An Iranian woman, Samira Sabzian, who was forced into marriage as a child and imprisoned for murdering her husband, was executed on Wednesday, despite pleas from human rights groups for leniency.
The Norwegian-based organization, Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO), confirmed that Sabzian was hanged in Ghezelhesar Prison.
According to Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the Director of IHRNGO, Sabzian was a victim of "gender apartheid, child marriage, and domestic violence." In a statement, Amiry-Moghaddam expressed his outrage at the Iranian regime, calling it "incompetent and corrupt" and holding its leaders, including Ali Khamenei, accountable for the crime.
Sabzian had been imprisoned for ten years following her arrest for the murder of her husband. IHRNGO revealed that she was forced into marriage at the age of 15 and was a victim of domestic violence. At the time of her arrest, she had two young children, including a newborn baby. Sabzian was only able to see her children for the first time in a decade when they visited her in prison to bid her farewell before her execution.
The United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights expressed alarm at the execution, urging Iran to establish a moratorium on all executions and work towards abolishing the death penalty.
The office stated that Iran is one of the world's leading executioners of women, with nearly 200 women executed since 2010. Shockingly, in over half of these cases, the women were convicted of killing their husbands, despite having no right to divorce, even in situations of domestic violence and abuse.
Login