The recent femicide in Cyprus has left the nation reeling, highlighting the urgent issue of gender-based violence on the island. Afsaneh Mohammadi, 58, was tragically murdered by her ex-husband in front of their 40-year-old daughter on Wednesday.
Police were alerted to the scene in Nicosia around 2.30am, responding to reports of an injured woman. Despite immediate medical attention, Mohammadi succumbed to severe head injuries while being transported to Nicosia general hospital.
Shortly after the incident, her ex-husband, aged 62, was arrested and is currently remanded in custody for eight days as investigations continue.
Gender equality commissioner Josie Christodoulou expressed her profound sadness over the incident, stating, “Gender-based violence is not a private matter. It is a phenomenon that concerns us all, on an individual and collective level.” She emphasised the need for timely intervention and systematic efforts to dismantle the stereotypes that perpetuate such violence.
The women’s organisation Pogo condemned the murder and cautioned against framing it as a “family tragedy.” They argued that this violence is a product of a patriarchal system that leaves many women vulnerable, particularly those who are marginalised.
- The group highlighted that women in poverty, immigrants, and those lacking social support are especially at risk.
- Pogo pointed to a significant shortage of women’s shelters and effective protection mechanisms, which often leave victims exposed to danger.
- “Yesterday’s femicide is the result of a patriarchal system that continues to want women to be submissive, vulnerable, the property of men,” they stated.
This tragic event marks the second femicide in Cyprus within just eight weeks, following the murder of 34-year-old Eirin Papakitsa, who was stabbed to death by her partner in Paphos on August 17. Papakitsa’s son witnessed the attack and sought help from neighbours as his mother was assaulted. That case is currently in trial.
Earlier this year, in January, another incident involving a 57-year-old man shooting his wife was investigated as an attempted femicide. The woman, found gravely injured outside her home, was fortunate to survive.
According to the European Institute for Gender Equality, from 2014 to 2023, Cyprus has seen 43 women murdered, with 19 of those occurring between 2019 and 2023. This alarming statistic underscores the pressing need for enhanced measures to protect women and combat gender-based violence.
