Iran Human Rights Group: "31 Women Executed Last Year... Highest in 17 Years"

241 Executions Carried Out Over the Past 15 Years

Claims have emerged that Iranian authorities executed more than 30 female prisoners last year, sparking a growing controversy.

The Iranian human rights organization 'Iran Human Rights (IHR)' announced on the 6th (local time) that a total of 31 women were executed in Iran last year. IHR compiles data on those sentenced to execution among Iranian prisoners annually, and this year marked the highest number in 17 years since the organization began releasing annual execution figures in Iran in 2008.

Women in Tehran, Iran. Photo by AP Yonhap News

In Iran, executions are typically carried out by hanging. Over the 15 years from 2010 to 2024, a total of 241 women were executed. Among them, 114 were charged with murder, and about 70% were prosecuted for killing their husbands or lovers. The remaining 107 were executed on drug-related charges.

IHR pointed out that "a significant number of women charged with murder were victims of domestic violence or sexual abuse," adding that "the Iranian judicial system does not consider such circumstances as mitigating factors in sentencing."

They further added, "In drug-related cases, women are often coerced into roles or unaware of their involvement."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.