Heydari was sentenced to only eight years in prison, because his wife’s parents “forgave” the killer, and were not hungry for revenge.
Mona was already married at the age of 12 and gave birth to a son at the age of 14. It was reported that she fled to Turkey because she suffered from abuse by her husband and the husband did not consent to divorce.
She returned to Iran days before her gruesome death in February last year, having received assurances from her parents that she would be safe. Her father later stated that he had not consented to his daughter’s “honor killing”.
A court spokesman said the sentence was in line with the law, which provides for the death penalty for premeditated murder unless the victim’s family forgives him. Therefore, he received seven and a half years for murder and another eight months for violent assault.
Mona’s murder sparked outrage in Iran, with calls for amendments to the law not only to combat domestic violence, but also to raise the age of marriage. Currently, girls can be married from the age of 13, but with the consent of the court and parents, they can be married even younger.
