Father of Arzu Khavari: My Daughter Committed Suicide After the School Principal Denied Her Entry to Class

Following reports of the 'suicide' of Arzu Khavari, a 16-year-old Afghan girl living in Iran, her father has stated that her actions were due to mistreatment and strictness from school staff, particularly the principal. In an interview with the Shargh network published on Monday, November 21, he said that when his daughter was not allowed into class, she left the school, entered a building, and jumped from there. According to Arzu's father, who passed away last week, Arzu wore 'jeans' to a student camp the day before her suicide and was 'dancing and happy' on the way to the camp. He further explained to Shargh that 'it seems the principal got angry. The next day [Arzu] went to school in her uniform, and the principal did not let her into class. He wanted to punish her. I was told she was wearing jeans and was dancing at the camp.' Arzu's father discusses the principal's mistreatment of his daughter: 'My daughter has been studying at this school for 9 years and had no problems, but in the two years since the principal changed, she suffered a lot. The principal mistreated my daughter. This strictness was for all the children.' The father of this young girl who recently committed suicide also mentioned the response of school and education officials to Shargh, saying, 'No one from the education department came to follow up, and no one from the school came. It was as if my daughter killed herself because of what happened at school.' He emphasized that he has filed a complaint against the principal to ensure that 'he is punished for the mistreatment of my daughter so that no other girl commits suicide due to such strictness.' Arzu Khavari was a student living in Shahr-e Rey, and news of her suicide was published on November 13. The Tehran Education Department has announced that it is investigating the circumstances surrounding Arzu Khavari's suicide. Although there are no precise official statistics on the rate of youth suicides, especially among students in Iran, the Ministry of Education reported in November 2021 a rise in student suicides and a tenfold increase in their risk levels. According to this report, the results of evaluating data from the 'Monitoring and Social Damage System for Students' over the six years prior to 1400 show an approximately tenfold increase in student risk levels, and 'suicide' has always been one of the top three threats to students regarding risky behaviors. If you are thinking about suicide, contact the social emergency service at 123 or counseling centers.