A disturbing report has revealed a staggering increase in femicide cases in Iran.

According to Etemad Daily, in June alone, at least 35 women and girls were murdered by close male relatives. This figure represents a 25% increase of cases during the same period in 2023 and a 59% rise from 2022. Shockingly, 85% of these murders were committed by the victims’ husbands. Since the start of 2024, a staggering 50 or more instances of femicide across multiple Iranian cities have been reported.

Human rights advocacy groups attribute the primary cause of Iran’s femicide crisis to discriminatory laws and a patriarchal society which are rooted in Islamic law. Disturbingly, honor killings can be carried out for offenses as minor as not wearing a hijab.

“The Islamic Republic uses laws, such as Article 630, to maintain power and perpetuate these issues within society. Comprehensive legal and cultural changes are crucial to address these deep-rooted problems and protect women’s rights in Iran,” an Iranian women’s rights activist tells Iran International.

Under Article 630 of Iran’s Islamic Penal Code, a man who catches his wife and her partner committing adultery can kill them both without facing any legal punishment. Moreover, fathers and paternal grandfathers are also exempt from retribution for murdering their own female children.

As Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s policies legitimize violence against women, the United Nations has labeled Iran’s policy as “gender apartheid.” Iran’s crackdown on charities supporting women experiencing domestic violence has also prompted the UN to call for legal reform.