The Killing of 16-Year-Old Hana Rakan in Kermanshah Once Again Highlights the Shadow of Family Violence Over Girls’ Right to Life

According to information received by the Hana Human Rights Organization (HANA), 16-year-old Hana Rakan, from Kermanshah, lost her life after being shot with a hunting rifle. Her father has been identified as the suspect in the killing. According to the information received, Hana was asleep at the time of the shooting and died after being struck by a bullet.

Reports indicate that Hana’s decision to marry had been opposed by her father, and this has been cited as one of the possible motives for the killing. As of the publication of this report, the outcome of investigations into the motive, the legal status of Hana’s father, and the actions taken by the relevant authorities have not been officially announced.

Hana’s killing once again highlights the lack of effective legal protection for women and girls against domestic violence. In the Islamic Republic of Iran, the authorities intervene in various aspects of women’s private lives, including their clothing, through legal and criminal measures. However, in cases where women and children face threats and violence within the family environment, effective and deterrent legal protection remains inadequate.

This protection gap, combined with legal and social structures based on the authority of fathers, husbands, and other male family members, can place women’s and girls’ autonomy in making decisions about marriage and their personal lives at risk of control, coercion, and violence. Under such circumstances, domestic violence is no longer merely a private matter; it is directly connected to the right to life, personal security, and the state’s responsibility to protect women and children.