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
MARCH 7, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Unk man executed at Rajaee Shahr Prison on March 7
For murder
MARCH 7, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Unidentified man executed at Yasuj Prison on March 7
For murder
- MARCH 6, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Ebrahim Hassani executed at Shahr-e-Kurd Prison on March 7
no other information
MARCH 3, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Farhad Abdullahnejad executed on March 3 in Isfahan
for murder
MARCH 2, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Fatah Hosseini executed in Noshahr Prison on March 2
for murder
MARCH 1, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ahmad Samiee executed at Rasht Prison on March 1
For murder
FEBRUARY 28, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Four Political Prisoners executed in Sepidar Prison on February 28
Naser Khafajian, Ali Khasraji, Hossein Silawi and Jasem Heidary
FEBRUARY 26, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ahmad A’araji executed on February 26 at Irak prison
For murder
- FEBRUARY 26, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Hamed Mostafaei executed in Arak Prison on February 26
for drugs
FEBRUARY 24, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - “Ehsan” Acquitted of Alcohol Consumption
He wes facing death penalty,
- FEBRUARY 23, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Jafar Mansour-Beigi executed at Adelabad Prison on February 23
He was charged with murder
- FEBRUARY 23, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - B. Ahmad hanged on February 23
for murder
FEBRUARY 22, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Behnam Mahjoubi, sentenced to 2 years, died from lack of medical treatment
Mahjoubi was a Gonabadi sufi dervish
FEBRUARY 21, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 73 year-old man facing death penalty for alcohol consumption
after being arrested for the fourth time
- FEBRUARY 20, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mansour Ghazaq hanged on February 20
for murder
FEBRUARY 19, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Zahra Esmaili was already dead when executed
according to her lawyer
- FEBRUARY 17, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 2 more men executed on February 17 at Rajai Shahr Prison
9 executions in one day at Rajai Shahr
- FEBRUARY 17, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 1 woman and 6 men executed in Rajai Shahr Prison on February 17
Only the woman identified: Zahra Esmaili
FEBRUARY 16, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ali Dadfari-Mazandarani executed on February 16 in Boroujerd Prison
For drug crimes
- FEBRUARY 15, 2021TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Iran Denies Citizen Detained In Turkey Is A Consulate Employee
Involved in the murder of a dissident
FEBRUARY 14, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Saeed Ali-Mohammadi executed at Nour Prison on February 14
He was charged with murder
FEBRUARY 13, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Bahavar Tanazi executed at Meshgin Shahr Prison on February 13
Sentenced for murder
FEBRUARY 13, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Jamaluddin Brahui and Mohammad Barahui executed at Birjand prison on February 13
The two Baluchi prisoners were executed on drug related charges
FEBRUARY 13, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mansour Ghazagh executed on February 13 at Birjand Prison
For drug crimes
- FEBRUARY 12, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Another Iranian Diplomat Arrested for Terror
In Turkey, for murder of an Iranian dissident
FEBRUARY 9, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mehrdad Taleshi, 21, Killed in Police Custody
arrested for seven grams of marijuana
FEBRUARY 8, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Saeed Naderi and an unknows female executed in Ardabil Prison on February 8
The woman, 23, may have been a juvenile offender
FEBRUARY 3, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Belgian Court sentenced iranian diplomat Assadollah Assadi to 20 years
for planning to bomb a meeting of the Iranian opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)
FEBRUARY 2, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN Jabbar Nemati executed in Adelabad Prison on February 2
for murder
FEBRUARY 1, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mehran Narouie executed in Isfahan prison on February 1
No information about his charges