Thirty-one women have been executed by Iranian authorities this year, according to the NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR). This marks a record high since the organization began documenting the use of the death penalty in the Islamic Republic in 2008.
A Tragic Record in 2024
The grim milestone of 31 women executed in 2024 comes amidst a heightened crackdown by Iranian authorities, who reportedly use capital punishment as a tool for social control.
“The execution of women in Iran exposes the brutal and inhumane nature of the death penalty and highlights how deeply discrimination and gender inequality are embedded in the judicial system,” said Mahmoud Amiry-Moghaddam, director of IHR.
241 Women Executed in 15 Years: A Chilling Reality
Between 2010 and 2024, IHR recorded a total of 241 women executed. The main charges were murder (114 cases) and drug-related offenses (107 cases). The NGO emphasizes that many women convicted of murder were actually victims of domestic violence or sexual abuse, often acting out of desperation.
Iran’s judicial system, based on Islamic law and the principle of qisas (retributive justice), poses significant challenges for their defense. Under qisas, murder must be “repaid” by taking another life unless the victim’s family grants forgiveness or accepts financial compensation. According to IHR, “the Iranian judiciary rarely considers (domestic violence) as mitigating circumstances.”
Zahra Esmaili: Executed After Rape and Domestic Abuse
One of the most shocking cases is that of Zahra Esmaili, who was forced to marry an intelligence ministry official after being raped and becoming pregnant. She endured years of abuse against herself and her children before being accused of her husband’s murder in 2007.
Despite the clear circumstances, her husband’s family demanded qisas, and her mother-in-law personally carried out the execution in 2021. According to the NGO, Zahra suffered a heart attack after witnessing several men being executed before her. Yet her lifeless body was still hanged.
Reyhaneh Jabbari: Executed After Defending Herself from Rape
In another widely publicized case, Reyhaneh Jabbari was executed in 2014 at the age of 26 for killing a former intelligence agent she accused of attempting to rape her. Reports indicate that she was tortured to extract a confession. Despite her claims of self-defense, the victim’s family refused to forgive her, and the execution proceeded.
Her story was later featured in the documentary Seven Winters in Tehran, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in 2023.
A Tool for Political and Social Repression
Human rights defenders are increasingly alarmed by the overall rise in executions in Iran, which they believe are being used to instill fear within society. This surge follows widespread protests in 2022 and 2023, many of which were led by women demanding greater freedoms and the abolition of discriminatory laws, such as mandatory hijab rules.
By intensifying repression, authorities aim to suppress dissent. Women, who are at the forefront of these movements, have become primary targets. The use of the death penalty in cases involving domestic violence reflects a systemic effort to silence their voices and undermine their rights.
Toward International Condemnation?
In response to these atrocities, international organizations and governments are calling for accountability. The case of Reyhaneh Jabbari sparked a global awareness campaign, but most of the anonymous women executed each year receive little attention.
According to IHR, sustained international pressure is crucial to push for the abolition of the death penalty in Iran and to combat systemic discrimination against women. The tragic figures from 2024 serve as a stark reminder that the fight for human rights—and especially women’s rights—remains a global priority.