Iran Set To Execute First Female Protester Bita Hemmati Amid Crackdown On Dissent

Last Updated:April 15, 2026, 20:54 IST

Bita Hemmati and her husband, Mohammadreza Majid Asl, 34, along with two other men- Behrouz Zamaninezhad and Kourosh Zamaninezhad- were also sentenced to death.

Iran is set to carry out the execution of Bita Hemmati, marking the first known case of a woman facing capital punishment in connection with the recent wave of anti-government protests. The demonstrations, which began in January, spread rapidly across the country before being forcefully suppressed by state authorities.

Bita Hemmati is among an estimated 1,600 individuals reportedly sentenced to death over the past year, according to human rights groups. Authorities accused her of multiple charges, including using explosives, participating in violent protests and actions deemed to threaten national security. The allegations also include throwing objects such as concrete blocks during demonstrations.

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Her husband, Mohammadreza Majid Asl, 34, along with two other men- Behrouz Zamaninezhad and Kourosh Zamaninezhad- were also sentenced to death following what rights groups describe as a swift trial process. Authorities additionally confiscated their property. A fifth accused, Amir Hemmati, received a prison sentence of nearly six years on charges including “assembly and collusion against national security" and “propaganda against the regime."

The group was arrested in Tehran, which emerged as the epicentre of the protests. The Iranian government alleged that the accused were involved in coordinated actions linked to hostile entities, including the United States, a claim reported by the Human Rights Activists News Agency.

No execution date has been officially announced. Meanwhile, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) urged the United Nations and global human rights bodies to intervene, calling for immediate action to halt executions, particularly of political prisoners detained during the unrest.

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“The Iranian Resistance once again calls on the United Nations, relevant international bodies, and human rights defenders to take immediate action to save the lives of prisoners sentenced to death, especially political prisoners and those detained during the uprising," the NCRI said in a statement.

The protests began as localized demonstrations before expanding nationwide within days, drawing participation from students and civil society groups. Reports indicate that thousands were killed or injured during the crackdown, with tens of thousands arrested as authorities moved to contain the uprising.

News world Iran Set To Execute First Female Protester Bita Hemmati Amid Crackdown On Dissent

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