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 murders are systematically rooted in male ownership, gender-based control, or the justification of “honor.” In this article, we will first explain the concept of femicide in the context of Iran, then analyze the existing legal framework in Iranian law and its shortcomings, address social and institutional obstacles, and finally offer policy-legal recommendations to change the situation.

The Concept of Femicide in the Iranian Context

1- Definition and Conceptual Importance

Femicide refers to the killing of women for gender-based reasons (such as ownership, control, male anger, “honor,” protest against female disobedience). (1) This definition goes beyond general homicide and places gender motivation at the center of analysis. In Iran, the murder of women often occurs within family relationships (father, brother, husband) or is justified with concepts like “honor,” “reputation,” or allegations of female infidelity. This indicates that many of these murders are rooted in gender structures, not merely individual disputes. (2) Civil reports (women’s rights activists, NGOs) confirm this view.

2- Characteristics of Femicide in Iran

• Honor Killing: One of the common forms of femicide in Iran, when a man (father, brother, husband) believes a woman has behaved contrary to “honor.” Media and human rights reporters have frequently pointed to cases in which women have been murdered on this pretext.

• Control in Marital Relationships: Many murders are accompanied by patterns of violence in spousal relationships, where male control over women is used as a justification for severe violent behavior.

• Culture of Impunity: Some laws or legal interpretations may enable reduced punishment for perpetrators, leading to a sense of “legal privilege” in some murders.

The Legal Framework in Iran

To understand femicide in Iran, it is necessary to examine Iranian laws and show where the legal system conflicts with the principles of gender justice or is insufficient.

1- Punishment for Murder in the Islamic Penal Code

Under the Islamic Penal Code, intentional murder is usually punishable by qisas. But there are some exceptions. For example, Iranian lawmakers allow lighter punishment for murderers if the victim has committed a religious crime. According to reports, Article 302 of the Islamic Penal Code is one of the problematic articles: if the victim has committed a hadd crime, the murderer’s punishment may be reduced. Specifically, Article 630 of the Islamic Penal Code is one of the most controversial articles. This article allows a man to kill his wife while committing “adultery,” under certain conditions (such as proving the woman’s “consent”). Also, there is Article 301 of the Islamic Penal Code, which provides exemptions for fathers or grandfathers who kill their daughter or granddaughter. (3) According to this article, the murder of a child by the father or grandfather may be exempt from qisas, and instead, blood money or imprisonment may be imposed.

2- Protective Laws and Limitations

Iran has so far lacked a comprehensive law like the “Law on Violence Against Women” (similar to the Istanbul Convention). Many women’s rights activists emphasize that existing protective laws are not sufficient. In April 2023, a law titled “Protection, Dignity, and Provision of Security for Women Against Inappropriate Behavior” was passed. According to reports, this law addresses the criminalization of femicide in some parts and stipulates 5 to 15 years of imprisonment for “intentional murder of a woman.” However, it has been criticized for having “serious contradictions.” For instance, there are still possibilities to exploit legal provisions to greatly reduce the punishment, and the law is inconsistent with Iran’s general structure of murder penalties. In addition, the responsible institutions (police, judiciary) are either unable or unwilling to identify gender-based motives in murder cases, which is cited as one of the main obstacles to effective enforcement of the law.

3- Civil and Social Rights of Women in the Civil Code

In some cases, Iran’s civil laws grant men in the family control that can make women more vulnerable. For example, civil rights in some cases assign the headship of the family to the man, which in practice can mean dominance over women. Also, it has been stated that women face serious obstacles in leaving the marital home. (4) According to some reports and the law (such as articles of the Civil Code), a woman must prove she is in danger to leave the home, and sometimes leaving the home results in the loss of financial support.

Structural and Social Challenges in Iran

Alongside legal deficiencies, the social and cultural structure in Iran plays a very important role in the continuation and intensification of femicide.

1- Patriarchal Culture and Ownership over Women

Many honor killings are rooted in the belief in male ownership over women’s honor and bodies. Some men (or family members) feel they “own” the woman and that any (real or imagined) female “error” is a stain on honor that must be “cleansed.” This belief is reflected in the laws: legal exemptions, explanations that highlight “honor” as a family or social value, and the lack of harsher punishment for murder of women in some cases all indicate complicity between the law and the cultural structure. (5) Legal analysts believe that the legislator, instead of providing true deterrence, has in some cases acted as a facilitator.

2- Deficiencies in the Support and Judicial System

Many victims or those anticipating violence lack adequate access to support (safe shelters, legal aid, police). Reports show that law enforcement may view domestic violence as a “private family matter” and not respond seriously to women’s complaints. There is no transparent and comprehensive statistic on women’s murders. The government does not regularly publish statistics on gender-based killings. (6) This lack of data has made policymaking and accountability difficult. Civil organizations such as “Stop Femicide Iran” report that judicial training, police, and forensic medicine have very limited ability to identify gender-based motives.

3- Media Silence and Normalization of Violence

In some cases, the murder of women has been normalized by society, and there is not enough media coverage of these cases. Some murders are covered as “family disputes” or “honor issues” without addressing the gendered depth of the issue. The killer’s family or even the local community may justify or praise the murder as a way of “restoring honor,” which sends a disturbing message to others: violence against women may be seen as a method of gaining control or resolving conflict.

