Irã sentenced Bita Hemmati to death by hanging, the first woman sentenced in connection with the protests that took place in January this year in the country. Ela and her husband Mohammadreza Majidi-Asl received the same sentence, along with Behrouz Zamaninejad and Kourosh Zamaninejad. Tribunal Revolucionário of Teerã, in branch 26, presided over by judge Iman Afshari, issued the decision. The four people were detained in the same residential building at Bita Hemmati0.
The convictions also include five years in prison for assembly and collusion against national security, in addition to the confiscation of all the assets of those convicted. The main accusations involve operational actions in favor of the Estados Unidos government and hostile groups, according to reports from human rights organizations. Bita Hemmati appears in a video broadcast on state television during interrogation by Guarda Revolucionária Islâmica in January. The exact date of execution has not yet been announced.
Sentence issued by the revolutionary court
The case involves four people detained during the January protests. Mohammadreza Majidi-Asl and Bita Hemmati form a couple. Behrouz and Kourosh Zamaninejad are brothers. Todos lived in the same building and were arrested on January 9th. The verdict was communicated to the defendants recently.
Authorities found them guilty of throwing objects, including concrete blocks, from a building at security forces during demonstrations. Relatos indicate that the evidence included confessions obtained under interrogation. Organizações monitor the process and point to the absence of due legal process, with quick trials and without full access to independent defense.
Accusations and context of the protests
The January protests took place in various parts of Irã. The demonstrations involved thousands of people and were marked by clashes with security forces. The four people participated in specific acts, such as throwing items from homes, according to the official charges.
The court attributed the defendants to collaboration with hostile foreign entities. Bita Hemmati would be the first woman sentenced to death directly linked to these January events. Até At the moment, seven people have already been executed in connection with the same protests, according to monitoring data.
- Mohammadreza Majidi-Asl and Bita Hemmati, couple sentenced to death
- Behrouz Zamaninejad and Kourosh Zamaninejad, brothers also sentenced
- Accusations of acts against security forces during January protests
- Additional sentence of five years in prison and total confiscation of assets
- Trial conducted by branch 26 of Tribunal Revolucionário of Teerã
Number of executions at Irã in 2025
International organizations recorded a high volume of executions in Irã throughout 2025. The total reached at least 1,639 people hanged last year, the highest number since 1989. The index represents an increase of 68% compared to 2024, when 975 executions were recorded.
The joint report by two entities points out that the number includes 48 women. The data only considers cases confirmed by multiple independent sources and represents an absolute minimum. Autoridades Iranian companies do not release complete official statistics on the topic.
Concerns about the judicial system
Human rights groups report that many trials linked to the protests are proceeding quickly. Há Frequent mentions of the use of confessions obtained under pressure or torture. Access to independent lawyers is limited in cases conducted by revolutionary courts.
Bita Hemmati and the other three convicts remain at risk of imminent execution. The scheduled date has not yet been publicly announced. The case attracts international attention as it marks the first death sentence of a female protester in recent events.
International monitoring of the case
Entities such as Human Rights Activists News Agency and Centro Abdorrahman Boroumand monitor progress. Elas obtained a copy of the verdict and released details about the charges and penalties. The focus is on transparency and the conditions of legal proceedings.
Irã faces recurring criticism for increasing the use of the death penalty in periods of political instability. Executions linked to protests are part of a broader pattern observed over recent months.
