Iran
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- theocratic republic
- CONSTITUTION
- December 1979, revised in 1989 to extend presidential power
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on Sharia law
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- unicameral, Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami)
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Supreme Court
RELIGIONS
Shia majority; 10% Sunni; Christian, Jewish, Bahá'í, and Zoroastrian minorities
From the country
MAY 1, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: AT LEAST 90 PEOPLE ON DEATH ROW AGED UNDER 18, SAY UN EXPERTS
At least 90 people on death row in Iran are under the age of 18, says a group of UN experts who are calling for authorities in the Middle Eastern nation to immediately put an end to the execution of those aged who were under 18 at the time of sentencing.
APRIL 30, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED ON MURDER CHARGES
A prisoner was reportedly executed at Hamadan Central Prison on murder charges, and another prisoner was returned to his cell after his execution was temporarily halted.
- APRIL 24, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN TRIES TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY FOR TRAFFICKING AS IT WRESTLES WITH RISING DRUG CHARGES
Iranian parliament’s Judicial Commission spokesperson has announced that this commission has agreed with a proposal to reduce death penalty to 30 years in prison for a number of drug-related offences.
- APRIL 20, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER HANGED ON DRUG CHARGES
A prisoner was hanged at Khorramabad's Parsilon Prison on drug related charges, according to the human rights news agency HRANA.
APRIL 19, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SEVEN PRISONERS EXECUTED AT RAJAI SHAHR PRISON
- APRIL 18, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: THREE PRISONERS HANGED IN SHIRAZ AND TABRIZ
Three inmates were executed in the prisons of Shiraz and Tabriz.
APRIL 13, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN WHO KILLED SIX IN SHOOTING SPREE PUBLICLY HANGED IN ARAK
A man convicted of murdering six people in a shooting spree was publicly executed in Iran, according to the Tasnim news agency.
- APRIL 12, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER WITH MENTAL ILLNESS EXECUTED ON MURDER CHARGES
A prisoner who reportedly suffered from a mental illness was hanged at Tabriz Central Prison on murder charges.
APRIL 9, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: HUNDREDS RALLY IN TEHRAN IN PROTEST AGAINST DEATH PENALTY
Hundreds of families of prisoners on death row, especially women, rallied on the morning in front of parliament, demanding the abolition of the death penalty.
APRIL 5, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: INMATE EXECUTED AFTER SUFFERING HEART ATTACK
- MARCH 24, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: YOUNG MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR INSULTING THE PROPHET
Iran’s supreme court upheld a death sentence for a young man in Arak, central Iran, after he was found guilty of “insulting the Prophet Muhammad” on the Internet.
MARCH 20, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED ON DRUG CHARGES
The death sentences of two prisoners were reportedly carried out at Adel Abad Prison (Lorestan province, western Iran).