Sonya Aryapour (Dehghan) was a victim of an honor killing in the city of Sardasht and was killed by her brother and cousin. She was buried in the Nalas neighborhood. Her 19-year-old brother, Saman Dehghan, and her 21-year-old cousin, Hedi Dehghan, were responsible for her murder. Sonya’s parents were separated and she had a failed marriage in her childhood. She also had custody of her young son. Sardasht is a border city with a traditional structure and no recreational facilities. Women in this city face many gender barriers and experience poverty and economic difficulties. This traditional environment has internalized many patriarchal norms and women are faced with honor killings and violence if they oppose them.

Sonia struggles with many economic problems and even though she was under welfare coverage, the money was not enough to cover her living expenses. She finds a job at a salon to become financially independent, but her family and relatives oppose her and threaten her with death over the phone. On January 12, 2021, her brother and cousin take her out of the city under the pretense of an excuse, torture her, and murder her. They bury Sonia’s body in a well. Eventually, after police investigations, her brother and cousin are arrested in the city of Sardasht and confess to Sonia’s murder during interrogation. The forensic report confirms signs of physical abuse on Sonia’s body and death by suffocation. Sonia’s mother uses her own family name instead of her father’s family name on her gravestone and engraves Sonia Aria Poor’s name on it. According to her, her paternal grandfather had a hand in her daughter’s murder and the least she can do is not

You are reading the conversation with Senour Aryapour, Sonya’s mother, in “Peace Line”.

What do you know about the reason for this murder?

“Sonia had no problems, except for the fact that her father and I were separated. The people who killed Sonia thought that by killing her, her father would be the only one who could file a complaint against them. Since her father is also in prison, they felt more at ease. They were not aware that Sonia’s child or I could also file a complaint against them. They deceived my son and asked him to bring Sonia to the location of the murder and they killed her.”

“این تصویر یک پرنده در حال پرواز است”

“This image shows a bird in flight.”
Sonia Aryapour (Dehghan) was only 21 years old last year when she became a victim of an honor killing.

What is your request from the judicial authorities?

Currently, I want these two individuals to pay for the murder of Sonia. I declare that I regret the consent I gave for my son, under pressure from my father and other family members, because these individuals had no right to take Sonia’s life under any circumstances, and most importantly, they intended to hide her body so that no one would find it. These individuals must be held accountable and pay for the murder of Sonia.

How is your relationship with your son currently?

The killer is never remorseful and they don’t even confess, they deny the murder. I have asked my son several times who deceived you? He didn’t answer. I feel like he has been threatened. My cousin and uncles, Sonia’s relatives, were involved in this murder with my son, but my own son denies it and lies. I have now cut off all contact with my son and I am not willing to see him or even go to visit him in prison. In the beginning, I used to visit him and wanted to know who deceived him, but my son doesn’t say anything. If my son agrees with the claims of some people and participates in the murder of his sister, how will he treat me? And I am no longer in contact with him…

Why did you decide to engrave your mother’s last name instead of your father’s last name on her gravestone after Sonia’s death?

Sonia was sacrificed to the patriarch and they used the excuse of her coming and going and working to kill her. They always controlled Sonia’s coming and going with her friends. I decided to use the name Sonia Ariapour instead of Sonia Dehghan on her obituary and gravestone. I also decided that at least after her death, their family name should not be used because I believe that Sonia was a victim of the men in her family.

On what basis do you suspect your cousin and father’s family of this crime, Sonia?

“Ten days before her death, Sonia contacted me and said, ‘Mother, I want to come to Mahabad. I won’t be a burden on your life. I live alone and work for myself; I just need your support.’ I told Sonia not to come to Mahabad. Your uncle’s family are not good people, they ruin my life. I have remarried and have two children now. I don’t want them to ruin my life. Sonia said, ‘I have a recording of these people threatening to kill me.’ I asked Sonia who was threatening to kill her, and she said, ‘My cousins.’ I have a recording of their voices. Sonia’s father’s family took her to their house under the pretense of something and took her phone and bag. Even during the complaint, I stated that I want Sonia’s belongings back because there was evidence of her father’s family being her killers on her phone, where they threatened her. They took her phone and belongings.

“متن راست چین با عنوان ۱۲۱۷۲”

“Right-aligned text with title 12172”
Photo of the peace line

What is your emotional state after Sonia’s death?

Since I lost Sonia, my life has been destroyed. I am truly upset and have developed nerve and psychological problems. Family problems have become a burden on my life and I can never forget Sonia and her death until the day I die.

What is your request as the sacrifice of your daughter’s honor killing?

These individuals must pay for Sonia’s murder; even if it’s my own son and I am one hundred percent sure that the father’s family had a hand in Sonia’s murder, the father’s family plotted Sonia’s murder together and deceived my son, telling him that his mother and father approve, and they fooled him in this way and now they consider him Sonia’s killer. Now that my son is in prison, the father’s family is not accountable; while his uncles and cousins were involved in Sonia’s murder, but now they consider my son as Sonia’s killer. Why are these murders so easily carried out in Sardasht? Why does no one see the consequences of their actions? They easily bring people to murder. The victim’s family approves and these individuals are set free. Murder is done just as easily.

Thank you for the opportunity you have given us.