Iranian journalists have reported increasing restrictions imposed by the Islamic Republic’s security and judicial institutions on coverage of the murder of Kubra Rezai, an Afghan migrant woman whose mutilated body was discovered earlier this month.
Rezai, who had been living in Tehran, was abducted in April while on her way to work. On the evening of 3 June, parts of her dismembered body were found by residents in Varamin, a suburb southeast of the capital.
Despite the gruesome nature of the case, Iranian judicial authorities have not released official details about the investigation. Multiple journalists and media activists say they have received warnings from state bodies instructing them not to report, pursue, or republish news related to the murder.
These restrictions have sparked outrage, particularly among Afghan migrant communities and women’s rights groups, who have condemned the killing and the apparent efforts to silence public discourse around it.
Eyewitnesses at Rezai’s burial told Ensaf News that security forces were heavily present at the ceremony and prohibited photography or filming. A relative of the victim said the family had been pressured not to seek retribution (qisas) for the crime and was barred from speaking to the media.
Human Rights Groups Demand Accountability
Human rights activists have described Rezai’s killing as emblematic of the systemic violence faced by migrant women in Iran. Afghan women’s organisations have called for an immediate and impartial investigation by Iranian authorities, and urged international bodies to intervene to protect the rights and safety of migrant populations.
In an official statement, the Afghanistan Women’s Light of Freedom Movement demanded transparency and legal accountability for those responsible. They also called on international organisations to apply pressure on Tehran to ensure justice and uphold the dignity of migrants.
“Justice for Kubra Rezai and support for all voiceless women,” the group declared.
