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
MAY 9, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Europe must make the serious consequences of executing Ahmadreza Djalali clear
To Islamic Republic officials
MAY 8, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Four men executed in Shiraz on May 8
Abbas Pajmordeh, Ali Pajmordeh, Mohammad Gholamhosseini and Ali Hossein Pahan
- MAY 7, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 3 Men and a Woman Executed in Zahedan on May 7
The number of women executed in Iran since the summer of 2013 reaches 132
MAY 7, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Yousef Naderi and Abolfazl Hassan Moradi Executed in Qom on May 7
- MAY 4, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Sweden. Ahmadreza Djalali at Imminent Risk of Execution
The international community should react in time
- MAY 2, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Top official on women’s affairs encourages child marriage
Ensieh Khazali
- MAY 2, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Sweden. Iran summoned Sweden’s ambassador
following a request by Swedish prosecutors for life imprisonment for Hamid Noury
MAY 2, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Maryam Kargardastjerdi, a special woman
She saved 32 men from the gallows
APRIL 28, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - IHR Annual Report on the Death Penalty - 2021
At least 333 people were executed in 2021
- APRIL 27, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Fakhreddin Waledi and Hossein Joushan in executed in Isfahan on April 27
APRIL 25, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ali Younesi and Amirhossein Moradi Sentenced to 16 Years Imprisonment
Earlier threats to sentence them to death
APRIL 14, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Death in Custody of Protester Mehdi Salehi Ghaleh Shahrokhi
Iran Human Rights Calls for International Fact-Finding Mission
APRIL 12, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Narges Mohammadi and Aliyeh Motallebzadeh Arrested
And Sent Back to Qarchak Prison
APRIL 11, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Golmohammad ... executed in the Prison of Karaj City on April 11
APRIL 11, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Milad Jafari killed of torture in Tehran
During detention by Tehran intelligence police
APRIL 10, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 3rd Public Execution Sentence In Less Than A Month
Name not disclosed
- APRIL 9, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Christian converts sentenced to prison and fines
- APRIL 9, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Ahmadreza Djalali Beaten by Evin Prison Officials
APRIL 6, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - At least 50 political prisoners await execution
A report from Javanehha
APRIL 1, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Javaid Rehman Mandate Extended for Another Year
Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran
MARCH 30, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Fakhredin Valedi and Hossein Joshan Executed in Isfahan on March 30
The news was published by IHR on 25 April
- MARCH 28, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mohammad Q. and Sadeq M. to be hanged in public
Charged with killing an intelligence officer in a clash
MARCH 27, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 4 executions in Arak Central Prison on March 27
Seyyed Feizollah Noorollahi, Ahmad Nouri, Hamid Goodarzian and Mohammad Najari
MARCH 27, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Iran-Backed Hezbollah Plans To Fight For Russia In Ukraine
MARCH 18, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Iran Dismisses UN Human Rights Assessment As 'Biased Report'
- MARCH 17, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN Aminullah Gargij executed on March 17
In Adelabad prison, in Shiraz
- MARCH 17, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 49th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva
Rehman’s Report Highlights Systemic Human Rights Violations in Iran
- MARCH 17, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Massoud Ghoroobi and Gholamhossein Sadri executed on March 17
In Adelabad prison, in Shiraz
MARCH 16, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 3 men executed in Shiraz Prison on March 16
Abdolreza Shafiee, Ahmad Gorgij and Bashir Samadi
MARCH 16, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anousheh Ashouri Freed