In 2024, Iran executed at least 31 women—a grim milestone that has sent shockwaves across human rights communities worldwide. This figure, the highest annual number recorded since documentation began in 2008, represents more than a statistic; it is a harrowing reflection of a judicial system riddled with inequality and a government bent on using fear to suppress dissent.
According to the Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR), which monitors executions in the Islamic Republic, at least 241 women were executed between 2010 and 2024. Many of these cases stemmed from charges of murder or drug-related offenses. However, the stories behind the numbers expose a system where women, often victims of abuse, are sentenced to death under laws that disregard the context of their suffering.
Gendered Injustice: A Deadly Cycle
Seventy percent of women executed for murder were convicted of killing a husband or partner, often after enduring years of domestic violence. Zahra Esmaili, for instance, was forced to marry her neighbor, a Ministry of Intelligence official, after he raped her. Subjected to relentless physical abuse, she killed him in 2017 out of desperation. Yet, the court disregarded the circumstances of her suffering, and in 2021, she was executed—a sentence demanded by her abuser’s family under Iran’s Islamic law of retribution, qisas. Shockingly, her lawyer revealed that Esmaili suffered a heart attack before her execution but was still hanged posthumously.
The case of Reyhaneh Jabbari, hanged in 2014 at the age of 26, is another haunting example. Convicted of killing a former intelligence officer she said had attempted to rape her, her execution sparked global outrage and inspired the documentary Seven Winters in Tehran, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in 2023.
These women’s stories highlight a judicial system that not only fails to protect victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse but also actively punishes them for their survival. Iran’s courts rarely consider such mitigating factors, reflecting deep-rooted gender discrimination embedded within the fabric of the state.
Executions as Tools of Control
The surge in executions coincides with the Iranian regime’s crackdown on civil dissent following the nationwide protests of 2022-2023. Activists argue that the Islamic Republic is weaponizing the death penalty to maintain control, instill fear, and silence opposition. In October 2024 alone, IHR recorded at least 166 executions—the highest for any single month in their records.
“The execution of women in Iran not only reveals the brutal and inhumane nature of the death penalty but also exposes the deep-rooted gender discrimination and inequality within the judicial system,” said IHR director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam.
This systemic oppression has turned executions into both a literal and symbolic tool of patriarchal dominance. It is a grim reminder that under Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s leadership, the Iranian government has weaponized religion and tradition to uphold a power structure that marginalizes women and stifles dissent.
The Call for Secular Justice
For freethinkers and secularists, the crisis in Iran poses an urgent question: What role should we play in challenging such atrocities? Iran’s execution practices are not just a human rights issue; they are a stark illustration of the dangers of intertwining religion and state power. The principles of qisas, for example, prioritize retribution over rehabilitation and are steeped in interpretations of Islamic law that fail to account for modern understandings of justice and equity.
The international community must also grapple with its role in holding Iran accountable. While sanctions and condemnations have been frequent, they have done little to deter the regime from carrying out its brutal practices. Advocacy groups must amplify the voices of Iran’s victims and demand transparency in the country’s judicial processes.
But more fundamentally, this is a moment for reflection among freethinkers: How can we better promote secular principles that prioritize human dignity, fairness, and gender equality? Iran’s judicial system is a stark reminder of the consequences of allowing patriarchal and theocratic values to dictate governance.
Beyond Outrage: Building Solidarity
To drive meaningful change, solidarity with Iranian activists—many of whom risk their lives to speak out—is essential. Women’s rights groups, secular organizations, and humanists must unite to amplify the stories of those silenced by Iran’s regime. The international media must keep these issues in the spotlight, ensuring that the world does not look away.
Iran’s women are fighting not just for their own survival but for a future free from the tyranny of systemic injustice. As freethinkers, it is our moral duty to stand with them—not just in words, but through action. To do otherwise is to concede to a system where the value of human life is dictated by archaic and discriminatory laws. The debate is not merely about Iran; it is about the universal fight for justice, equality, and human dignity.
