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 5, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Kamran Rezaiefar Sentenced to Death
Charged of “association with The People’s Mujahedin Organization of Iran (MEK)
NOVEMBER 4, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Saeed … executed in Rajai Shahr Prison on November 4
For murder
NOVEMBER 3, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Juvenile offender Arman Abdolali’s execution postponed for the fifth time
He is still at imminent risk of execution
NOVEMBER 3, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Abdullah … executed in Mashhad Prison on November 3
For murder
NOVEMBER 3, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Manouchehr Kazemi-Varmaleh executed in Rajai Shahr Prison on November 3
For murder
NOVEMBER 3, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Javad Ghaljayi executed in Zahedan Prison on November 3
For murder
NOVEMBER 2, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mohammad Eghbal-Raisi executed in Shiraz Prison on November 2
For murder
OCTOBER 27, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Susan Rezaiipour hanged in Qazvin on October 27
The 122nd woman executed since 2013
OCTOBER 21, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Nazarnaz Ghanbarzehi Executed in Zahedan on October 21
For drug crimes
OCTOBER 20, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Unidentified man executed in Karaj Prison on October 20
- OCTOBER 19, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
RAN - Brothers Ali-Muhammad and Eslam Muhammadi Executed in Ahvaz on October 19
Their mother died after the execution having a heart stroke
OCTOBER 19, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Zakaria Baluch executed in Zahedan Prison on October 19
On drug-related charges
OCTOBER 19, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Saeed Sadeghi executed in Saravan Prison on October 19
For murder
OCTOBER 18, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Musa Sheh-bakhsh executed in Zahedan Prison on October 18
At least 293 executions in 2021
OCTOBER 14, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - EU Representative Visited Iran Despite Iran’s Brutal Human Rights Abuses
Enrique Mora traveled to Iran on October 14
- OCTOBER 13, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Hamed Jafar-Zadeh, Soheil Hojjat-Far, and Yunes (last name unknown) executed in Zanjan on October 13
For drugs
OCTOBER 13, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ali Omar Amrolelahi and Unknown Man Executed in Qom on October 13
For murder
- OCTOBER 12, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Urgent: Juvenile Offender Arman Abdolali Scheduled to be Executed in 24 Hours
OCTOBER 12, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hossein Amiri, Hossein Shamsi, Ali Mokhtari and Yavar Dehzadeh Executed in Isfahan on October 12
On drug-related charges
- OCTOBER 12, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Yousef Seifali executed in Isfahan Prison on October 12
301 executions since the beginning of the year
- OCTOBER 11, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Manouchehr Kazemi executed in Karaj on October 11
For murder
OCTOBER 11, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Omid Sarani executed in Birjand Prison on October 11
282 executions in 2021
- OCTOBER 11, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Ebrahim Rakhshani executed in Ghaen on October 11
On drug-related charges
OCTOBER 11, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mohammad Latifi and Unknown Man Executed in Kermanshah on October 11
- OCTOBER 10, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Esmail Ghassabi-Sini executed in Isfahan on October 10
No further details
OCTOBER 10, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Four men executed in Shiraz Central Prison in September
Meysam Atefifard, Hadi Razi, Rasoul Akrami and Omid Keshtkar
OCTOBER 8, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Women and the Death Penalty in Iran
A 12 Year Analysis
- OCTOBER 6, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mojtaba Shaker Executed in Yazd on 6 October 2021
The news was reported by IHR on February 21, 2022
OCTOBER 3, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Father and son executed in Yazd Prison on October 3
Hossein and Ramin Dadzadeh
OCTOBER 2, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hossein Hedayati executed in Amol Prison on October 2
For murder