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
- 8,610
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 8,610 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
- NOVEMBER 30, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Death sentence for the mother of 3
6-year-old girl shot in the eye
NOVEMBER 30, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Parviz Brahui executed in Bandar Abbas on November 30
NOVEMBER 30, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Iran To Try 10 Underage Protesters On Death Penalty Charges
- NOVEMBER 30, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Iran sentences 4 people to death for ‘cooperating’ with Israel
Maybe even executed
- NOVEMBER 28, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - … Turkzadeh executed in Hamadan on November 28
(first name unknown)
NOVEMBER 28, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mohammad Amin Omar Zehi and Noor Mohammad Mazar Zehi executed in Zahedan on November 28
NOVEMBER 28, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Abdullah Salah Zahi executed in Iranshahr on November 28
NOVEMBER 28, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Death Sentence For Anyone Contacting Foreign Media
- NOVEMBER 27, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Changiz Gergij executed in Zabol on November 27
- NOVEMBER 27, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mohammad Omar Khameh executed in Mashhad on November 27
NOVEMBER 27, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ziber Brahui executed in Zahedan on November 27
NOVEMBER 27, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Muhammad Umar Khame executed in Mashhad
NOVEMBER 27, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 5 men executed in Shiraz on November 27
Hojat Nemati, Abbas Sabz, Omar Zardkohi, Shahram Ahmadzadeh + unknown
- NOVEMBER 26, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Hossein Kheirollahi and Saheb Rasouli executed in Isfahan on November 26
NOVEMBER 26, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mohammad Isa Zahi executed in Zahedan on November 26
NOVEMBER 24, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Special meeting of the Human Rights Council on the deteriorating of human rights in Iran
- NOVEMBER 23, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Unidentified man executed in Isfahan on November 23
- NOVEMBER 23, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Niaz Jadgal executed in Chabahar Prison on November 23
NOVEMBER 23, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mehdi Lotfi executed in Ilam on November 23
NOVEMBER 22, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - At least 416 people including 51 children and 27 women killed in the ongoing nationwide protests
Killed byy security forces
- NOVEMBER 20, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Iran sentences to death 6th person over protests
NOVEMBER 19, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hakim Dehmardeh executed in Taibad on November 19
NOVEMBER 17, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Abbas Abdollahi and Fariborz Shahbazi executed in Rasht on November 17
- NOVEMBER 16, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Three protestors were sentenced to death
Arrested in Tehran
- NOVEMBER 16, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Saeed Moulai executed in Hamedan on November 16
NOVEMBER 16, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Amin Abil executed in Mashhad on November 17
NOVEMBER 16, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Shahab … executed in Mashhad on November 16
NOVEMBER 16, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Nasser Dehmardeh executed in Birjand on November 16
NOVEMBER 16, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Iran tried to assassinate British residents 10 times this year
MI5 reveals
NOVEMBER 15, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ismail Faqirdadzehi executed in Zahedan on November 17