Report Details Alarming Rise in Femicide Cases Across Iran, Over 65 Women Killed in Six Months

Escalating Femicide Crisis Unveiled in Iran

A recent investigation by IranWire has brought to light a deepening femicide crisis in the Islamic Republic of Iran, reporting that over 65 women have been killed in the past six months alone. This alarming figure underscores a pervasive pattern of violence against women, often perpetrated by male family members, and is attributed to systemic issues including patriarchal values and inadequate legal protections.

Tragic Cases Highlight Systemic Failures

Among the documented victims are prominent individuals whose deaths have drawn attention to the crisis:

• Zahra Ghaemi: A lecturer and member of the Department of Women and Family Studies at the University of Tehran, Ghaemi was reportedly strangled to death by her husband on October 11, 2025, in Tehran. A women's rights activist and mother of a 12-year-old daughter, her killing highlights the vulnerability of even educated women who seek separation or divorce.
• Raheleh Siavoshi: A 26-year-old national wushu champion and coach, Siavoshi was killed by her husband in Nahavand, Hamedan province, on October 2, 2025. She sustained multiple stab wounds and died two days later. Her husband, Homayoun Siavoshi, reportedly committed the crime due to his opposition to her continued participation in sports activities and national training camps. Authorities initially classified the motive as 'honor preservation'.
• Elmira Aghajani: A 22-year-old law student, Aghajani was killed on September 29, 2025, in Qazvin after rejecting repeated marriage proposals from a colleague. Her death is part of the 'over 65' figure cited by IranWire.

These cases are indicative of a broader trend where women are targeted for asserting independence, rejecting marriage proposals, seeking divorce, or pursuing financial autonomy.

Underlying Causes and Lack of Protection

Human rights organizations, including Stop Femicide in Iran (SFI) and the NCRI Women Committee, consistently report on the high incidence of femicide, with some data suggesting that approximately one woman is killed every other day. Perpetrators are overwhelmingly husbands or other male family members, accounting for as much as 85 percent of these murders in some reports. The methods used are often brutal, including stabbing, immolation, suffocation, strangling, and shooting.

The crisis is exacerbated by several systemic factors:

• Lack of Legal Protection: There is a significant absence of legal frameworks to protect women from domestic violence, and existing laws often require women to obey their husbands, while the judicial system frequently fails to punish domestic violence.
• Patriarchal Society and Misogyny: Deeply entrenched patriarchal values, discriminatory legal structures, and a culture of misogyny institutionalized under the clerical regime contribute to an environment where violence against women is widespread and often goes unpunished.
• Underreporting and Official Silence: Many cases of femicide go unreported or are misclassified, and there is a notable lack of official statistics, hindering a full understanding of the crisis. The Iranian government's suppression of civil society further contributes to this issue.

The United Nations has reportedly branded Iran's policy as 'gender apartheid,' highlighting how state policies may legitimize violence against women. Activists continue to call for urgent legal reforms and greater accountability to address this escalating human rights crisis.