Iranian Man Sentenced to Eight Years for Beheading Wife

A man in Iran has received an eight-year prison sentence for the brutal murder of his 17-year-old wife, Mona Heydari. The lenient sentence was handed down after her parents reportedly chose to forgive him rather than pursue retribution under Islamic law. This decision has sparked outrage and highlighted the ongoing issues of domestic violence and honor killings in the country.

Mona was murdered in February 2022, shortly after being forcibly returned to her husband, Sajjad Heydari. The court proceedings revealed that she was brutally attacked outside her family home in Ahvaz, the capital of Khuzestan Province. Eyewitness accounts described the chilling moment when Heydari paraded his wife’s severed head down the street, an act captured on video.

According to Massud Setayeshi, a spokesperson for the judiciary, Heydari received a sentence of seven and a half years for murder, plus an additional eight months for intentional assault. His brother, who helped dispose of Mona’s body, was sentenced to 45 months in prison for his role in the crime.

Mona’s tragic story began when she was married at the age of 12 to her cousin, Sajjad. The court heard that she initially escaped the abusive relationship and fled to Turkey with another man. However, her father, known as Javid in local reports, located her and allegedly used Interpol to bring her back to Iran. Upon her return, she faced increased violence from her husband, who claimed he felt dishonored by her actions.

During the trial, Javid defended the decision to marry off his daughter at a young age, stating that the violence she experienced was commonplace in marriages. He emphasized that he believed Sajjad was a good provider and that their marital conflicts were normal. Despite acknowledging that Mona may have been too young for marriage, he maintained that they had obtained a confirmation of her physical maturity.

The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) has condemned the treatment of women in the country, highlighting that honor killings are a growing concern. The organization estimated that between 375 and 450 honor killings occur annually in Iran, particularly in regions like Khuzestan, Kurdistan, Ilam, and Sistan and Baluchestan. They argue that the culture of misogyny and the patriarchal legal framework contribute to the normalization of such violence.

In response to the sentencing and the handling of this case, the NCRI noted that the clerical regime’s failure to criminalize honor killings has led to a catastrophic increase in these murders. They assert that the Iranian legal system often views such acts as mere “family differences,” reflecting a broader societal issue where women are regarded as second-class citizens.

As the case continues to resonate within Iran and beyond, rights activists are calling for a reevaluation of laws and cultural attitudes towards domestic violence. The lenient sentence for a crime as heinous as beheading has ignited discussions about the urgent need for reform in a country where women’s rights remain severely compromised.