Paris — Iran executed at least seven individuals, including two women, on Saturday, intensifying its use of capital punishment, reported the Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR). This escalation in executions comes amid growing international concern and condemnation over the country’s human rights practices.
Parvin Mousavi, a 53-year-old mother of two, was executed in Urmia prison in northwestern Iran. Mousavi, along with five men, faced the death penalty for various drug-related offenses. In a separate incident, Fatemeh Abdullahi, a 27-year-old woman from Nishapur in eastern Iran, was hanged on charges of murdering her husband, who was also her cousin.
The latest executions are part of a broader trend that has seen Iran increase its use of the death penalty. According to IHR, at least 223 people have been executed this year, with over 50 occurring in May alone. This surge followed the conclusion of the Persian New Year and Ramazan holidays in April, during which 115 individuals, including six women, were executed.
Iran holds the grim record of executing more women than any other country. Human rights activists argue that many of these women are victims of forced or abusive marriages, highlighting the broader context of gender-based violence and systemic injustice within the country.
Last year, Iran executed more people than in any year since 2015, according to various non-governmental organizations. The continued high rate of executions, particularly of women, underscores the urgent need for international intervention and dialogue to address Iran’s human rights record.
In addition to the recent executions, concerns have been raised about the imminent execution of a member of Iran’s Jewish minority, further drawing attention to the country’s use of capital punishment and its implications for minority rights and justice.
The international community continues to watch closely, with human rights organizations calling for a moratorium on the death penalty and urging Iranian authorities to adhere to international human rights standards.