Iran executes ‘child bride’ for killing her abusive husband

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IRAN, Dec 21: On Wednesday, an Iranian woman, Samira Sabzian, convicted of murdering her abusive husband, was executed, according to an international NGO advocating for her clemency. Sabzian, a child bride married at 15, fell victim to domestic violence, leading to her arrest in 2013 at the age of 19. Iran Human Rights (IHR) reported her sentencing for the murder. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of the Norway-based rights group, condemned the execution, citing Sabzian’s years of suffering from gender apartheid, child marriage, and domestic violence. He held Iranian leaders, including Ali Khamenei, accountable for the tragedy.

Arrested with two young children, Sabzian bid farewell to her newborn before her execution in Ghezelhesar, near Tehran. Amnesty International expressed shock, highlighting Sabzian as the eighteenth woman executed in Iran this year out of 800 hangings. Riccardo Noury, spokesperson for Amnesty International, criticized Iranian laws for allowing forced and early marriages and failing to protect women from domestic violence.

The UN High Commissioner on Human Rights expressed alarm over Sabzian’s execution, urging Iran to cease capital punishment and establish a moratorium on all executions. The United Nations had previously raised concerns about the “alarming rate” of executions in Iran, noting a 30% increase in the first seven months of the year, with at least 419 people put to death. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced deep concern over the lack of transparent and independent investigations into reported human rights violations, particularly during nationwide protests.

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