November 25: The chain reaction of governmental, social, and domestic violence in Iran

According to data recorded by the Statistics and Documentation Center of Hengaw, between the beginning of 2024 and November 25, there have been at least 174 documented cases of femicide, 128 arrests of women, 24 executions, three death sentences issued for female activists, and prison sentences handed down to 123 female activists in Iran.

Hengaw asserts that violence against women in Iran has reached a critical level under a government that enforces gender apartheid as an official policy. This crisis persists as Iran remains among the lowest-ranked countries in the Global Gender Gap Index. Since the “Women, Life, Freedom” movement, women have faced increased repression and the imposition of laws such as the “Hijab and Chastity” mandate. The Islamic Republic of Iran has not only intensified restrictions but also introduced initiatives like “anti-hijab clinics” to further expand ideological control and systematic oppression.

Dimensions of violence against women in Iran and their interconnections

1. Governmental violence: structural and systematic suppression

Governmental violence in Iran forms the foundation and context for other forms of violence against women. This type of violence includes repression, deprivation of rights, ideological propaganda, and heavy punishments. Since the beginning of 2024, the Islamic Republic of Iran has issued prison sentences for 123 women, executed 24 women, and sentenced three women to flogging along with imprisonment. Additionally, 128 female activists have been arrested by security forces.

Gender segregation in schools and the repression of women in social spheres through policies like mandatory hijab have led to widespread psychological and physical violence. This trend has taken the lives of girls such as Arezoo Khavari and Donya Farhadi, adding further pressure on the women’s movement.

2. Social violence: deepening discrimination in a patriarchal society

Social violence in Iran, influenced by governmental policies, has expanded in the forms of sexual, economic, and social abuse against women. Despite the fact that only 18 percent of women are employed, structural policies keep them economically dependent and more vulnerable. This violence, exacerbated by the lack of legal and institutional support, creates a breeding ground for the reinforcement of domestic and social violence.

3. Domestic violence: The ‘normalized’ consequence of the Gender Apartheid system

Domestic violence—including physical assault, sexual abuse, honor killings, and femicide—is one of the most severe forms of violence against women globally and is particularly prevalent in Iran. This type of violence is not only intensified due to the lack of protective laws but also by the government’s anti-women propaganda.

Since the beginning of 2024, Hengaw has documented 174 cases of femicide in Iran. However, this statistic only represents part of the reality; many cases of domestic violence go unreported due to social and governmental pressures, falling into the category of “hidden statistics.” In reality, domestic violence reflects broader political and social pressures that uniquely impact Iranian women.

The broader scope and consequences of violence against women

The violence against women in Iran is a chain of interwoven factors. Government policies systematically create conditions that enable social and domestic violence. Restrictive and discriminatory laws, the creation of fear and repression in the public sphere, and the absence of support mechanisms make women more vulnerable in private spaces while also compromising their security and freedom in society.

These forms of violence collectively suppress the social, economic, and ultimately political agency of women, rendering them dependent and powerless. Consequently, the situation in Iran goes beyond an internal crisis and should be recognized as part of a gender apartheid system aimed at excluding women from the social and public spheres. Among these forms of violence, intensified structural and social violence against queer women (particularly lesbian and trans women) under the criminalization of queer life can escalate to death sentences.

Hengaw’s call to action

On the occasion of November 25, 2024, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights calls on the global community and the Iranian people to take immediate and practical steps to end violence against women in Iran.

Hengaw urges the international community to officially recognize the Islamic Republic of Iran as a government based on gender apartheid. This recognition should lead to diplomatic, legal, and economic pressure aimed at halting systematic violence against Iranian women. Human rights organizations should also conduct independent and comprehensive investigations into violence against women in Iran and hold responsible officials accountable.

Within Iran, the community is also urged to stand in solidarity and establish support networks for women, resist social and domestic violence, and increase public and global awareness by documenting rights violations.

Hengaw reaffirms its commitment to documenting violence, defending women’s rights, and seeking justice for victims in international forums. Hengaw emphasizes that the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women must be a starting point for practical action, not merely symbolic messages. What is urgently needed now is global solidarity and effective action to end systematic violence against women in Iran.