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
JULY 20, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Dariush Khazai and Mahmood Sadeghian executed in Dastgerd Prison on July 20
JULY 20, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hamed Sarband executed in in Birjand on July 20
JULY 19, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Filmmaker Jafar Panahi to serve 6 years for defending free speech
- JULY 15, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - UNITED NATIONS - Sweden. Javaid Rehman lauded the conviction in Sweden against Hamid Noury
JULY 14, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Sweden. The Stockholm District Court sentenced Hamid Noury to life
For “serious crimes against international law” and "murder"
JULY 14, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Instagram Star Milad Hatemi Faces Death Penalty Over Betting Sites
- JULY 13, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Ali Asghar Khalili executed in Isfahan on July 13
JULY 13, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Farzad Garavand and Mohammad Hatami executed in Karaj on July 13
JULY 13, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mohsen Safari and Amirhossein Abadi executed in Isfahan
On June 20 and July 13
JULY 13, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 4 men executed in Ilam Prison on July 13
- JULY 12, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 'Driven By Fear': Iran Cracks Down On Dissent Amid Rising Public Discontent
JULY 12, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ali Ch executed in Mashhad on July 12
JULY 12, 2022BelgiumDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Belgium. Rights Groups Call on Belgium Not To Swap Prisoners With Iran
JULY 12, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Rasoul Moradgholi executed in Sari Prison on July 12
JULY 12, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Sajjad Jamshidi executed in Sari on July 12
- JULY 11, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Unnamed man executed in Jolfa Prison
Possibly on July 11
JULY 10, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Political prisoner Naser Fahimi lashed 74 times
At Greater Tehran Penitentiary
JULY 9, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Keyvan Emamverdi sentenced to death
JULY 9, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Abolfazl Rahmani and Mehrollah Rigi executed in Qom on July 9
JULY 9, 2022BelgiumDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Belgium. What Lessons Can Belgium Learn That France Never Did?
More on the Assadi case
- JULY 8, 2022BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Belgium. More against the release of Assadi
- JULY 8, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Poland. Polish Scientist Maciej Walczak Arrested in Iran
- JULY 7, 2022BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
RAN - Belgium. Global firestorm brewing over Belgium’s disgraceful deal with Iran’s regime
- JULY 7, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Turkey. Abdul Wahab Kocak Sentenced To Life In Prison
Accused Of Killing Iranian Dissident In Turkey
- JULY 7, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Behzad Narooie and Mohammad Shahi executed on July 7
JULY 7, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Behzad Narouyi executed in Zahedan on July 7
JULY 7, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Zarif Kakar executed in Zabol Prison on July 7
- JULY 6, 2022BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Belgium. Belgium Provisionally Clears Iran Prisoner-Swap Treaty
JULY 6, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hadi Moradi executed in Gachsaran Prison on July 6
JULY 6, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Fardin Zekri executed in Shiraz on July 6