Iranian authorities have sentenced four individuals, including Bita Hemmati, to death for their alleged involvement in protests that erupted in January 2025. This marks Hemmati as the first woman to receive such a sentence in connection with these protests. The Tehran Revolutionary Court, led by judge Imam Afshari, convicted them for allegedly throwing concrete blocks at security forces. Rights groups, including the Center for Human Rights in Iran, have condemned the Iranian government for its use of the death penalty as a means of repression, asserting that the regime aims to instill fear in its populace. Reports indicate that at least 1,639 executions occurred in Iran in 2025, with 48 women among those executed. The recent sentences follow a pattern of fast-tracked trials lacking due process, where defendants often face torture and forced confessions. Activists warn that the number of death sentences could rise as the government intensifies its crackdown on dissent amid ongoing tensions with the United States and Israel.