Femicide as “Law” in Iran (Critical Analysis)

In this section, I want to show how femicide in Iran has, to some extent, been legitimized by the law—or at least faced with legal incapacity—and how this situation benefits the continuation of this phenomenon.

1- Law as a Tool for Facilitating Violence

When the law includes an article like 630, it means granting a part of the woman’s “right to life” to the man, under conditions defined by law. Many analysts consider this a sign of deep gender discrimination in which the law, on one hand, reinforces male control over women and, on the other, limits the punishment of the killer. The exemption from qisas for fathers or grandfathers in Article 301 is also a sign of a hierarchy of violence. Some murders are seen as “violations of paternal rights” that should not be met with full qisas but rather managed with blood money or lighter punishments. This legal framework sends a worrying message to perpetrators and may encourage some murders or at least create relative impunity for them. (7)

2- Shortcomings of the New “Protective Law”

The law “Protection, Dignity, and Provision of Security for Women,” passed in 2023, is an important first legal step toward criminalizing severe violence against women, but according to civil activists, the law is incomplete. Despite defining prison time for the intentional murder of women, the severity of the punishment compared to the severity of the crime is questionable, and there is still the possibility of sentence reductions or legal loopholes. Furthermore, the lack of a clear definition of femicide as a separate crime—for example, murder based on gender—means that gender-based motives of murders are not fully considered in courts, and opportunities for prevention and accurate statistics are lost.

3- Limited Institutional Responsibility

Institutions protecting women’s rights in Iran are not very strong, nor do they have the ability to seriously intervene in risks before murder occurs. Additionally, the lack of enough safe houses and limited financial resources prevent serious preventive interventions. The judicial system also does not seem to see gender-based motives in murders as a serious aggravating factor or to have enough methodology and protocols to examine such motives.

Policy and Legal Recommendations

To effectively combat femicide in Iran, multi-level changes are necessary, from legal reform and the creation of a registration system to social and institutional interventions.

1- Structural Legal Reform

• Explicit Criminalization of Femicide (femicide): Lawmakers must define an independent crime or a legal aggravating description for the murder of women with gender-based motives (honor, gender control, ownership, male anger, etc.). This definition should include contextual evidence (such as a history of violence, threats, economic control, history of complaints). (8)

• Abolishing or Amending Article 630: Reviewing this article to remove or limit the exceptions that allow a man to kill his wife in certain conditions is necessary.

• Abolishing Qisas Exemption for Father/Grandfather: Article 301 must be revised to prevent unfair exemptions in the murder of women (daughter, granddaughter).

2- Strengthening the Protective Law

The law “Protection, Dignity, and Provision of Security for Women” must be strengthened so that the barriers to using it are reduced and its enforcement guarantees increased (budget, oversight, judicial training). Creating judicial protocols to identify gender-based motives in murder investigations. Judiciary, forensic medicine, and police must have procedures for identifying gender-motivated murder and utilize gender experts.

3- Registration System and Statistics

Creating a national registry system for the murder of women that allows for motive classification (honor, family, intimate partner, control). (6) These statistics should be publicly reported and used in policymaking. Support for civil organizations and NGOs to collect independent data and reporting that can help pressure for legal reform.

4- Support and Preventive Interventions

• Establishing or expanding safe shelters for women at risk of violence or murder, with government funding and independent oversight.

• Gender education programs in schools and universities to change patriarchal attitudes: working with boys and men to promote equality and respect for women’s rights.

• Training police, judges, prosecutors, and forensic medicine professionals in gender-based violence and femicide motives to enhance institutional sensitivity and effective response. (2)

5- International Oversight and Civil Pressure

• Cooperation with international human rights bodies for periodic reporting and evaluation of the situation of femicide in Iran.

• Encouraging Iranian and international women’s organizations to demand legal transparency, enforcement of justice, and support for victims and survivors.

Afterword

Femicide in Iran is a legal, social, and structural issue that cannot be reduced merely to a “domestic crime.” There are laws in Iran that in practice facilitate some women’s murders or reduce their punishments to the minimum, while legal and institutional support for victims and survivors is very limited. Fundamental change requires deep legal reforms, the creation of an independent criminological framework for femicide, and strengthening support institutions. At the same time, changing social attitudes regarding ownership and control over women through education and community-based interventions is essential. Such changes will not only help reduce the murder of women but also form part of the broader struggle for gender equality, human rights, and social justice in Iran.

References:

1- UN Women. (2023). Gender-related killings of women and girls: Global estimates 2022.
2- World Health Organization. (2021, March 9). Violence against women: Key facts.
3- Ardebili, Mohammad Ali. General Criminal Law, Vol. 1 & 2, Mizan Publications, and the text of the Islamic Penal Code (1392).
4- Iranian Civil Code (especially articles regarding family leadership (Article 1105) and spousal obligations (obedience)).
5- Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. (1992). General recommendation No. 19: Violence against women. United Nations.
6- United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2022). Global study on gender-related killings of women and girls 2022. UNODC.
7- Goldouzian, Iraj. Special Criminal Law, Vol. 1, SAMT Publications.
8- Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. (2017). General recommendation No. 35 on gender-based violence against women, updating general recommendation No. 19. United Nations.