Victim of child marriage in Iran dies of wounds after self-immolation, human rights groups claim
Under Article 1041 of the Iranian Civil Code, girls under 13 and boys under 15 can legally marry with the consent of a paternal legal guardian and court approval, with no absolute minimum age set.
An 18-year-old woman, Soma Moghaddi, tragically took her own life by setting herself on fire in Piranshahr, West Azerbaijan province, Iran, after enduring years of abuse from her spouse, according to HRANA News Agency and Iranian media reports. The cause of her marriage remains unclear. The self-immolation inflicted severe burns on 90% of her body.
Moghaddi was initially transferred to the Piranshahr City Medical Center before being moved to the Imam Khomeini Hospital in Urmia for treatment, but she succumbed to her injuries despite medical efforts.
Multiple Iranian media outlets, including khabarfoori and Rokna, have speculated that Moghaddi's husband might have been involved in the incident. However, judicial authorities have not issued any comments on the case. HRANA expressed deep concern over the devastating impact of child marriage on the lives of young girls, stating that it inflicts "irreparable damage" through issues such as underage pregnancies, maternal mortality, depression, suicide attempts, divorce, incomplete education, and the continuation of the cycle of poverty.
In Iran, the legal age for marriage is set at 13 for girls and 15 for boys, with parental consent and court approval required; however, there is no absolute minimum age for marriage.
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