Iranian authorities have announced the arrest of a suspect in the murder of Kubra Rezai, a 26-year-old Afghan migrant woman whose mutilated body was discovered earlier this month in Varamin, south of Tehran.
Akbar Arabi, police commander of Pishva County in Tehran Province, confirmed the arrest on Friday, 13 June. He stated that the suspect confessed to the killing during specialised interrogations and has since been transferred to prison following initial legal procedures.
“Through intelligence and operational efforts by the criminal investigation police, the suspect was identified and immediately arrested,” Arabi told domestic media. The identity of the accused has not yet been made public.
Rezai was reportedly abducted while on her way to work in Tehran. On the evening of 3 June, local residents found parts of her dismembered body among rubbish in Varamin. Following the gruesome discovery, a case was opened by the criminal investigation unit in Pishva County.
Calls for Justice Grow
Rezai’s murder has sparked outrage among human rights organisations and Afghan migrant communities, who say the killing underscores the systemic violence faced by migrant women in Iran.
Activist groups have urged Iranian authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation. The Afghanistan Women’s Light of Freedom Movement issued a statement demanding legal accountability and transparency in the judicial process. The group also called on international organisations to pressure Tehran to protect the rights and dignity of migrants.
The Taliban’s embassy in Tehran also responded, describing the murder as an “unforgivable crime” and stating that the perpetrator must be brought to justice, “regardless of nationality or affiliation.”
