Iran
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Retentionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 869
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 2,156
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · The 1999 figures for capital sentences and executions...
- News items in the archive
- 9,218
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Iran is classified as Retentionist in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 869 executions in the country, against 2,156 the year before. The archive holds 9,218 news items on Iran, from 1999 to today.
Iran is one of the countries where the association records the highest number of executions each year. The usual method is hanging, and capital punishment applies to a wide list of offences: murder, drug offences, offences against state security, sexual offences, and charges such as moharebeh, enmity against God, which allow very broad application.
Many executions are never announced. They emerge from local sources, from human rights organisations and from families. For Iran, more than anywhere else, the archive's count is a documented minimum.
Latest news
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A Deadly Day for Civilians
MARCH 23, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hrana Report on Arrests Against Citizens and Media
MARCH 22, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Parnian Khodabakhshi held in limbo nearly four weeks after arrest
University student
MARCH 22, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 57 Nobel Laureates Endorse the National Council of Resistance of Iran
MARCH 22, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hrana Report on 23rd day of war
More Than 15% of the Total Fatalities Are Minors
MARCH 21, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Melika Azizi could be executed shortly
18-year-old girl arrested in January during protests
MARCH 21, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hrana Report on 22nd day of war
More Than 50% of the Strikes Target Tehran
MARCH 20, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hengaw Report on 21st day of war
5,900 killed, including 595 civilians
MARCH 20, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hrana Report on 21st day of war
New Year begins with 640 strikes
- MARCH 20, 2026IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 140 arrested for sending images to foreign media and espionage
- MARCH 20, 2026IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - At Least 36 arrested for contacts with foreign media.
MARCH 19, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hrana Report on 20th day of war
The Fire of War Reaches the Caspian Sea
MARCH 19, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - National Liberation Army of Iran (NLA)
The failure of appeasement
MARCH 19, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hrana Report on human rights violations in Hijri year 1404
MARCH 19, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 20th consecutive day of internet blackout
Global community must act to prevent crimes in darkness
MARCH 19, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 3 Protesters Hanged in Qom on March 19
Saleh Mohammadi, Mehdi Ghasemi, and Saeed Davoudi
MARCH 19, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Exclusive Report on Political Prisoners on Death Row
MARCH 18, 2026SwedenDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Kourosh Keyvani Hanged for Israel Espionage on March 18
Dual National Iranian-Swedish
- MARCH 18, 2026IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - IHR Report on Alarming Prison Conditions
MARCH 18, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - PMOI Resistance Units light up Iran in daring campaign
MARCH 18, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hrana Report on 19th day of war
Widespread Strikes on Oil and Gas Facilities
MARCH 17, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hengaw Report on Kurdistan during the war
Civilian spaces in Kurdistan militarized amid escalating security measures
MARCH 17, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hengaw Report on 18th day of war
Death toll hits 5,300, including 511 civilians
MARCH 17, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hrana Report on 18th day of war
Report of 179 Strikes
- MARCH 16, 2026IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Hrana Report on 17th day of war
Increase in Civilian Casualties
MARCH 16, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Over 500 People Arrested for Sending Information to Media
- MARCH 16, 2026IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Five law enforcement personnel killed in armed attack in Sistan and Baluchestan
MARCH 16, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - UN: report on the crackdown on the January protests.
MARCH 15, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hrana Report on 16th day of war
Over 450 Attacks Recorded
MARCH 15, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ongoing Repressive Measures Against Bahá'í Citizens