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
JUNE 30, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Azim Karimizayi executed in Mashhad Prison on June 30
For drugs
JUNE 30, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mohammad Taher Soleimani executed in Mahabad Prison on June 30
For drugs
JUNE 30, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - A man, identified only as A. A., executed in Mashhad Prison on June 30
For killing his wife
JUNE 29, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Urgent Action To Save Hossein Kheiri
A Political Prisoner Sentenced To Death
JUNE 26, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Raisi must be held accountable for torturing prisoners
On the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
JUNE 26, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ayatollah Khamenei grants clemency to 5,100 prisoners
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
JUNE 26, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hashem Torabi executed in Zahedan Prison on June 26
For murder
JUNE 26, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Abdulhamid Ghanbarzehi and another man executed in Zahedan Prison on June 26
For murder
JUNE 23, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - UN High Commissioner for Human Rights severely criticises Iran
Michelle Bachelet at a session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva
- JUNE 22, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Tehran slams UN report on human rights violations.
Blames US for inspiring it
JUNE 21, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Habib Rezaei executed in Salmas Prison on June 21
For murder
JUNE 20, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ramin Saadat-Beiglou executed in Qazvin Prison on June 20
For murder
JUNE 9, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Unidentified man hanged on June 9
In Rajai Shahr Prison, for murder
JUNE 9, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Bill Targeting Citizen Journalists Passed Parliamentary Judiciary Commission
Spreading inforrmation seen as "espionage"
JUNE 7, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Political Prisoner Sasan Niknafas died in custody
IHR Holds Islamic Republic Leaders Responsible
JUNE 6, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Shahin Mirkhani executed in Shirvan Prison on June 6
For drugs
JUNE 2, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ebrahim Ahmadi executed on 2 June in Tabriz Prison
For murder
MAY 31, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Sexual abuse and harassment systematically to break the will of incarcerated women
May 27 group discussion on the Clubhouse social-media app
MAY 30, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - French tourist Benjamin Berier indicted on espionage charges
Another iranian case of hostage taking
MAY 30, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Yousef and Shamsi Pirostovan (Pir-Ostovan) executed in Qazvin Prison on May 30
118th woman executed during Rouhani’s tenure
MAY 29, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 6 Baluch men executed in Birjand prison have been identified
Probably hanged on May 25, not on April 24
- MAY 25, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Balochistan is no less than Palestine
But no international reaction
MAY 24, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Kianoosh Ali-Moradi and Ahmad Qodrati executed at Isfahan Prison
On narcotic related charges
MAY 23, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - IHR Condemns New Ruling in Trumped-up Case Against Narges Mohammadi
Human rights defender
MAY 23, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - A woman, Kobra Fatemi, hanged in Yazd Prison on May 23
117th woman executed during Hassan Rouhani’s tenure
MAY 23, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Saleh Shariati, Juvenile Offender Sentenced to Death, Acquitted in Court
A "qassameh" case
MAY 21, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - According to PMOI / MEK, as of May 21 the death toll from Coronavirus is 294,800
The regime declared 78,194
MAY 20, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Younes and Abdullah Totazehi executed in Birjand Prison
For drugs
MAY 19, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ghassem B. executed in Mashhad Prison on May 19
For sex crimes
MAY 19, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - A man, only identified as Sajad, executed in Mashhad Prison on May 19
For murder