Murder of Romina Ashrafi

Romina Ashrafi was a 14-year-old girl from the village of Sefid Sangan, in the Talesh region of Iran's Gilan province. In May 2020 she eloped with 28-year-old Bahamn Khavari to the home of his sister in Shalgun village. Her family opposed the relationship, citing differing religious backgrounds and her young age.

Romina's father, Reza Ashrafi, used his telephone to pretend he supported the couple's marriage and lured them into arranging a wedding ceremony. He then arrived at the ceremony accompanied by police, who arrested the couple before Romina was returned to her father's custody. Romina reportedly told police she feared for her life and was returned against her will.

Within roughly 24 hours of being returned home, on May 21, 2020, Reza Ashrafi killed Romina while she slept in her bedroom, decapitating her with a sickle. He had earlier attempted to kill her by strangulation. He reportedly sought informal legal advice beforehand from a relative studying law, who told him that honour killings were permissible under Iran's Islamic Penal Code. In court, Reza Ashrafi stated he had killed her to "clear his honour."

Reza Ashrafi was arrested the day after the killing and charged with murder; police described his motive as related to "honour." Romina's funeral was held on June 5, 2020, at her grandfather's house in Sefidsangan village.

In September 2020, following a trial at the Criminal Court of Gilan Province, Reza Ashrafi was sentenced to nine years in prison and ordered to pay financial compensation to Romina's mother, Rana Dashti, who stated she intended to appeal for a harsher penalty. He is reported to be held in Lakan prison in Rasht.

Separately, Bahamn Khavari was cleared of abduction charges on the basis that Romina had consented to the elopement, but he was sentenced on indecency charges to 24 months in prison, 99 lashes, and two years in exile. Khavari told BBC Persian that "love does not know age" and said he had loved Romina for five years prior to the elopement. Iran's legal minimum marriage age for women is 13.

The case drew significant national and international attention. The hashtag #RominaAshrafi was used more than 50,000 times on Twitter, largely in condemnation of the killing. Iranian officials and media responded publicly: a Gilan province social welfare official called the killing "a clear violation of children's rights," Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called for honour killings to be criminalized, and Vice President for Family Affairs Masoumeh Ebtekar spoke of hopes for stronger legislative penalties. Iran's deputy Minister of Justice, Mahmoud Abbasi, attributed the killing to the "cultural poverty" and lack of education of the parents.