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
- 9,142
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 9,142 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
JANUARY 29, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Names of 1449 Martyrs of the Nationwide Uprising Released
JANUARY 28, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 4 Afghan nationals killed during Mashhad protests
Amirhossein Moradi, Yazdan Tamanna, Alireza Behboudi, Kiarash Karimdadi
JANUARY 28, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hamidreza Sabet Esmailpour executed in Ghezel-Hesar on January 28
On charges of “espionage for Israel”
JANUARY 28, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 24 people, including two women, executed between October 12 to January 20
Hanif Lavardi,Azim Roshan, Nourkhoda Karambeigi, Bahador Pishvazi, Bakhsh Ali, Mohammad Moshkini, Ardeshir Borjian, Shiroodeh Gerayi (W), Rouhoddin Shamohammadi, Pejman Noorzadeh, Hojat Samiei, Pouria Valizadeh, Siavash Rashidpour, Khalil Jalilpour, Navid
JANUARY 28, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hrana Report on 32nd day of protests: 6,373 confirmed fatalities, 17,091 under review
JANUARY 28, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 12 killed in Esfarayen
- JANUARY 28, 2026IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 11 people executed on January 28
JANUARY 28, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hashem Abbasi executed in Ahar on January 28
JANUARY 28, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 6 men executed in Rasht between 7 to 18 January
Mehran Shokat, Mousa Rahbar, Taher Yazdani, Ali Zadakbari, Mansour Asghari + 1
JANUARY 28, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Identities of 163 Kurdish killed in protests
JANUARY 28, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hamidreza Sabet Esmaeilpour executed on January 28
On charges of “espionage for Israel”
- JANUARY 28, 2026IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 28 more executions between 24 and 28 January
318 executions in the first 4 weeks of January
JANUARY 28, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Kaveh Hosseinzadeh executed in Yazd on January 28
JANUARY 28, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 5 men executed in Shiraz on January 28
Seifeddin Mehraban, Namegh Kasravi, Saeed Amjadi, Rahim Mirzazadeh, Ebrahim Abbasi
- JANUARY 28, 2026IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Amir Rouhi and Amir Hossein Tavakoli Zanyani executed on January 28
- JANUARY 27, 2026IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Taher Malekshahi, a 12-year-old boy, lost one eye
After being intentionally shot in the face
JANUARY 27, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hengaw's special report on the massacre at Rasht Bazaar.
JANUARY 27, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Dr. Alireza Golchini arrested for treating injured protesters
Charged with “waging war against God”
- JANUARY 27, 2026IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mehrdad Yaghoubi-Mehr killed in Tehran on 8 January
JANUARY 27, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 9 people executed on January 27
Karim Enhesari, Mehran Akhbari, Mehdi Balali, Abbas Karami, Ghobad Fathi, Mojtaba Azizi, Sanjar Dolat-Rashid, Khodakaram Moradi, and Rajabali Nourzad
- JANUARY 27, 2026IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Abolfazl Beig Mohammadi and Javad Haghighat Hanged in Zanjan on January 27
JANUARY 27, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hrana Report on 31st day of protests: 6,221 confirmed deaths, 17,091 under investigation
JANUARY 27, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 105th week of the ‘No to Execution Tuesdays’ campaign
JANUARY 26, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - At least 150 Women Transferred to Shiraz Prison
Arrested in the nationwide protests
JANUARY 26, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Doctor Ameneh Soleimani Arrested for Treating Protesters
- JANUARY 26, 2026IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 10 men executed on January 26
JANUARY 26, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hrana Report on 30th day of protests: 6,126 confirmed deaths, 17,091 under investigation
JANUARY 26, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIIRAN - Shehla Kakaei shot dead during protests, husband commits suicide
JANUARY 25, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - IHR Report: Hundreds killed during protests in Rasht
JANUARY 25, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hrana Report on 29th day of protests: 5,848 confirmed deaths, 17,091 still under investigation
Total arrests have reached 41,283