On the morning of Sunday, February 15, 2026, a female prisoner identified as Esmat Najafi was executed in Qom Prison on charges of murder.
Esmat Najafi had previously been arrested on charges of murder and was subsequently sentenced to death by the regime’s criminal courts.
As of the time of publication, prison authorities and relevant official bodies have not publicly announced or confirmed the execution.
Many of the women executed by the Iranian regime are themselves victims of domestic violence and discriminatory family laws. A significant number have acted in self-defense.
With the execution of Esmat Najafi, the number of women executed in the 2026 calendar year has risen to eight.
Iran, the world record holder in executing women
According to data recorded by the Women’s Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, at least 336 women have been executed in Iran since 2007.
Since Masoud Pezeshkian took office, the clerical regime has executed nearly 3,500 prisoners, including 96 women.
In 2025 alone, more than 2,201 executions were recorded in Iran, more than double the number carried out in 2024 (1,006).
The Women’s Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran calls on the United Nations and relevant agencies, the European Union and its member states, as well as all human rights defenders, to take immediate action to halt the rampant executions in Iran.
