On International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women: The Dire Situation for Women in Iran
As the world observes the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, attention turns to Iran, where systemic, state-sponsored violence against women underscores a deeply entrenched crisis. The execution of Fariba Maleki Shiravand, a 36-year-old woman hanged on Sunday, November 24, 2024, in Parsilon Prison, Khorramabad, epitomizes this reality. Arrested four years ago, her story is one of many left unreported by Iranian state media. Tragically, in 2024 alone, 20 women have been executed in Iran, their lives and aspirations extinguished without notice.
Systemic and Institutionalized Violence
Violence against women in Iran is both institutionalized and deeply rooted in the country’s legal framework. The constitution and other subordinate laws reduce women to second-class citizens, granting men significant authority over their lives. Women are systematically excluded from numerous professions and public offices, while the legal system enshrines their status as property of male relatives, whether fathers, husbands, or, in their absence, even brothers.
The regime’s enforcement of “moral codes” further exacerbates this violence. Self-appointed enforcers of morality, empowered by the state, intrude into the personal and social lives of women. They monitor dress codes, issue warnings, and, in extreme cases, hand women over to security forces for minor infractions, such as “improper hijab.” This unchecked power has no parallel in other parts of the world.
Historical Roots of Oppression
From its inception, the Iranian regime has imposed strict controls on women, seeking to dominate every aspect of their lives. The mandatory hijab, introduced shortly after the 1979 revolution, became a symbol of state control over women’s autonomy. This policy paved the way for brutal practices such as acid attacks, physical assaults, and the killings of women accused of “immodesty.”
The regime’s oppression of women, however, goes far beyond the enforcement of dress codes. Women in Iran endure a wide spectrum of violence—psychological, economic, sexual, and physical—all legitimized by religious and cultural doctrines. These forms of violence cut across all social, economic, and educational boundaries, ensuring that no group of women is spared.
Women in Iran endure a wide spectrum of violence—psychological, economic, sexual, and physical—all legitimized by religious and cultural doctrines.
The mass executions of women during the 1980s stand as one of the darkest chapters of this systemic oppression. Thousands of women, many of them members or supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), were imprisoned, tortured, and ultimately executed for their political beliefs. The summer of 1988 witnessed an especially horrific massacre, during which thousands of political prisoners—many of them women—were systematically murdered. Female supporters of the MEK were particularly targeted, and only a few survived this genocide.
These women endured unimaginable suffering before their execution. Many were subjected to brutal physical and psychological torture aimed at breaking their spirits and forcing them to renounce their beliefs. Despite this, countless women stood firm, choosing death over submission. Their courage remains a testament to their unwavering commitment to freedom and justice.
This violence against women persists today, as the regime continues its campaign of repression. Women face harassment, imprisonment, and even death for demanding basic rights or defying oppressive laws. The systematic oppression of women in Iran is not merely a series of isolated incidents but a state-sponsored war against half its population. From the mandatory hijab to mass executions and the ongoing violence, the Iranian regime has sought to erase women’s agency and independence, making their resistance all the more remarkable.
The systematic oppression of women in Iran is not merely a series of isolated incidents but a state-sponsored war against half its population.
Violence as a Tool of Control
The Iranian regime views violence against women as a tool for maintaining its power. Through fear and suppression, the state seeks to stifle dissent and silence the voices of those advocating for change. Punishments such as flogging, stoning, and even blinding have been codified into law.
Iran remains the only country where thousands of women have been executed or killed under torture for opposing the regime. According to official statistics, 66% of Iranian women experience violence at some point in their lives—a figure double the global average. These numbers, reported by the regime’s own news agencies, understate the grim reality faced by Iranian women.
Domestic Violence and Child Marriages
Official statistics reveal that in just one year, over 77,500 cases of domestic violence were documented, with 96.7% of the victims being women. The regime not only delays enacting legislation to prevent violence against women but also actively obstructs such efforts. For example, a bill addressing violence against women has been stalled in Iran’s judiciary for over eight years, with significant portions of the proposal removed or rewritten.
Another pervasive form of violence is forced child marriage. In 2023 alone, over 100,000 cases of child marriage were reported, with girls as young as 10 being coerced into unions. These practices strip young girls of their futures and perpetuate cycles of abuse.
The Role of Women in Resistance
Since the start of the nationwide uprising on September 16, 2022, the Iranian regime has brutally murdered numerous brave women and girls simply for their dissent and desire for freedom. These include Esra Panahi, Nasim Sedaghi, Ghazaleh Chalavi, Mahdis Hosseini, Parmis Hamnava, Marzieh Doshman-Ziyari, Roshana Ahmadi, Helen Ahmadi, Diana Mahmoudi, Nika Shakarami, Setareh Tajik, Arnika Ghaem-Maghami, Negin Salehi, Sadaf Mohaedi, Behnaz Afshari, Parisa Bahmani, Nasrin Ghaderi, Yalda Aghafazli, Mona Naghib, Elaheh Saeedi, Sarina Saeedi, Pegah Ghovasieh, Maria Ghovasieh, Samaneh Niknam, Shirin Alizadeh, Maedeh Javanfar, Hasti Narouei, Mahsa Moghui, Farzaneh Kazemi, Hadis Najafi, Sarina Esmailzadeh, Darya (Marzieh) Nazmdeh, Somayeh Mahmoudinejad, Minou Majidi, Aynaz Javaheri, Sarina Shiri, Maryam Ghovasi, Kobra Sheikh-Saqa, Fereshteh Ahmadi, Hananeh Kia, Hedieh Naeimani, Negin Abdolmalki, Nahid Mostafapour, Hanieh Moradi, and many others. Many of them were in the prime of their youth, some were children, and some were mothers. They were all taken by violent and unjust deaths.
This is just a glimpse of the massive violence inflicted upon Iranian women and girls within merely 70 days during the 2022 uprising. While the tragic deaths of three sisters in the Dominican Republic once stirred the world to take action against violence toward women, in Iran, women fall victim to such violence every day. The list of women and girls martyred in prisons or on the battlefield of resistance against this regime comprises tens of thousands of names.
Global Solidarity Is Urgent
As the world marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the plight of Iranian women demands urgent attention. Their daily struggle against systemic violence is a testament to their resilience and bravery. The international community must amplify their voices, hold the Iranian regime accountable, and push for measures to end the state-sponsored violence perpetuated against women.
Every woman executed, assaulted, or silenced is a reminder of the global commitment needed to achieve a world free of violence against women. Iranian women’s stories—marked by courage, suffering, and hope—must not go unheard.
