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
- SEPTEMBER 21, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Shahin Naseri Dies in Custody Under Suspicious Circumstances
Witness to Navid Afkari’s Torture
SEPTEMBER 21, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Abed Khodaverdi and Arshad Jodat executed in Zanjan Prison on September 21
For drugs
SEPTEMBER 21, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Arshad Javdat Rabat (Javdatian) executed in Zanjan Prison on September 21
For drugs
SEPTEMBER 21, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mostafa Shafiei executed in Rajai Shahr Prison on September 22
For murder
SEPTEMBER 20, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Unidentified Afghan man executed in Taybad Prison on September 20
At least 75 executed on drug-related charges in Iran in 2021
- SEPTEMBER 15, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 5 Men Executed in Rajai Shahr Prison on September 15
Unidentified
SEPTEMBER 15, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Farshid Rakhshanirad Executed in Birjand on September 15
For drug-related charges
SEPTEMBER 13, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Yasser Mangouri is confirmed to have died in custody
A Kurdish political prisoner
SEPTEMBER 13, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hossein Gholampour executed in Qom Prison on September 13
Execution n. 240 since the beginning of the year
- SEPTEMBER 13, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A man named Jafar was recently executed in Rajai Shahr Prison
AKA Gohardasht Central Prison, in Gohardasht, near Karaj
- SEPTEMBER 11, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Adham Maksani executed in Iranshahr Prison on September 11
For murder
- SEPTEMBER 8, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Three men executed in Rajai Shahr Prison on September 8
For murder
SEPTEMBER 8, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ali Mardan Boland Gerami was executed in Yasuj Prison on September 8
Sentenced for murder through a qassameh ceremony
SEPTEMBER 8, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 3 women hanged in Gohardasht Prison on September 8
121 women executed in Iran since 2013
- SEPTEMBER 8, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Ali Morad and Heibat Rouzbi executed on September 8 in Taybad Prison
For drug-related charges
SEPTEMBER 8, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 5 Death Sentences Commuted to Prison Terms
For drug-related charges
SEPTEMBER 5, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Prisoner only named as Nouramad executed in Mashhad Prison on September 5
For murder
SEPTEMBER 5, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Karamat executed in Vakilabad Prison on September 5
For murder
SEPTEMBER 1, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Yasin Rezaeipour, 70th Person Executed on Drug Charges in 2021
SEPTEMBER 1, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mohammad Sadeghzadeh executed in Ardabil Prison on September 1
For murder
AUGUST 31, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hadi Attazadeh tortured and murdered in Ahar prison
On August 31, 2021
AUGUST 28, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mansour Kahrazehi Executed in Zahedan Prison on August 28
For murder
AUGUST 24, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Amir Ali Hosseini executed at Qom Prison on August 24
For murder
AUGUST 15, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - IHR Strongly Condemns Arrest of 7 Lawyers and Civil Activists
AUGUST 11, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Unidentified man executed in Esfarayen
Date unknown
AUGUST 9, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Esmail Soltan-Abadi executed in Kermanshah Prison on August 9
IHR obtained information on October 8
AUGUST 9, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ebrahim Ghanbarzehi and Nabi Notizehi executed in Kerman Prison on August 9
On drug charges
AUGUST 9, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Afshar Minayi executed in Kermanshah Prison on August 9
For murder
AUGUST 9, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Zabiollah Hormozi executed in Mashhad Prison on August 9
At least 81 people executed on drug charges in 2021
AUGUST 8, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mohammad Hassani-Kiazehi executed in Isfahan Prison on August 8
On drug-related charges