Police in Iran have arrested a man accused of murdering his 14-year-old daughter in an honour killing that has provoked widespread public outrage. Romina Ashrafi ran away from her home in Gilan province with her 35-year-old boyfriend after her father objected to their marriage, according to local media.
The couple were located by police, and Romina was returned to her family despite reportedly telling authorities she feared for her life. Last Thursday night, she was allegedly attacked by her father in her bedroom. News outlet Gilkhabar.ir reported that Romina was decapitated with a sickle, and that afterwards the father walked outside with the weapon and confessed.
On Wednesday, several national newspapers highlighted Romina's story on their front pages. The pro-reform daily Ebtekar ran the headline 'Insecure paternal home', lamenting the failure of existing legislation to protect women and girls. The Persian hashtag #Romina_Ashrafi has been used more than 50,000 times on Twitter, with users condemning the killing and the patriarchal nature of Iranian society.
Shahindokht Molaverdi, a former vice-president for women and family affairs, stated: 'Romina is neither the first nor will she be the last victim of honour killings.' She added that such murders would continue 'as long as the law and dominant cultures in local and global communities are not deterring enough'. Iran's Islamic penal code reduces punishments for fathers convicted of murder or harming children in domestic violence or honour killings, with sentences ranging from three to ten years in prison instead of the standard death penalty or blood money.
