Peel Regional Police Reclassify Disappearance of Afghan Diplomat's Wife as Homicide

Peel Regional Police in Canada have reclassified the 2022 disappearance of Mezhgan Aini, the wife of a former United Nations diplomat, as a homicide investigation.

Police announced on Monday that Aini, 38, also known as “Sara,” was last seen in June 2022 in Mississauga, Ontario. Her family in Afghanistan lost contact with her and reported her missing to Canadian authorities in June 2025.

Investigators stated that a suspect has been identified but provided no further details due to the ongoing investigation. Authorities have not confirmed whether the suspect is known to Aini, and no arrests have been announced.

Aini immigrated to Canada in 2017 with her three children and husband, Mohammad Yama Aini, who had worked with the United Nations. Mohammad Yama Aini previously faced investigation over allegations of serious assault and was dismissed from his UN position, though no formal criminal charges were laid against him.

Mississauga is home to a large immigrant community, including Afghan families who resettled in Canada after years of conflict. Canadian law enforcement periodically reviews unresolved disappearances, upgrading cases to homicide investigations when evidence suggests criminal involvement, even without recovered remains.