According to reports received by Hana Human Rights Organization, Zahra Soleimani, a 32-year-old woman from Harsin, was killed on October 8, 2026, following severe violence inflicted by members of her family. According to the information received, before her death, Zahra was subjected to severe beatings and torture. Her arms and legs were broken, and she ultimately died as a result of strangulation.
The motive behind this femicide has reportedly been what is referred to as “honour.” Hana Human Rights Organization emphasizes that so-called “honour” confers no rights over women’s bodies or lives and can never justify violence against them or the deprivation of their lives. Within patriarchal structures, this concept reduces women from independent human beings with fundamental rights to objects of family control and ownership. The possible involvement of female family members in such a crime also demonstrates that the reproduction of these structures is not necessarily limited to men.
From Hana’s perspective, the killing of Zahra Soleimani cannot be described merely as a family dispute or a crime motivated by so-called “honour.” This femicide is an expression of gender-based violence that persists within a broader context of possessive relationships, structural discrimination, and the lack of effective legal protection for women. No cultural or moral interpretation of family reputation or dignity can make women’s right to life and human dignity conditional upon the behaviour, choices, or consent of others.
Hana Human Rights Organization condemns this crime and stresses the need for an independent investigation, effective judicial proceedings, and accountability for all those responsible. Combating femicide requires not only prosecuting the perpetrators but also rejecting the social structures that invoke “honour” to claim a right to monitor, punish, and make decisions about women’s lives.