Iran Human Rights Organization: The Islamic Republic Executed at Least 31 Women in 2024

The Norway-based Iran Human Rights Organization has warned about the increase in the death penalty in Iran, stating that the Islamic Republic executed at least 31 women in 2024. This non-governmental organization, which monitors executions in Iran, announced on Monday, January 7, that the number of executions of women in Iran is the highest since records began in 2008. According to the organization's statistics, from 2010 to 2024, at least 241 women have been executed in Iran, with 114 of them accused of murder and 107 for drug-related offenses. Furthermore, 70% of the women accused of murder were victims of domestic violence or sexual abuse and were charged with killing their husbands or partners. Mahmoud Amiri-Moghaddam, the director of the Iran Human Rights Organization, stated, 'The execution of women in Iran not only demonstrates the brutal and inhumane nature of the death penalty but also reveals the deep-rooted gender discrimination and inequality in the judicial system of the Islamic Republic.' The retribution law in Iran, derived from Islamic laws, means that in the case of murder, another life must be taken unless the victim's family forgives or receives blood money. This law results in specific circumstances, such as domestic violence, not being considered in courts. The Iran Human Rights Organization claims that 'the Iranian judicial system rarely considers these circumstances as mitigating factors.' One of the cases that caused significant uproar in recent years was the execution of Reyhaneh Jabbari in October 2014. This 26-year-old woman was convicted of murdering a former intelligence officer. The accused claimed that the victim intended to rape her. Her story was the subject of the documentary 'Seven Winters in Tehran,' which was screened at the Berlin Film Festival 2023 and received critical acclaim. The Iran Human Rights Organization also warned in November 2024 about the increase in the number of executions, announcing that at least 166 executions were recorded in Iran in October, the highest monthly figure since the organization began recording executions. Human rights activists are increasingly concerned about the rise in executions in Iran and accuse the Islamic Republic officials of using the death penalty as a tool to instill fear in society, especially following the nationwide protests of recent years.