Iran's Grim Reality: The Alarming Rise In Women's Executions

The Islamic Republic of Iran is currently facing intense international scrutiny over its alarming rate of executions, particularly the disturbing surge in the number of women sent to the gallows. This escalating crisis highlights not only a severe disregard for human rights but also sheds light on the systemic injustices faced by women within the country's legal framework. From child brides convicted of murdering abusive husbands to political dissidents and religious minorities, the stories behind each execution paint a grim picture of a nation where justice is often a distant dream.

The global community watches with growing concern as reports from human rights organizations detail an unprecedented number of capital punishments, solidifying Iran's position as the world's leading executor of women. This article delves into the harrowing statistics, the deeply personal tragedies, and the broader implications of these executions, urging for greater awareness and sustained international pressure to address this critical human rights emergency.

The Escalating Crisis: A Stark Overview of Executions in Iran

Iran's use of capital punishment has reached alarming levels, drawing widespread condemnation from human rights organizations worldwide. The sheer volume of executions in recent years positions the Islamic Republic as a global outlier. According to Amnesty International, the year 2024 witnessed a huge surge in executions, with 862 individuals sent to the gallows so far, marking the highest per capita execution rate globally. Other reports indicate that the regime executed at least 1,000 prisoners in total in 2024. This figure, already staggering, likely underrepresents the full scale of capital punishment carried out by the Iranian authorities, as many executions are conducted in secret, away from public record. The pace of executions has been relentless. Data suggests that Iran’s authorities have executed at least three people a day on average during the first part of the year. A new surge began following the end of the Persian New Year and Ramadan holidays in April, with 115 people, including six women, hanged since then. The 110 people reported to have been executed in April alone included three women and four Afghan nationals, underscoring the broad application of the death penalty across various demographics. This pervasive use of capital punishment forms the grim backdrop against which the increasing number of women executed in Iran must be understood.

Women at the Gallows: Unprecedented Numbers and Global Condemnation

The rising number of women executed in Iran is a particularly disturbing trend within the broader surge of capital punishment. According to information received by the U.N. Human Rights Office, at least 31 women were reported to have been executed in 2024, a significant increase from at least 22 in the preceding period. Other sources, such as an NGO report, confirm that Iran in 2024 executed at least 31 women, warning that female prisoners were increasingly being caught in this surge. The number of women executed in Iran saw a sharp rise in 2024, with at least 34 women hanged last year, 23 of these executions occurring after Massoud Pezeshkian took office. A statistical comparison of women’s executions in Iran reveals a stark escalation. Between 2013 and 2020, at least 120 women were executed, averaging about 15 per year. However, the current pace far exceeds this average. The seven hanging executions of women in Iran during just one month is noteworthy, particularly because this single month saw the regime execute the equivalent of six months' worth of women based on the 2013-2020 average. This alarming rate solidifies Iran’s position as the country that executes the highest number of women globally. The Women’s Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) has compiled data indicating that at least 267 women have been executed in Iran since 2007, a testament to the long-standing, systemic nature of this issue, which has now reached crisis levels.

Victims Twice Over: Child Brides and Domestic Abuse Survivors

One of the most tragic aspects of capital punishment in Iran is that many of the women executed are themselves victims of severe societal and legal injustices. A significant number of those sent to the gallows are child brides, hanged for the murder of abusive husbands from whom they had no protection. These young girls, often married off at tender ages, find themselves trapped in violent relationships with no legal recourse or safe escape. When they finally snap under immense pressure and abuse, leading to the death of their tormentors, the state steps in not to protect them, but to execute them. This grim reality highlights the profound failures of Iran's justice system to safeguard vulnerable women and children. Many of the women executed by the Iranian regime are themselves victims of domestic violence and discriminatory family laws, which offer little to no protection against abuse and often place women in subordinate positions within marriage and family structures.

The Case of Zahra Esmaili: A Public Execution Shrouded in Horror

The harrowing case of Zahra Esmaili encapsulates the brutal reality faced by many women in Iran. Zahra Esmaili was sentenced to execution after she 'finally snapped' and shot dead her abusive husband. What followed was an execution so chilling it shocked the world: a woman in Iran was publicly hanged by her victim’s mother despite already being dead. Reports indicate that Zahra suffered a heart attack and died on the gallows moments before her turn came, due to the trauma of witnessing 16 men being executed before her. Despite her death, her lifeless body was still hanged to allow the victim's mother to perform the symbolic act of pulling the chair from under her, as per the Qisas (retribution-in-kind) law. This horrific event serves as a stark reminder of the barbarity of the Iranian justice system and its disregard for human dignity, even in death.

Political Dissent and Religious Persecution: New Targets of Capital Punishment

While a significant portion of women executed are victims of domestic circumstances, there is also a growing trend of political executions in Iran that now include women. The regime increasingly uses capital punishment as a tool to suppress dissent and maintain its grip on power, extending its reach to those involved in protests or perceived as threats to the state. This expansion of capital punishment to include women in politically motivated cases marks a worrying escalation in the regime's repressive tactics. Beyond political dissent, religious persecution also leads to executions, particularly for members of the Baháʼí faith, which is severely oppressed in Iran. The day of 18 June 2023 marked 40 years since the Islamic Republic of Iran hanged 10 Baháʼí women in a single night in a square in the city of Shiraz. Their "crime" was refusing to renounce their beliefs in a faith that promotes the principles of gender equality—absent and criminalized in Iran—as well as unity, justice, and truthfulness. One such woman, Mona Mahmudnizhad, was accused of being a member of the Baháʼí faith. The official charges ranged from misleading children and youth to being a Zionist (because the Baháʼí World Centre is located in Israel). These executions underscore the regime's systematic persecution of religious minorities and its brutal suppression of any ideology that challenges its narrow interpretation of societal norms.

