The Acid Attack of Somayeh Mehri

In 2011, Somayeh Mehri was unhappy in her marriage. She wanted to separate, but her husband, Amir Afghanjpour, refused to grant her a divorce.

The couple resided in Bam, Iran, and shared two beautiful daughters. They were placed together via an arranged marriage. She soon learned her husband was an abusive drug addict and thief. Somayeh wanted more out of life. She wanted an opportunity to experience real love with an honorable man of her choosing.

Sadly, she did not have that right as a woman in Iran.

Laws in the country establish women as second-class citizens to men.  Women do not have equal rights in many areas of the law, including marriage. Before a divorce can occur, a wife needs permission from her husband. She is stuck in the marriage if the man does not agree to divorce. Most divorce requests end badly, often with the men attacking or flogging her in some way.

Amir refused Somayeh’s divorce request. He felt betrayed and dishonored to know she did not want to be with him. He decided if Somayeh did not want to be with him, he would make sure no man wanted to be with her.

Three days after Somayeh requested a divorce, Amir cut off the electricity in the house. He then snuck into her bedroom, where she slept with their two daughters, ages 3 and 5.

Amir held a bucket of corrosive acid in his hand. He looked at his sleeping wife and, without hesitation, tossed the bucket onto her and his children. As all three screamed in agonizing pain, Amir fled from the bedroom. 

“I’m burning, I’m burning,” Mehri screamed. The oldest daughter, Nazanin, escaped serious injury, but Rana, the younger girl, wasn’t as lucky: the acid had covered her entire body.

Neighbors heard the screams and rushed to their aid with buckets of water.

Someyah and Rana suffered severe burns to their face, hands, and body.

Amir had run to his father-in-law’s house, exclaiming, “Somayeh has been electrocuted!” Reza Mehri rushed to his daughter’s side. He immediately knew Amir had hurt his beautiful child.

Somayeh lost sight in both eyes. One of her eyes fused to her skin. Discoloration scars covered her body, and she battled a severe lung infection caused by the acid. She lost her fight four years after the attack and passed away from her injuries.

Rana suffered burns and scarring to nearly 60% of her body. The acid took one of her eyes.  She has undergone more than 70 surgeries and continues to need them to correct the damage the acid caused to her skin. Doctors said she’ll need treatment throughout her life.

Amir was eventually arrested and charged with murder. Somayeh’s brother was also arrested. Police charged him with conspiracy to carry out an acid attack. He was later released without charge.

Rana is now 17 years old. Her sister is 19 years old. In the last report I found from 2020, the girls were doing well.

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