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
MAY 17, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ahad Yektavatan and Amir Rezaei tortured to death
At Urmia Central Prison on May 17
MAY 17, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mehran Narouyi executed in Isfahan Prison on May 17
On drug-related charges
- MAY 16, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Amir Bayati executed in Shiraz Prison on May 16
For murder
MAY 16, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Jamal Mohammadi executed in Ilam Prison on May 16
For murder
- MAY 15, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 3 Baluch executed in Ghaen Prison
over the past three months
MAY 15, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Behzad Adl was hanged on May 15 in Adelabad Prison
In Shiraz. For 3 counts of rape.
MAY 15, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ebrahim Raisi nominated for presidential election
He was on the "Death Commission"
MAY 15, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Alimorad Zabiei executed in Qazvin Prison on May 15
For drugs
- MAY 13, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Saba Kord Afshari on hunger strike
Women's right activist
MAY 9, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Sivan Hosseini will be executed at the end of Ramadan
(also written Hossein Sivan)
MAY 4, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Alireza Monfared beheaded by his family
because of his sexual orientation
- MAY 3, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Parviz Barzoo and Shamila Arabzadeh summoned to jail
for converting to Christianity
APRIL 30, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - “Forgiveness”
662 forgiveness cases in 2020, compared to 211 qisas executions
APRIL 27, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - “Show Trials” of Dual Nationals Will Continue Until International Reaction
CHRI urges P5+1 to take stand
APRIL 26, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Nazanin Sentenced to Another Year Behind Bars
British-Iranian hostage Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe
APRIL 26, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Habibullah Sheikh-Hossein executed on April 26
In Sabzevar Prison, on drug charges
- APRIL 24, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN -Seyyed Sadrollah Fazeli Zare is the second man sentenced to death for "insulting the Prophet"
APRIL 24, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 6 men executed in Birjand Prison on April 24
Baluch men sentenced on drug-related charges
APRIL 22, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Two men sentenced to death for insulting the Prophet Muhammad
Only one of the men has been identified: Yousef Mehrad
APRIL 20, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Iran at the bottom of reporters’ freedom
According to Reporters Sans Frontières Iran ranks 174 amid 180
APRIL 18, 2021UkraineDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Unsolved Case of Ukraine’s Flight 752
Downed By Iran’s IRGC
APRIL 17, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Cellmate Describes Torture and Humiliation of Ali Younesi
APRIL 15, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Djalali moved out of solitary
Says Amnesty
APRIL 14, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Death sentence of Arsalan Khodkam commuted to life imprisonment
A Kurdish political prisoner
APRIL 14, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Arsalan Moradi executed on April 13 in Birjand Prison
For drugs
APRIL 13, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Sohrab Masgari executed on April 13
In Gonbad Kavous Prison, for murder
APRIL 12, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Arsalan Zare executed at Shiraz Prison on April 12
For murder
APRIL 12, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mohsen Mahdavian executed at Karaj Prison on April 12, 2021
For murder
APRIL 12, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 3 men executed on April 12
One of them was Ghorban Karimi
APRIL 12, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Council of the EU prolongs and extends sanctions
For gross and systematic violations of human rights