By Victor Melamed
Iran’s legal system, rooted in Islamic law, imposes the death penalty for consensual same-sex sexual activity, making it one of the few countries in the world where this extreme punishment is a legal consequence.
While precise figures are difficult to obtain due to the judicial system’s lack of transparency, human rights organizations consistently report that executions on charges related to homosexuality tragically continue.
Here’s a closer look at the grim reality and recent history:
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Legally Sanctioned Death: Homosexuality is explicitly illegal in Iran. The Islamic Penal Code of 2013 defines acts like “sodomy” (for men) and “tribadism” (for women), with punishments ranging from flogging to execution, particularly for repeat offenses or specific circumstances such as forced intercourse. For men, the receptive partner in “sodomy” can face the death penalty, and in some cases, the active partner can too. For women, a fourth conviction for “tribadism” can lead to a death sentence.
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Recent Executions and Death Sentences:
- 2022: Disturbing reports confirmed the execution of Mehrdad Karimpour and Farid Mohammadi, two gay men who had spent six years on death row, convicted of “forced sexual intercourse between two men.” In the same year, two more men were reportedly executed in Maragheh on similar “sodomy” charges.
- 2021/2022: UN experts condemned the death sentences initially handed down to Zahra Sedighi-Hamadani (Sareh) and Elham Choubdar, two women identified as LGBTQ+ activists. Though Iranian officials claimed the charges were for “corruption on earth” and “trafficking,” human rights groups asserted these were pretexts for their LGBTQ+ advocacy. While their death sentences were later overturned, the initial verdicts underscored the lethal risks faced by LGBTQ+ individuals and activists in Iran.
- 2021: The brutal “honor killing” of Alireza Fazeli Monfared, a 20-year-old gay man murdered by family members, vividly illustrated the severe societal dangers and the profound lack of state protection for LGBTQ+ individuals.
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A History of Executions: Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, human rights activists estimate that thousands of individuals have been executed for crimes linked to their sexual orientation. Organizations like the Boroumand Foundation have documented at least 107 executions with homosexuality-related charges between 1979 and 1990 alone.
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International Outcry: International human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the United Nations, vociferously condemn Iran’s use of the death penalty, especially for consensual same-sex relations. They continually press Iran to adhere to its international human rights obligations.
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Ambiguous Charges, Deadly Consequences: While authorities often employ broad charges such as “corruption on earth” or “sodomy,” activists contend these are frequently used as a legal facade to target and prosecute individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, even for consensual acts or peaceful activism.
The situation for LGBTQ+ individuals in Iran remains dire, marked by the ever-present threat of legal persecution, brutal punishments, and pervasive societal discrimination.
