Thread by @AlinejadMasih

THREAD ⬇️⬇️⬇️

1-Her name was Fatemeh. She couldn’t live her childhood. She was forcefully married to her abusive cousin at the age of 17. She was beheaded by her husband with the help of her own parents. The anti-women laws in the Islamic Republic of Iran facilitated this murder

2-I’ve interviewed one of Fatemeh’s family members who broke her silence on the injustice that Fatemeh faced. From the very outset, Fatemeh was forcefully married to her cousin. She never wanted this marriage. But her pleas fell on deaf ears.

3-When I asked the family member about why she decided to break her silence, she said: “We’re tired of seeing death around us. The cousins had previously killed their own sister in honour killing. And now Fatemeh! Many other families did that. Honour killing is widespread here”

4-She continued: “In this part of Iran (Abadan), many traditional families force their daughters to get married to cousins. I might face repercussions for breaking my silence, but I’m ready to die. I’m tired of this cruelty. Please do something so that culprits can be punished”

5-She further noted: “Fatemeh was innocent. She never agreed to the marriage, but she had to accept it. Her parents were poverty-stricken. She was only 17 at the time of the marriage. After marriage, she started living in her uncle’s home (father of her husband) with her husband.

6-“Fatemeh experienced physical and psychological abuse. Her husband would order her to kiss his shoes. He would order her to clean the toilet with her own hands. He would ask her to do many terrible things. This poor girl was already traumatized within 2-3 months”

7-“Fatemeh pleaded with her parents to help her get a divorce. She said she’d rather kill herself than remain in that abusive marriage. But nobody cared about Fatemeh. Her opinions didn’t count. “

8-Worst of all, local news agencies claimed that Fatemeh had eloped with a man. In fact, this is false. She continued: “Actually Fatemeh escaped with the girlfriend of her own brother to Mashhad, a far-flung city from her hometown of Abadan”

9-She was staying at a women’s shelter in Mashhad maintained by the government. “She had told officials there that her own family wanted to kill her. After keeping her there, the officials of the shelter handed her over to her family, knowing very well the risks she faced”.

10-“Her own family had gone to Mashhad to pick her up. They wanted to prepare her for her murder. They had even threatened her beforehand that they they’d cut her into pieces for escaping. Her father had promised to her husband’s family that the murder would take place”

11-She was brought from Mashhad to Abadan. “ I don’t know how they managed to bring her. Were her hands and feet tied? Had she been deceived that she’d be safe? I don’t know the details of her trip back to Abadan”, said the family member I interviewed.

12-“But two days before her trip back, most her family members knew that she was slated for death. Her uncles had already prepared to see her for the last time so that she could be killed. They had planned to behead her”

13-“There was not a single person to give Fatemeh a helping hand. She had no-one to save her. Can you believe how easily they can kill a woman and get away with it? Fatemeh didn’t commit any crimes.”

14-After her death, the family didn’t even think Fatemeh was worth a funeral. To whomever went to their home to mourn their daughter, they’d say “Why are you here? She went to hell. Who cares?” They even celebrated her death.

15-When I asked about how the culprit, her husband, went to the police, she said: “The husband claimed Fatemeh had run away two days after the marriage. He claimed having brought her back and killed her.” Her father, her husband and many family members colluded to kill her.

16-Fatemeh’s tragic story is not the only one taking in Iran. Scores of girls fall victim to honour killings by their parents and the Islamic Republic of Iran has been facilitating such murders through anti-women laws. Fatemeh could’ve been saved. Rest in peace.