Hengaw Human Rights Organization Report on 'Femicide' in Iran: 10 Women Killed in 10 Days

In a new report, the Hengaw Human Rights Organization has highlighted the increasing trend of 'femicide' in Iran, stating that at least 10 women have been killed in various cities across the country in the past ten days. According to the report, during the first ten days of August 2024 (August 1 to August 10), at least 10 women were killed in the cities of Sib and Saravan (2 cases), Shiraz (2 cases), Kouhrang, Shahriyar, Tehran, Fasa, Roudan, and Zanjan. Data from a specialized platform on gender-based killings in Iran also indicates that the rate of femicide has increased by 60% in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year. The 'Stop Femicide Iran' platform, which focuses on monitoring women's murders in Iran, emphasized in a report on August 1, 2024, that femicide in Iran targets 'the lives of girls and women from all segments of society,' and these crimes, often committed by male family members, are observed 'in urban and rural areas and across all levels of socio-economic status.' The report indicates that the highest number of gender-based killings has been recorded in Tehran, which is ethnically, socially, and economically diverse, and an analysis of the age distribution of victims shows that '43% of the victims are young' and fall within the '15 to 35 years' age range, with 'a wide range of age groups affected by gender-based killings.' The report emphasizes that the majority of femicide perpetrators are 'male family members, especially husbands,' and many of these murders occur 'due to familial reasons' and what is referred to as 'honor.' Journalist Samaneh Ghaderkhan previously told Voice of America that the Islamic Republic uses the term 'honor killing' to obscure femicide and the killing of girls to prevent the spread of news related to femicide. She deemed the reform of Islamic Republic laws necessary to protect women's lives in Iran.