Lawyer for Romina Ashrafi’s Mother: Jurisprudential Punishment Alone Is Insufficient in This Case

Ibrahim Nikdel Moghaddam, the defense lawyer for Romina Ashrafi’s mother—the 13-year-old girl who was killed by her father—says the killer acted with premeditation and in such cases, “jurisprudential punishment” alone should not suffice.

In an interview published in the Shargh newspaper on Monday, September 1st, he emphasized that in this case, given the “dangerous nature of the perpetrator” and the “extremely brutal” manner of the killing, “supplementary punishment” should have been imposed.

According to Nikdel Moghaddam, Bahman Khavari, Romina Ashrafi’s father, was instigated by his relatives and testified in court that he committed the murder of his daughter after “investigating” the matter and to “cleanse his family honor.”

Romina Ashrafi was killed on June 1st of this year by her father with a sickle while she slept, after police returned her home following a five-day disappearance with a young man.

Two days ago, the Criminal Court of Gilan Province issued its verdict against Romina Ashrafi’s father, sentencing him to nine years imprisonment and payment of blood money (diya) to Romina’s mother.

Following the verdict, Rena Deshti, Romina’s mother, stated that the court’s decision “filled me and my family with fear and terror” and she would appeal against it.

According to Article 612 of the Islamic Penal Code, a father who kills his child cannot be executed, and if convicted in court, he is sentenced to payment of blood money and imprisonment of up to ten years.

Source: Radio Farda