On the morning of Wednesday, September 24, 2025, the death sentence of Roya Abbas-zadeh, a 25-year-old woman, was carried out in the Central Prison of Zanjan. She had been sentenced to death four years ago on charges of “premeditated murder,” following a complaint filed by her fiancé’s family.
Roya Abbas-zadeh, who resided in a village between Takestan and Zanjan, had reportedly been forced by her family into an arranged and unwanted marriage.
Her execution has not yet been reported or confirmed by Iranian state media or official judicial sources.
With the execution of Roya Abbas-zadeh in the Central Prison of Zanjan, the number of women executed in Iran since the beginning of 2025 has reached 39.
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 302 women have been executed in Iran since 2007.
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.
The number of women executed in Iran saw a sharp rise in 2024. At least 34 women were hanged last year, with 23 of these executions occurring after Masoud Pezeshkian took office.
In the Iranian calendar Year 1403, at least 38 women were executed in Iran, marking a disturbing 90% increase compared to the previous year.
During one year since Pezeshkian took office in late July 2024, the number of execution victims in Iran has surpassed 1,800. While the total number of executions in the entire 2024 was just over 1,000.
