Fatemeh Yousef Abadi; Third Woman Executed in 4 Days

According to HRANA news agency, a woman was executed in Rajai Shahr (Gohardasht) Prison on 12 July. Her identity has been reported as Fatemeh Yousef Abadi who was sentenced to qisas for murder.

She was transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison for execution from Qarchak Prison for along with another prisoner. The second woman was returned to her cell for unknown reasons.

At the time of writing, her execution has not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

Those charged with the umbrella term of “intentional murder” are sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) regardless of intent or circumstances due to a lack of grading in law. Once a defendant has been convicted, the victim’s family are required to choose between death as retribution, diya (blood money) or forgiveness.

Iran is the biggest executioner of women. In 2022, at least 16 women were executed. Fatemeh is the 10th to be executed in 2023. Two other women were executed in Isfahan Central Prison on 9 July. According to Iran Human Rights’ report on Women and Death Penalty in Iran on the occasion of World Day Against the Death Penalty, at least 164 women were executed between 2010-October 2021. In 66% of the known murder cases, the women were convicted of killing their husband or partner. Within the marriage, a woman does not have the right to divorce, even in cases of domestic violence and abuse, which are hidden in cultural codes and language.