Iran Executes Record Number of Women Amid Rising Gender-Related Death Sentences

In a concerning trend, at least 31 women were executed in Iran in 2024, marking the highest annual figure documented by the organization Iran Human Rights (IRH) in the last 17 years. This increase is reportedly linked to protests against the regime that erupted following the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022, which drew international attention to systemic gender inequality and state violence, according to the Oslo-based NGO.

Leila Ghaemi, one of the executed women, was sentenced to death for killing her abusive husband. IRH's report emphasizes the tragic circumstances many women face, often committing acts of violence as a desperate measure against prolonged abuse. Mahmood Amiry-Moghadam, the director of IRH, described the spike in executions as a tactic used by the Islamic Republic to instill fear and suppress dissent, particularly among women.

Iran's execution rate is among the highest globally, with over 900 individuals executed in 2024 alone. Women represent a small fraction of those executed, but they often endure extreme violence and discrimination, exacerbated by socio-economic struggles. The report highlights the persistent human rights abuses and the dire implications for gender equality in Iran.