Iranian father shoots dead his 15-year-old daughter in suspected ‘honour killing’ after ‘catching her in park with a boy’ – but claims it was an accident and ‘he only meant to scare her’
- Mohammad Kazem Lashkari, 43, killed Ariana Lashkari, 15, with a shotgun
- He reportedly flew into a rage when he saw his daughter with a man in the park
- A relative said Ariana felt oppressed by her father, an alleged former drug addict
A father has admitted to killing his teenage daughter with a shotgun in a suspected honour killing but claimed it was an accident and he only meant ‘to scare her’.
Mohammad Kazem Lashkari, 43, reportedly flew into a rage when he saw his daughter Ariana Lashkari, 15, in a park in Iran with a man.
After he was arrested Mohammad claimed he only wanted to scare his daughter with the shotgun when it accidentally fired, killing her in Nurabad, southern Iran, on June 27.
He told police: ‘After an argument, Ariana went to my mother’s house and I could not control my anger.
‘I went there with my shotgun to scare her. I really did not mean to kill my daughter. I fired involuntarily.’
Ariana Lashkari, 15, (pictured) was killed with a shotgun by her father in Nurabad, southern Iran, on June 27
Her father Mohammad Kazem Lashkari, 43, (left) saw her in the park with a man and reportedly struggled to accept his daughter’s want to ‘choose her own lifestyle’
Yet one of Ariana’s relatives said her father had killed her after struggling to accept his daughter’s belief that she didn’t want a life of oppression.
‘Ariana was a girl that didn’t enjoy being oppressed by her father,’ he told human rights activist Masih Alinejad.
‘She wanted to choose her own lifestyle and have a free mind. Accepting her views was hard for her father.’
He added: ‘Ariana was a quiet girl who went to school every day full of hopes. This girl was very kind and caring.
‘All of her friends and classmates adored her. I’m still in shock. It’s unbelievable that Ariana is gone.
‘The regime is trying hard for this tragedy not to get published in the media.
‘I hope this innocent girl’s blood is not going to be trampled on like many other girls who have been murdered in this way.’
One of her relatives said: ‘I’m still in shock. It’s unbelievable that Ariana is gone.’ He added: ‘Ariana was a quiet girl who went to school every day full of hopes’
Ariana lived with her sister and father in Nurabad, southern Iran. In Iran 15 to 18 per cent of murders are so-called honour killings. Up to 62 per cent of murders of women are committed by a family member
In Iran the punishment for murder is usually death. However, the murder of a child or grandchild by their father or paternal grandfather is an exception and carries a maximum sentence of ten years.
In Iran 15 to 18 per cent of murders are so-called honour killings. Up to 62 per cent of murders of women are committed by a family member.
A neighbour told local media Mohammad used to be a drug addict and had divorced his wife. He lived with Ariana and her sister, who he also reportedly threatened to kill.
The neighbour said they suspected he was acting under the influence of drugs again.
An investigation into the the teenager’s death is ongoing.