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
- 9,164
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 9,164 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 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 PENALTYIRAN - 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 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, 2022United KingdomDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Iran tried to assassinate British residents 10 times this year
MI5 reveals
NOVEMBER 16, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Saeed Moulai executed in Hamedan on November 16
NOVEMBER 16, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Three protestors were sentenced to death
Arrested in Tehran
NOVEMBER 15, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ismail Faqirdadzehi executed in Zahedan on November 17
NOVEMBER 14, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Execution of two prisoners in Torbat Jam prison on November 14
Mohammad Nabi Soleimani (Rigi) and Abdullah Sufi (Golmir Rigi)
- NOVEMBER 14, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Dawood Bahrami executed in Hamadan on November 14
NOVEMBER 13, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Sultan Seifi executed in Qom on November 13
NOVEMBER 13, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 3 men executed in Zahedan on November 13
Vali Roudini, Mohsen Anshini and Emam Bakhsh Narouyi
NOVEMBER 12, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Three Men Executed in Shiraz on November 12
Vahid Pakzad, Keyvan Tajadod and an unidentified man
- NOVEMBER 12, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - More than 54 minors under the age of 18 killed in the nationwide uprising
UNICEF statement expressed deep concern
NOVEMBER 8, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Iran Votes to Execute Protesters
It is unclear whether this is a new law or just a "recommendation"
NOVEMBER 8, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Iranian Protester Handed Death Sentence
Mahan Sedarat
NOVEMBER 8, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Five prisoners executed in Arak prison
Saeed Moghadam, Sajjad Yousefi, Nasser, Reza, and Nasser Iranshahi
NOVEMBER 8, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Rashed Baloch and Ishaq Ishaq executed in Zahedan on November 8
- NOVEMBER 8, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Shoaib Askani and Eshagh Askani executed in Zahedan on November 8
- NOVEMBER 6, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 5 inmates executed in Arak on November 6
unidentified
NOVEMBER 6, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Nematollah Barahouyi and Amanollah Alizehi executed in Zahedan on November 6
NOVEMBER 5, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Iran Protests: At least 304 Including 41 Minors Killed
NOVEMBER 3, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Janali Gholamhosseini executed in Hamadan on November 3
- NOVEMBER 2, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Unidentified man executed in Karaj on November 2
NOVEMBER 2, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 4 men executed in Birjand prison on November 2
Nur Ahmad Totazahi, Abdullah Totazahi (Rigi). Mohammad Khushal and ... Khosravi
NOVEMBER 2, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mehdi Tadzari executed in Ardabil on November 2
NOVEMBER 2, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 2 men executed in Qaen Prison on November 2
Abdolsaboor Narouyi and an unidentified man