A 30-year-old man in Iran killed 12 of his own family members in the early hours of Saturday, marking the most lethal family-related shooting in the country in recent times.
Ebrahim Hamidi, the chief of the justice department in Kerman province, Iran, stated that the suspect used a Kalashnikov assault rifle to carry out the heinous act related to family disputes. The victims included his immediate family members, among them his father and brother.
Such incidents are rare in Iran because of the country’s strict gun control laws. Typically, only hunting rifles are permitted for possession by Iranian citizens, a rule that is strictly enforced.
While Iran has seen family-related shootings in the past, none have been as deadly in decades. For instance, in 2022, a terminated employee from a state-owned financial corporation carried out an attack at his former office in the west of the country, resulting in three fatalities and five injuries before the assailant ended his own life.
In 2016, a 26-year-old man in southern Iran murdered 10 of his family members in a rural district.
Analysts link the increase in such violent acts to worsening economic conditions, amplified by international sanctions. These circumstances have led to skyrocketing inflation and a rise in joblessness, creating a tense environment where such acts might become more common.
As Iran deals with the aftermath of this tragic event, it’s crucial to address the underlying causes of such violence and prevent unauthorized access to weapons. This incident has also led to a renewed emphasis on gun control in Iran, particularly in rural areas where hunting rifles are more prevalent.
