In a harrowing report released by the Oslo-based Iran Human Rights (IHR), 2024 marked a grim record with at least 31 women executed in Iran—the highest number in 17 years. The report, titled “Women and the Death Penalty in Iran: A Gendered Perspective,” delves into the deep-rooted gender inequalities and biases pervading the Iranian legal system that disproportionately affect women on death row.
The findings reveal that many women executed for murder acted out of desperation, often in reaction to extreme violence or coercive control, with around 70% of these cases tied to male partners. Alarmingly, the Islamic Republic’s judicial system seldom considers these critical mitigating circumstances, as women’s testimonies are often valued at half that of men’s, highlighting systemic injustices.
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, IHR’s director, emphasized the report’s chilling message: “The execution of women in Iran reveals not just the brutality of the death penalty, but the depth of systemic gender inequality in the judicial system.” He urged the international community to confront these pervasive issues head-on, calling it a dire situation of “systemic injustices and gender apartheid.”
Compounding this crisis, transparency regarding executions has plummeted, with only 26% of women’s executions being reported officially, a staggering decline reflected in the 12% rate in recent years. Marginalized ethnic minorities, particularly women from Sistan and Baluchistan, are overrepresented, highlighting the convergence of poverty, prejudice, and judicial discrimination in these harrowing statistics.
Since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979, executions have been used as a tool for political control and oppression. The report hints at the unseen plight of countless female political prisoners executed in the 1980s, as well as the historical practices of stoning or hanging women accused of adultery, which were more common in the earlier decades of the regime.
The overall execution rate has surged in 2024, with 930 death sentences executed this year alone, dwarfing the figures of 811 and 579 in 2023 and 2022, respectively, indicating a chilling trend poised for further escalation.
Iran witnessed a record high of 31 women’s executions in 2024, the highest in 17 years, according to Iran Human Rights. The report stresses systemic gender disparities in the judicial system, where women are often executed for crimes resulting from desperation due to violence or coercion. The lack of transparency and the disproportionate impact on ethnic minorities highlight the urgent need for international intervention.
In summary, the report by IHR reveals alarming trends in gender-based executions in Iran, illustrating the brutal realities faced by women under a biased judicial system. The lack of transparency and consideration for mitigating circumstances emphasizes the systemic inequalities ingrained in Iran’s legal processes. With rising execution rates and calls for urgent international action, the plight of these women demands immediate attention from global leaders.
Iran’s judicial system has long been criticized for its severe biases against women, particularly in capital punishment cases. The legal framework fails to adequately recognize domestic violence and often dismisses women’s testimonies as less credible. With a systematic bias against marginalized groups, the intersection of poverty and gender creates a dire landscape for women, leading to their increased vulnerability to harsh sentencing. The recent data highlights the urgent need for international intervention and support for these women.
Original Source: www.iranintl.com
