Panah Press | Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Sharifa, a 15-year-old Afghan girl, died after being severely beaten by her 22-year-old husband in the Iranian city of Mashhad. She passed away after four days in hospital due to a brain haemorrhage and the severity of her injuries.

The incident occurred in the month of Asad, and the case was reported to Mashhad’s law enforcement and judicial authorities on Asad 22. According to published reports, Sharifa’s husband beat her with his fists, kicked her, and used a mobile phone charging cable to assault her.

After losing consciousness, Sharifa was taken to a medical centre with the help of her husband and another woman. She was then admitted to Shahid Hashemi-Nejad Hospital in Mashhad. Despite medical efforts, she died four days later.

According to published reports on the findings of the forensic examination, a blow to the head had caused Sharifa’s brain death. Bruises and signs of whip marks were also reportedly found on various parts of her body, particularly her legs.

Reports indicate that the altercation began after Sharifa sent a photo of herself to one of her friends, who was also a relative. Her husband became angry after seeing the person’s complimentary message about the photo and assaulted her.

During the investigation, the accused cited other people’s reactions to his wife’s photo as one of the reasons for his anger. This is the accused’s explanation for his alleged motive and does not justify the fatal violence against Sharifa.

Sharifa’s husband fled after her death, but reports say he was arrested in Mashhad on 2 Sunbula. During a reconstruction of the incident, the accused confessed to beating his wife and was subsequently transferred to prison on the judge’s orders.

Both Sharifa and her husband were Afghan citizens, and reports say they were cousins—the daughter and son of paternal uncles. Judicial investigations into the case are ongoing, and at the time this report was prepared, no information about a final court verdict had been published.

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