Iran has sentenced at least three women to death following their alleged involvement in the January 2026 nationwide protests, according to reports from irannewswire.org.
Human rights organizations and reports from Hengaw identify the women as Ameneh Soleimani, Maryam Hodavand, and Bita Hemmati. These sentences mark a significant escalation in the Iranian government's crackdown on dissent.
Ameneh Soleimani, a doctor, faces the death penalty after being accused of treating injured protesters. Rights groups claim she was charged with security-related offenses despite her actions being limited to providing medical assistance.
Maryam Hodavand has also been sentenced to death over allegations of participating in protests and maintaining links to opposition activity. While details of her trial remain unverified, human rights sources confirmed the sentence has already been issued.
Bita Hemmati was previously reported as one of the first female protesters to receive a death sentence following the January unrest. She faces charges including collusion and anti-state activity, though full court records have not been released to the public.
Human rights reports indicate that the use of death sentences against women signals a shift toward using executions to deter further civil unrest. Rights groups warn that these cases could set a precedent for the expanding crackdown.
One additional detained woman is reportedly facing the death penalty, though her identity has not been confirmed. Analysts suggest the intensification of capital punishment is a response to the January protests.
Reports indicate that thousands of people have been killed since the January protests began, though these figures lack independent verification. Many others remain in detention across the country.
Human rights groups warn that these executions could proceed rapidly without public notice. They are calling for urgent international intervention to prevent the sentences from being carried out.
