State Violence in Iran: Women Face Execution and White Torture

As we approach International Human Rights Day and the final days of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the NCRI Women’s Committee Podcast presents a stark examination of escalating state-sponsored violence against women.

The discussion centers on two interlocking crises: a shocking spike in executions, including of women, and the systematic torture of female political prisoners through medical neglect.

1. A State-Driven Execution Crisis

• 1,800+ executions in the first 11 months of 2025
• 615 hangings in October and November alone
• 57 women executed, a 70% increase over the previous year
• 32 women executed in just four months (July–November)

These numbers show a deliberate government strategy to terrorize society, particularly women, who are increasingly central to anti-regime resistance.

2. “White Execution”: Torture by Medical Neglect

The podcast then examines the slow-acting violence inflicted through denial of medical care, described as a deliberate state policy.

Inhumane Prison Conditions

In November 2025, over 60 female political prisoners were transferred to:

• a basement ward 40 steps underground
• infested, damp, without heating, beds, or proper sanitation

For prisoners with chronic illness, these conditions accelerate physical decline by design.

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