Domestic violence in Iran has reached a crisis point. Within 48 hours, two horrific family murders in Ajabshir and Urmia – from the killing of a 16-year-old girl to the murder of four women in one family – once again showed that “family problems” is just another name for a lawless, violence-producing structure. Without deterrent laws, immediate judicial protection, and change in the dominant patriarchal mindset, this bloody cycle will continue. These atrocities are not exceptions; they are clear signs of a national crisis.
In line with the growing pattern of lethal family violence against women in Iran, two deadly domestic violence cases in East Azerbaijan and West Azerbaijan provinces have once again drawn attention to the escalating crisis of violence against women.
According to domestic media, on 25 Aban 1404 (16 November 2025) in Ajabshir county, a 16-year-old girl – a child bride, herself a victim of child marriage – was beaten to death with a wooden stick by her 27-year-old husband. The Ajabshir police commander, Colonel Sattar Dadashi, described the motive as “family problems” – a vague, catch-all phrase that is repeatedly used in official reports to hide the structure of violence, its social context and its root causes.
In another case, on 24 Aban 1404 (15 November 2025) in a village near Urmia, a young man first killed his mother and sister, then his wife and mother-in-law, with a firearm, and finally killed himself in front of his small child. Here too, official media labelled the incident as stemming from “family problems.”
These two events are only examples of an increasing trend of domestic violence leading to the murder of women in recent months – a trend which, according to experts, is rooted in a combination of structural factors:
Economic crisis and livelihood pressures: The worsening economic situation, widespread unemployment and rising psychological stress have intensified the conditions under which domestic violence erupts. Numerous studies show that economic pressures are among the most important triggers of violence in family settings, especially in marginalised and impoverished areas.
Lack of comprehensive and deterrent law to protect women: Iran still does not have clear and effective legislation to address domestic violence. The bill on “Protection of Women’s Dignity and Support for Women Against Violence” has been stalled in the legislative process for years, and the diluted versions focus mainly on services after violence has occurred, rather than prevention, criminalisation of domestic violence, immediate protection, and the creation of effective deterrent mechanisms.
This legal vacuum means many women have no access to protection mechanisms such as shelters, restraining orders, and effective judicial support.
Traditional views of women and bias in the ruling structures: Social experts stress that a “patriarchal, domination-based view of women” continues to be reproduced in law, education, and official policy. This unequal cultural and legal environment, especially in peripheral and marginalised regions, not only discourages reporting of violence but at times actively enables it. In such conditions, women are often trapped in a cycle of silence, fear, and lack of support.
The need for an urgent, human-rights-based approach
These two killings, together with other murders of women in recent weeks in Iran, once again underline the need for urgent action by the Iranian state on several levels:
- Immediate adoption of a comprehensive and deterrent law to combat domestic violence, in line with international standards;
- Establishment of accessible support mechanisms for women at risk, including safe hotlines, shelters, and rapid judicial protection;
- Reform of cultural and policy approaches that normalise or justify violence against women;
- Improvement of systems for recording and reporting domestic violence to provide accurate data for policymaking.
Domestic violence is not a private issue or a mere “family problem”; it is a serious human rights violation with far-reaching ethical, social, and security consequences. Under their international obligations, states are required to protect women from violence, whether it occurs in public spaces or behind the walls of the home.
These incidents are not anomalies; they are signs of a structural crisis – one that will continue to claim lives unless there are fundamental changes in policy, legislation, and the official culture.
