Femicide in Iran: New Report Reveals Alarming Rise in 2024
In 2024, a woman or girl was murdered in Iran every two days on average, solely because of her gender. This is revealed in the annual report published today by StopFemicideIran (SFI), an initiative of the Alliance for Rights of All Minorities (ARAM). The report documents 172 cases of femicide—a 16% increase compared to 2023—and a total of 211 murders of women, including 31 state executions.
The youngest victim was a two-month-old baby, the oldest an 86-year-old woman. More than half of the victims remained anonymous, due to government control and fear of repercussions. Notably, more than a third of the victims were between 15 and 35 years old.
Gruesome Methods and Familial Violence
The report reveals a disturbing pattern of extreme violence. Women were stabbed, strangled, or shot—sometimes with more than one method used. The perpetrators were often husbands or male family members, highlighting the structural nature of domestic and familial violence in Iran.
Most femicides occurred in provinces such as Tehran, Kurdistan, and Fars. In at least 14 cases, children were themselves victims, and in many other cases, they witnessed the murder of their mother.
State and Law as Accomplices
The report pays particular attention to the role of the Iranian state. In 2024, 31 women were executed, often after being accused of killing their abusive husbands. A contributing problem is legislation such as Article 630 of Iran’s Penal Code, which allows a husband to kill his wife if he catches her "in the act" of adultery—a law that, according to SFI, institutionalizes impunity.
Call to Action
StopFemicideIran was founded in 2020 after the shocking murder of 14-year-old Romina Ashrafi, and follows a three-pronged strategy: documentation, education, and empowerment. The report emphasizes the need for:
“We must continue working together to break the cycle of violence,” said founder Marjan Keypour in the official press release. “This report highlights the urgency of addressing femicide in Iran and provides alarming data for women’s rights defenders and activists against violence targeting women and girls.”
- Legal reforms and the abolition of discriminatory laws
- Better protection for women and girls
- Support for grassroots organizations
- International pressure on Iran to take women’s rights seriously
Download the full report: StopFemicideIran Annual Report 2024 (PDF)
Latest posts
-
Femicide in Eslamshahr, Iran: 18-year-old Fatemeh Soltani murdered by her father
-
Attempted honor killing in Kiel, Germany: Father and two sons charged
-
Honor Killing in Eslamabad-e Gharb, Iran: 12-Year-Old Aylar Zaherpour Murdered by Her Father
-
Honor Killing in Sindhanur, India: Three Sentenced to Death, Nine to Life Imprisonment
-
Honor Killing in Lessebo, Sweden: Father and Brother Convicted of Murdering Shahida Azizi
-
Honor Killing in Uttar Pradesh, India: Young Woman Murdered by Her Father and Brother
-
Man Arrested for Setting Wife on Fire in German Tram
-
Attempted Murder in Duisburg: Mother Holds Woman by Her Hair While Son Stabs Her
-
Honor killing in Kermanshah, Iran: Young woman murdered by her father
-
Honor Killing in Tirana, Albania: Palestinian Father Suspected of Rape and Murder of Daughter