Gay Man Beheaded By Family In Gruesome 'Honor Killing' in Iran

A gay man was horrendously murdered by members of his own family in Iran last week after he was tersely “outed” by the Iranian military for engaging in “sexual depravities.”

The twenty-year-old Alireza Fazeli-Monfared reportedly already had plans to flee with his boyfriend to Turkey, as a refugee, to escape persecution before the brutal killing, noted Attitude.

The victim was abducted by his brother and cousins on May 4 after his sexuality was exposed due to his expulsion from mandatory military service. Fazeli-Monfared had reportedly been handed an exemption following the discovery of his sexual orientation.

The victim still managed to call his mother around 7 p.m. Tuesday evening before his half-brother arrived at his residence to pick him up, on the assertion that his father wanted to talk to him.

Instead, Fazeli-Monfared was driven to the outskirts of Borumi village, near the capital of Ahvaz, where he was summarily executed by his brother and cousins before being beheaded in an apparent “honor killing.” The victim’s remains were left by a tree on the side of the road.

Homophobia and transphobia remain rife in Islamic Iran. Same-sex relations continue to be considered illegal and are persecuted under Islamic law. Being a member of the LGBT+ community in the country can still BE violently punished by imprisonment, lashing, and execution.

Iranian activist Aghil Bayat has surfaced to reveal that he is the slain victim’s partner, in a statement with Iranian LGBT+ network 6rang.

Fazeli-Monfared’s mother has reportedly been “hospitalized with shock” following the murder, according to Pink News. Bayat reveals the killers called the matriarch directly after the heinous crime to inform her of the location of her son’s remains.

Bayat told Radio Zamaneh over the weekend that Fazeli-Monfared’s murderers have been arrested.

In a joint statement with Bayat, 6rang condemned the brutal killing and hit the Iranian military for “outing” Fazeli-Monfared and exposing him to persecution.

“Alireza’s killing as a result of his sexual orientation being stated on his military service [exemption] card has once again provided proof for our warning several years ago about the risks caused by the military service exemption process for gay Iranian men and underlines the need for legislation to prevent these safety risks,” 6rang said in a statement shared on Instagram and translated by the Iran International.