Iran Executes Leaders of Trafficking and Democracy Protests.

Iran's judiciary announced the execution of Shahrooz Sokhanvari, also known as "Alex," the leader of a women trafficking network that trafficked Iranian women to neighboring countries for prostitution. Sokhanvari was sentenced to death in September 2021 on charges of "corruption on earth." Several women were also arrested in the same case and faced serious charges. Iran's recorded executions have soared from 314 in 2021 to 576 in 2022, the second-highest in the world after China. The United States has designated Iran as a Tier 3 country for failing to crack down on human trafficking.