International Women's Day; Execution of at Least 30 Women by the Islamic Republic in One Year

On Friday, March 8, in anticipation of International Women's Day, the Hengaw Human Rights Organization reported that the rulers of the Islamic Republic executed at least 30 female prisoners in Iranian prisons over the past year. In this 'documented report' titled 'Violations of Women's Rights in Iran during 2024', Hengaw noted that in addition to the executions, at least 141 women were detained and 136 female activists were sentenced to imprisonment, execution, and flogging by the judiciary of the Islamic Republic. According to the report, executions of women in Iran in 2024 increased by at least 8 cases, equivalent to 36%, compared to 2023, with the highest number of executions recorded in East Azerbaijan (5 cases) and South Khorasan (4 cases). Human rights organizations in Iran and international bodies have reported that, as in previous years, the Islamic Republic of Iran had the highest rate of executions of women in the world last year. Based on statistics recorded by the Hengaw Human Rights Organization, at least 141 women were detained by security agencies in various cities of Iran in 2024, among whom three were under 18 years old, 14 were from families of victims, four were teachers and university professors, ten were students, and two were lawyers and legal experts, with seven of these women protesting against compulsory hijab. According to Hengaw's report, at least 136 female activists faced sentences such as execution, imprisonment, and flogging from the judiciary of the Islamic Republic, among which the death sentences of Pakhshan Aziz, Varisheh Moradi, and Sharifeh Mohammadi faced a wave of domestic and international opposition. On March 5, 17 human rights organizations sent an open letter to the European Parliament and UN human rights bodies, accusing the Islamic Republic of human rights violations and the systematic use of the death penalty as a tool for suppressing and silencing dissenting voices, urging the international community to confront these actions of the Iranian government. More than 1,200 activists, including women's rights activists, anti-death penalty advocates, and political prisoners, also called on 44 countries and international organizations on March 1 to pressure the Islamic Republic to end executions and violations of women's rights in Iran. The Writers' Association stated: 'The struggle of women for freedom and equality is unstoppable.' Increased security and judicial pressures on civil activists ahead of International Women's Day. Artists' reactions to the flogging sentence of Mehdi Yarahee; anger, protest, and solidarity. Reza Mohammadi from prison: 'The regime fears the laughter of children and the embrace of mothers.'