Femicide in Iran: Unequal Law, Violent Structures, and the Cycle of Impunity / Maryam Hosseini

Femicide in Iran is a crisis phenomenon that reflects deep gender inequalities, legal gaps, and a culture of male dominance. The increase in the number of women being murdered, along with the absence of a strong legal framework that specifically addresses the killing of women based on gender, has raised concerns that some of these […]...

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Naser Ghavami: Most Executions Are the Result of Pressure from Governing Institutions on Judges/ Ali Kalaei

With the increasing implementation of public executions in Iran, debates around this form of punishment have intensified. Supporters consider it a necessary tool for deterrence and public example, while critics emphasize its contradiction with the principle of human dignity, human rights standards, and its harmful psychological and social consequences. In this context, Peace Mark Monthly […]...

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Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabaei: The Default Rule is the Prohibition of Public Punishment / Pedram Tahsini

Seyed Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabaei, a licensed attorney, political activist, and member of the board of directors of the Central Bar Association, was also a representative in the first term of the Islamic City Council of Tehran (1997–2001). He has represented many Iranian political figures and senior officials, particularly those affiliated with the reformist movement, including […]...

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From Execution Square to the Square of Distrust/ Majid Shia’Ali

After several decades of failure in economic development, democratization, and the strengthening of human rights observance, our society is now looking back at its previous experiences. Our society sees that despite experimenting with various revolutionary and reformist strategies, from parliamentary methods to violent confrontations, and experiencing multiple revolutions and social movements, it has still not […]...

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Selfie with Death: A Question/ Pooya Moheb

On a cold morning, the city square is filled with people. A large crane stands in the middle of the square. The rope hanging from the crane sways in the wind. Everyone is in a hurry to find a good spot to watch. A mother gives her child a chocolate to calm them down. Above, […]...

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The Voice of Science Against the Voice of Violence/ Morteza Hamounian

The issue of capital punishment has always been a highly contentious matter in Iran. This punishment has been enforced by governments both before and after the February 1979 Revolution, and has consistently been the subject of criticism. At its core, the death penalty is a form of state-sanctioned killing—an act of violence inflicted upon the […]...

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Humiliation as Part of Punishment: The Violation of Human Dignity Through Public Executions/ Alireza Goodarzi

Let us begin by distinguishing between a criminal, a suspect, and anyone else outside these categories. A person living in society may come under legal suspicion of having committed a crime. From that moment on, this individual is referred to as a “suspect.” Once the accusation is proven in a competent court, with all legal […]...

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The Theater and the Soul: Foucault’s Unflinching Gaze at the Spectacle of Execution/ Afshin Davoudi

Speaking of public executions evokes a primal image: a crowd gathered in a square, a platform bathed in sunlight or shadow, and the haunting silhouette of the condemned. A scene that feels both ancient and profoundly disturbing. Most modern objections to this practice are based on human rights principles, empathy, and a deep revulsion triggered […]...

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Killing Innocence at Dawn: A Public Execution/ Fereshteh Goli

As the sharp, cold morning wind swept autumn leaves across the cobbled alleyways of the city, a dense, silent crowd had gathered in the main square. Their breath turned into small clouds in the freezing air, merging into one another. Among the crowd stood women whose eyes reflected waves of fear, worry, and anxiety, and […]...

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Law or Verdict? A Criminal Law Critique of Public Executions/ Mohammad-Hadi Jafarpoor

According to the rule of law, the necessity of implementing and enforcing laws is essential to the life of a social system. Even thieves and murderers believe in the necessity of enforcing the law and respecting legal rulings, and it is precisely because of this awareness that they feel fear and anxiety when committing a […]...

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Public Execution: Reproduction of Violence Instead of Deterrence/ Toutia Partovi Amoli

Public execution is a punishment that, in some societies, has been used as a tool aimed at deterring crime and instilling fear. Nevertheless, according to statistical studies and scientific findings, carrying out punishment in public not only has no significant effect on reducing violent crime rates but also leads to the normalization and reproduction of […]...

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Why Should Public Execution Be Abolished?/ Neda Ghanbari

A thorough examination of historical experiences, human rights principles, and findings from psychology and criminology clearly indicates that public execution not only lacks any deterrent effect but also carries profound social, psychological, and moral consequences for society. Although some proponents view public execution as a tool for creating fear and reducing crime, in practice, it […]...

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