual. However, the history of violence and previous threats must be placed at the center of the investigation.
Hana emphasizes that such murders must not be reduced to the term “family disputes.” Femicide is the most severe form of gender based violence and often marks the end of a chain of threats, control, and physical and psychological abuse that deprives a woman of the possibility of a safe exit. Furthermore, the responsibility of the government is not limited solely to punishing the killer after the crime has occurred. Judicial and law enforcement agencies are obligated to take prior threats seriously, assess the risks, and provide immediate and effective protection. Disregarding known threats and the absence of effective support mechanisms leave women defenseless against deadly violence and contribute to the continuation of femicide.
Hana is currently investigating the dimensions of this incident and will publish a supplementary report in due course.