Maryam Foroughmanesh Executed in Yasuj

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a woman was executed in Yasuj Central Prison on 1 November. Her identity has been established as Maryam Foroughmanesh who was sentenced to qisas for the murder of her husband.

A man was reportedly executed along with Maryam which Iran Human Rights has been unable to verify at the time of writing.

Iran is the biggest executioner of women. Maryam Foroughmanesh is the 15th woman execution recorded in 2023. On 7 September, Iran Human Rights reported that of the 200 women executions recorded since 2010, 94 were executed for drug-related charges, 90 for murder, four for “participating in immoral sexual acts and misusing drugs,” two for espionage and one for moharebeh (enmity against god). The charges against nine of the women are unknown.

Only 55 (27.5%) of the 200 executions were announced by official sources. The remainder were reported by human rights organisations and activists, and verified by Iran Human Rights. Transparency has dramatically decreased since 2020 with only 2 out of 45 executions officially reported between 2021 and September 2023.

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.