Brutal killing of family renews spotlight on domestic violence in Iranian Kurdistan

SANANDAJ, Iran — The sound of pained wails travelled down the street from the Mandumi family residence in the Kurdish city of Sanandaj on Saturday morning. Mourners gathered at the residence in the Faizawa neighborhood to pay their respects to the family which was killed in yet another tragic case of fatal domestic violence that has shocked many in Kurdish areas of western Iran. 

At around ten in the morning on Friday, Shilan Mandumi and her family were at a friend’s garden near Khalifa Tarkhan village to enjoy a leisurely weekend breakfast. The joyful gathering around 30 kilometers away from Sanandaj was cut short after her estranged husband showed up with a gun and shot dead all those present before taking his own life. 

In the past several months, there have been a series of incidents of violence against women in Kurdish areas of Iran (known to Kurds as Rojhelat). Just two weeks before there were two separate local incidents of husbands killing their wives.

Experts believe growing financial hardships and a lack of legal protections for women are factors behind the violence. Locals also point to the availability of weapons as a cause for concern.

In this latest widely talked about incident, Reza Ahmadian, 42, reportedly entered the garden and shot dead family friend Shorsh Walidi before killing his mother-in-law Aisha Aslani, 45, and his father-in-law Habibullah Mandumi, 50. He saved three bullets for his wife Shilan, 24, Khalid Mandumi, Habibullah’s brother told Rudaw English from the funeral. The suspect’s fifteen year-old brother-in-law Shayan Mandumi is said to have begged not to be killed, only to be slain in cold blood, a witness at the scene told the family member. 

“After their marriage they consistently had problems to the point that six months ago Shilan returned to her father’s house because her husband was violent towards her and they decided to split up,” Khalid added, his eyes bloodshot from crying. Shilan had gotten married nine years prior as a teenager to Ahmadian, who was 18 years older than her. 

The bodies of the four members of the Mandumi family were laid to rest on Friday noon at the Bahashti Mohammadi cemetery. However, the body of the suspected killer, Ahmadian, has not yet been returned to his family.



Domestic violence on the rise in Iranian Kurdistan

“The main reason for these issues in our society is the economic crisis that has gripped our society. Economic pressure paves the way for violence," Jamal Adhami, a social worker and professor at the University of Sanandaj told Rudaw English, claiming that domestic violence is on the rise in Kurdish areas. 

“The coronavirus has made people lose their temper quickly. Connections have weakened between families and individuals. Coronavirus has weakened their ability to stay patient and the economic crisis have deepened those woes,” he added. 

Ordinary people in Iran, including those in Kurdish areas, have been economically crippled by US sanctions on the country, which have made everyday life unaffordable. 

Adhami and other experts also point to the legal system in Iran allowing perpetrators to go unpunished.

"Unfortunately, the authorities responsible don’t interfere until the incident [of violence] has occurred. We don’t have a strict law against those who are a threat. Civil bodies have also not been authorized much to interfere in these domestic crimes,” said the scholar.

Iran’s cabinet in January passed a long-awaited bill that criminalizes violence against women. The legislation is now before the parliament. It has, however, been criticized for falling short.   

It “fails to provide effective protection and to ensure access to remedies. It does not criminalize child marriage or marital rape, nor does it repeal discriminatory provisions against women in the Civil Code and the Islamic Penal Code, including the narrow definition of sexual violence and assault,” the UN human rights chief said in a report. 



Hunting rifles used for domestic violence

Iranians are only allowed to own hunting rifles, but residents say they are used to inflict harm on people.  

“I do not know why in our community weapons are so easily accessible. These criminals go and get gun licenses using hunting as an excuse, and use it for such crimes,” said relative Khalid Mandumi.

Karim Rahmani, a 55-year-old resident of the city of Sanandaj, also notes an increase in local incidents of domestic violence, calling for an increase in gun control.

“We have only read in the newspapers that these harrowing tragedies happen in other parts of the world, but we are really saddened by these incidents for the past few years,” he told Rudaw English.

"We urge the relevant authorities to seize these weapons in the hands of civilians, so that other more tragic incidents won’t occur,” added Rahmani.

Concern among women

Some women have become concerned by the recent spike in domestic violence.

“This can’t be normalized because it might encourage other people to commit violence against their spouses,” Pari Mikaeli, a 42-year-old tailor from Sanandaj told Rudaw English. “I have been personally threatened by my husband that if I one day decide I want a divorce, he will kill me. Now I feel anxious.”

Translated by Khazan Jangiz and Dilan Sirwan