TEHRAN: A man killed his 17-year-old wife and displayed her decapitated head in the streets. The crime was committed after he alleged his wife of adultery. The video of the man holding his wife’s head had gone viral in the social media. The brutal incident took place in the southwestern city of Ahwaz in Iran.

The dead has been identified as Mona Heydari. Her husband and brother-in-law, alleging her of adultery, had killed her. The police arrested both the accused, who had gone into hiding following the incident, yesterday. The victim was married at the age of 12 and has a three-year-old son.

Strong protests are rising in Iran over the gruesome honour killing. The incident prompted Iran’s vice president for women’s affairs Ensieh Khazali, to call on the parliament to take urgent measures. “Mona was a victim of devastating ignorance. We are all responsible for this crime”, wrote renowned feminist filmmaker Tahmineh Milani on Instagram.

The incident has revived the demand to reform laws for the protection of women against domestic violence and to raise the legal age of marriage, which is currently set at 13, in Iran. “Legal loopholes pave the way for such honour killings”, said Ali Mojtahedzadeh, a lawyer.