A 14-year-old girl was allegedly murdered by her father in a so-called "honor killing," sparking outrage in the country.
Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, is now calling lawmakers in the country to introduce a new protection law for women after a 14-year-old girl was beheaded by her father in an honor killing, which has sparked outrage in the country.
The father of Romina Ahsrafi, the 14-year-old girl, beheaded her with a farming sickle after she ran away from her family home in northern Iran’s Talesh County with a 29-year-old man.
The news was reported by the semi-official Fars news agency, said CNN.
The police have arrested the father of the 14-year-old girl.
The death of Ashrafi was widely covered by the media in Iran, particularly in reformists, moderate, and pro-government news agencies.
It is still unclear if the 29-year-old man will be facing criminal charges.
Amnesty International condemned the killing and called on authorities to ensure full accountability for the crime.
In a statement that was released by the Amnesty on Twitter, they said:
We call on Iran’s authorities & lawmakers to end the impunity for violence against women/girls & criminalize domestic violence. They must amend Article 301 of the Penal Code to ensure accountability proportionate to the severity of the crime, without resort to the death penalty.
According to the UN (United Nations) High Commissioner for Human Rights, article 301 of Iran reduces the punitive measures for fathers that are involved in honor killings.
President Rouhani expressed regret over the death of Ashrafi.
During a cabinet meeting in Tehran, Iran, the President ordered an accelerated study and ratification of a bill that protects women against violence.