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
- 8,611
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 8,611 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
JANUARY 18, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Akbar Sheikh Panahi executed in Isfahan on January 18, 2023
JANUARY 17, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Kamel Dodkanlou and Farhad Hosseini executed in Salmas on January 17
- JANUARY 15, 2023IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Massoud Tahmasebi executed in Bandar Abbas on January 17
The news published on March 13
JANUARY 14, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Iran has executed British-Iranian national Alireza Akbari
Accused of spying for Great Britain
JANUARY 14, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 74 women killed during nationwide uprising of women
JANUARY 14, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Akbar Shah Bakhsh executed in Zahedan on January 14
Already 31 executions in the first 2 weeks of the year
- JANUARY 13, 2023IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Iran executions: the role of the ‘revolutionary courts’ in breaching human rights
JANUARY 12, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Maher Eyluli and Ali Abbaszadeh executed in Shiraz on January 12
- JANUARY 11, 2023IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 3 of the 5 men executed in Arak on January 11 have been identified
Ali Geravand, Azad Dadvand, Kaiwan Amini Tawakol
- JANUARY 11, 2023IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Reza Haji executed in Karaj on January 11
JANUARY 11, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 5 inmates executed in Arak Prison on January 11
Ali Geravand + 4 unknown
JANUARY 11, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - UK. British-Iranian Alireza Akbari at risk of imminent execution
JANUARY 11, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Two Inmates Executed in Rasht and Gorgan on January 11
Milad Ashoob and Shahram Mortazavi
JANUARY 11, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Milad Gholizadeh executed in Rasht on January 11
- JANUARY 10, 2023IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Three More Protesters Sentenced To Death
Javad Rouhi, Kimia Javadi and Mehdi Mohammadifar
JANUARY 10, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Iran sentences Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani to a five-year prison term
The daughter of former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
JANUARY 10, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Peyman Arab Gicheh executed in Karaj on January 10
JANUARY 10, 2023BelgiumDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Belgian Olivier Vandecasteele Sentenced to 40 Years
Iranian forcing to get a prisoner exchange
JANUARY 10, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mehdi Karmi executed in Arak on January 10
Already 30 executions since the beginning of the year
JANUARY 9, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Nazir Surkh Kaman executed in Roodan prison on January 9
- JANUARY 9, 2023IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mirajan Mohammadi executed in Roodān on January 9
- JANUARY 8, 2023GermanyDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Iranian Arrested In Germany On Suspicion Of Planning Terrorist Attack
JANUARY 8, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Pardel Ahmad Khanzahi executed on January 8 in Zahedan
JANUARY 7, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Unidentified Woman Executed on January 7 in Karaj
- DECEMBER 30, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Stories of 5 men sentenced to death for alleged crimes linked to anti-regime protests
Hamid Ghare-Hasanlou, Mohammad Mehdi Karami, Hossein Mohammadi, Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini, Reza Arya.
- DECEMBER 29, 2022ItalyDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Italian PM Meloni Says Repression Of Protesters In Iran ‘Unbearable’
- DECEMBER 29, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Iranian author sentenced to death
For urging peace in Israel TV interview
- DECEMBER 29, 2022ItalyDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Iran summons Italian ambassador over protests solidarity
- DECEMBER 28, 2022ItalyDEATH PENALTY
IRAN – Italy. Italy urges Iran to stop executions and open dialogue with protesters
DECEMBER 28, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hamidreza and Mohsen Nejati executed in Rajai Shahr Prison on December 28