Mojahed Kourkouri: A Voice Silenced Amidst Protests

The execution of Mojahed (Abbas) Kourkouri stands as a poignant example of the regime's crackdown on political dissent. Reacting to an announcement by Iran’s judiciary, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Hussein Baoumi, stated, “The news of Mojahed Kourkouri’s arbitrary execution is utterly appalling.” Kourkouri was executed in connection with the 2022 "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests in Iran, a nationwide uprising sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in morality police custody. Her execution, alongside others involved in the protests, sends a chilling message to anyone considering challenging the regime, demonstrating the lengths to which authorities will go to quash any form of opposition, even if it means executing women who stand up for fundamental rights.

The Legal Labyrinth: Discriminatory Laws and Lack of Due Process

The high number of women executed in Iran is deeply rooted in a legal system that is inherently discriminatory and lacks fundamental principles of due process. Iranian law, particularly family law, often places women in a subordinate position, making them vulnerable to abuse and denying them equal rights. For instance, the concept of "Qisas" (retribution-in-kind), often referred to as "an eye for an eye," allows victims' families to demand the death penalty for murder, often without adequate consideration of the circumstances leading to the crime, such as self-defense against abuse. This legal framework, coupled with unfair trials, lack of access to proper legal representation, and confessions extracted under duress, creates a perilous environment for those accused of crimes, especially women. Many human rights organizations consistently report that judicial proceedings in Iran fall far short of international fair trial standards. Defendants are often denied the right to a lawyer, subjected to torture to extract confessions, and tried in revolutionary courts that lack transparency and independence. These systemic flaws mean that many executions, particularly those of women, are carried out following deeply flawed legal processes, rendering them arbitrary and unjust.

The Plight of Samira Sabzian Fard and Nasrin Barani: Faces of a Systemic Issue

The names Samira Sabzian Fard and Nasrin Barani represent just two of the many women who have fallen victim to this flawed system. Samira Sabzian Fard was the 21st woman to be executed in 2023 by the clerical regime and the 224th woman executed in Iran since 2007, according to the NCRI. Her case, like many others, likely involved circumstances of domestic strife and a justice system that failed to protect her. Nasrin Barani is the fifth recorded woman execution in Iran in 2025, highlighting the continuing pattern into the current year. These individual cases, though distinct in their specifics, collectively underscore a systemic issue where women, often victims of their circumstances, are subjected to the ultimate penalty without adequate legal protection or a fair chance at justice. The Iranian authorities put three women to death on a recent Wednesday for murdering their husbands, a human rights charity says, among 32 people executed in that period. Of the seven women hanged in just one month, four of them have not been identified, further obscuring the full scope of this tragedy.

International Outcry and Calls for Accountability

The international community has reacted with outrage and deep concern to Iran's escalating use of the death penalty, particularly against women. Organizations like Amnesty International, the U.N. Human Rights Office, and the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) have consistently condemned these executions, calling for an immediate halt to capital punishment in the country. The Women’s Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran strongly condemns the hanging of these women, emphasizing the need for global action. These organizations tirelessly document cases, raise awareness, and advocate for international pressure on the Iranian regime to adhere to its human rights obligations. They call for transparency, fair trials, and the abolition of the death penalty, especially for crimes that do not meet the threshold of "most serious crimes" under international law, and for individuals who were child offenders or victims of abuse. The continuous reports from these reputable sources serve as critical evidence, urging governments worldwide to take a stronger stance against Iran's human rights abuses.

The Human Cost: Beyond Statistics

While statistics paint a stark picture, they can never fully convey the immense human cost of these executions. Each number represents a life cut short, a family shattered, and a profound injustice. Beyond the individuals executed, the ripple effect of these actions extends to their children, parents, and communities, perpetuating cycles of trauma and fear. The lack of transparency surrounding many executions, with four of the seven women hanged in just one month remaining unidentified, adds another layer of tragedy, denying their families the right to mourn and acknowledge their loved ones' fate. The systematic execution of women, many of whom are victims of domestic violence or child marriage, highlights a society where the most vulnerable are failed by the very system meant to protect them. It underscores the urgent need for comprehensive legal reforms, robust social support systems for women facing abuse, and a fundamental shift in the state's approach to justice and human rights.

Navigating the Future: Hopes for Change and Continued Advocacy

The situation in Iran regarding capital punishment, particularly for women, remains dire. However, the consistent efforts of human rights organizations, international bodies, and dedicated activists offer a glimmer of hope. Continued advocacy, public awareness campaigns, and diplomatic pressure are crucial in pushing for change within the Islamic Republic. The "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests of 2022 demonstrated the powerful desire for change within Iran itself, showing that despite severe repression, the spirit of resistance and the demand for fundamental rights persist. For real change to occur, there must be a fundamental overhaul of Iran's legal system, ensuring due process, fair trials, and the abolition of discriminatory laws. Protecting women from domestic violence and child marriage, and providing them with legal avenues for redress, are critical steps towards preventing future tragedies. The international community has a moral imperative to keep this issue on the global agenda, leveraging all available diplomatic and economic tools to press for an end to these barbaric practices.

How You Can Help: Supporting Human Rights in Iran

For those who wish to contribute to the cause of human rights in Iran, several avenues exist. Supporting reputable human rights organizations like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) through donations or by amplifying their reports can make a tangible difference. Engaging with elected representatives to advocate for stronger foreign policy stances on Iran's human rights record, participating in awareness campaigns, and sharing accurate information can help keep the issue in the public eye. Every voice, no matter how small, contributes to the collective pressure needed to challenge the Iranian regime and ultimately save lives. By staying informed and acting, we can collectively strive towards a future where no woman in Iran faces the gallows for simply seeking justice or freedom.

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