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
APRIL 12, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 3 men executed at Karaj Central Prison on April 12
Merhdad Jalali, Mohsen Madavian and Ramezan Ali Shahroodi
APRIL 12, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hossein Ramezani executed on April 12
In Qazvin Prison, for murder
- APRIL 11, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Amnesty International has called on Iran to halt the execution of Farhad Salehi Jabehdar
Aentenced to death for the rape of a minor
APRIL 11, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Morteza Kabiri executed in Isfahan Prison on April 11
Convicted of drug charges
APRIL 10, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Bayazid Rashidi executed in Orumiyeh Prison on April 10
For drug related charges
APRIL 9, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 4 men executed in Urmia prison on April 9
They were identified as Mahmoud Bayazid, Ali Mohammadzadeh, Arshad Heydari, and Hamid Najmi.
APRIL 8, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - A.A and K.H. executed in Babol Prison on April 8
For murder
APRIL 8, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Safar Rahimi executed in Taybad Prison on April 8
For drug-related charges
APRIL 7, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Yasser Daryayi-Narouyi executed in Sabzevar Prison on April 7
For drug-related charges
- APRIL 5, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN Hojat Ghaed executed in Zanjan Central Prison on April 5
For murder
APRIL 5, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 12 women on Urmia's death row
they are Kurdish, sentenced for murder
APRIL 4, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 3 Kurdish prisoners executed on April 4 in Urmia Prison
Ahad Habibvand (Nematvand), Sadegh Mohi (Mohemi), and Mohammad Karim Mahmoudi
MARCH 30, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Annual report on the death penalty by Iran Human Rights
At least 267 people were executed in 2020
MARCH 30, 2021SwedenDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Calls to release Swedish-Iranian scientist Djalali
From Sweden and Germany
MARCH 26, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - ‘No to Islamic Republic’
Iran opposition seeks to unify in anti-regime campaign
MARCH 24, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Spreading Justice: A database of human rights abusers in Iran
An HRA initiative
MARCH 23, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - UN adopted new resolution on the situation of human rights in Iran
UN Human Rights Council
MARCH 18, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - UN Human Rights experts demand immediate release of Ahmadreza Djalali
is reportedly in a critical condition and near death
MARCH 15, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Four men executed in Mashhad Prison on March 15
For gang-raping a woman
MARCH 14, 2021United KingdomDEATH PENALTYIRAN - New trial for Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe
Charges of “propaganda against the system”
- MARCH 14, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Nasser Valizadeh executed at Urmia Prison on March 14
For murder
MARCH 14, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Nafiseh Pakmehr, a woman, executed in the Prison of Taybad on March 14
116th woman hanged since Hassan Rouhani became president
MARCH 14, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hossein Akchin executed in Ardabil Prison on March 14
For murder
MARCH 14, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Alireza Ghorbani executed in Shiraz Central Prison on March 14
For murder
- MARCH 14, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Arash Waresi executed at Zanjan prison on March 14
For murder
MARCH 13, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Woman Hanged; Daughter Carried Out the Execution
Maryam Karimi executed in Rasht Prison on March 13
MARCH 11, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ss of March 10, 2021, the death toll from Coronavirus exceeded 229,600
According to PMOI / MEK
MARCH 9, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - UN Report: women second hand citizens
Javaid Rehman, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran
MARCH 8, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Asef Taghinejad executed in Tabriz Prison on March 8
For murder
- MARCH 7, 2021United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Iran frees British-Iranian aid worker Zaghari-Ratcliffe
Her British passport has not been returned to her