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:

• 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

“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.”

Download the full report: StopFemicideIran Annual Report 2024 (PDF)