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
- 8,610
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 8,610 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 9, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 320 new arrests for "Spreading Rumors about the coronavirus".
IRAN - 320 new arrests for "Spreading Rumors about the coronavirus".
- MAY 9, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 2 Afghan lawmakers say 45 migrants drowned by Iranian guards (see HoC May 2)
IRAN - 2 Afghan lawmakers say 45 migrants drowned by Iranian guards (see HoC May 2)
MAY 9, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Young woman sentenced to have eyes gouged out.
IRAN - Young woman sentenced to have eyes gouged out.
MAY 9, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Payam Derafshan, a lawyer, is sentenced to two years
IRAN - Payam Derafshan, a lawyer, is sentenced to two years
MAY 8, 2020United StatesDEATH PENALTYIRAN - The body of Ali Ajami, Iranian human rights activist, found in Texas on May 6, 2020.
IRAN - The body of Ali Ajami, Iranian human rights activist, found in Texas on May 6, 2020.
- MAY 7, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - More information on Majid Esmaeilzadeh, the juvenile offender executed on April 18, 2020
IRAN - More information on Majid Esmaeilzadeh, the juvenile offender executed on April 18, 2020
- MAY 6, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - IHR Warns of Possible Torture of Two Elite Iranian Students, Ali Younesi and Amir Hossein Moradi.
IRAN - IHR Warns of Possible Torture of Two Elite Iranian Students, Ali Younesi and Amir Hossein Moradi.
- MAY 5, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Officials will not disclose the country's death toll for the last three months
IRAN - Officials will not disclose the country's death toll for the last three months
- MAY 5, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Pressure Increases On Narges Mohammadi, Prominent Rights Defender In Iran Prison.
IRAN - Pressure Increases On Narges Mohammadi, Prominent Rights Defender In Iran Prison.
- MAY 5, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Unidentified man hanged on May 5 at the Gonbad Kavus prison.
IRAN - Unidentified man hanged on May 5 at the Gonbad Kavus prison.
- MAY 5, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - At least 50 women infected with the coronavirus in Sepidar Prison
IRAN - At least 50 women infected with the coronavirus in Sepidar Prison
- MAY 3, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - According to PMOI/MEK, on May 3 Coronavirus Death Toll Exceeds 38,700.
IRAN - According to PMOI/MEK, on May 3 Coronavirus Death Toll Exceeds 38,700.
- MAY 3, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - The former mayor of Tehran, Mohammad Ali Najafi, has paid a "diya" of $650,000
IRAN - The former mayor of Tehran, Mohammad Ali Najafi, has paid a "diya" of $650,000
- MAY 2, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Supreme Court Upholds Cutting the Fingers of Four Inmates
IRAN - Supreme Court Upholds Cutting the Fingers of Four Inmates
- MAY 2, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Likely massacre of migrants by the Iranian border police
IRAN - Likely massacre of migrants by the Iranian border police
- APRIL 30, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Iran Sentences A Popular Instagram Couple In Self-Exile To Jail, Lashes.
IRAN - Iran Sentences A Popular Instagram Couple In Self-Exile To Jail, Lashes.
- APRIL 30, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Soleiman Mirzayi was executed late April in Borujerd.
IRAN - Soleiman Mirzayi was executed late April in Borujerd.
APRIL 30, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Vahed Rostamzadeh was executed in Hamadan Central Prison on April 30.
IRAN - Vahed Rostamzadeh was executed in Hamadan Central Prison on April 30.
- APRIL 29, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - During the first two months of the coronavirus, deaths in Tehran increased by 3,700
IRAN - During the first two months of the coronavirus, deaths in Tehran increased by 3,700
- APRIL 29, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - According to PMOI/MEK, on April 29 Coronavirus Death Toll Exceeds 37,200.
IRAN - According to PMOI/MEK, on April 29 Coronavirus Death Toll Exceeds 37,200.
- APRIL 28, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Zarar Peyghami and Yasser Rasouli hanged on April 28 at Urmia
IRAN - Zarar Peyghami and Yasser Rasouli hanged on April 28 at Urmia
- APRIL 28, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Faegh Sharifi was hanged on April 28, 2020 in Sanandaj prison.
IRAN - Faegh Sharifi was hanged on April 28, 2020 in Sanandaj prison.
- APRIL 28, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 3,600 individuals arrested for "spreading rumors about coronavirus".
IRAN - 3,600 individuals arrested for "spreading rumors about coronavirus".
- APRIL 28, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Two prisoners, not identified, were hanged at Mashhad prison on April 28.
IRAN - Two prisoners, not identified, were hanged at Mashhad prison on April 28.
- APRIL 27, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - According to PMOI/MEK, on April 27 Coronavirus Death Toll Exceeds 36,200.
IRAN - According to PMOI/MEK, on April 27 Coronavirus Death Toll Exceeds 36,200.
- APRIL 27, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Keyvanollah Moradi was executed in Sanandaj Central Prison on April 27, the third day of Ramadan
IRAN - Keyvanollah Moradi was executed in Sanandaj Central Prison on April 27, the third day of Ramadan
- APRIL 24, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Abdul Wahed Faizi and Ramyar (Payam) Mukhles executed on April 24 in Sanandaj Central Prison.
IRAN - Abdul Wahed Faizi and Ramyar (Payam) Mukhles executed on April 24 in Sanandaj Central Prison.
- APRIL 23, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Touraj Morad Hassali executed on April 23 in Dieselabad Prison in Kermanshah
IRAN - Touraj Morad Hassali executed on April 23 in Dieselabad Prison in Kermanshah
- APRIL 23, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - According to PMOI/MEK, on April 23 Coronavirus Death Toll Exceeds 34,200
IRAN - According to PMOI/MEK, on April 23 Coronavirus Death Toll Exceeds 34,200
- APRIL 23, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mohammad Haghighatnejad was hanged at Shiraz prison on April 23.
IRAN - Mohammad Haghighatnejad was hanged at Shiraz prison on April 23.