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
- NOVEMBER 8, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A man, identified only as Mehrdad, was executed on 8 November in Mashhad prison.
IRAN - A man, identified only as Mehrdad, was executed on 8 November in Mashhad prison.
- NOVEMBER 8, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Ramadan A. reportedly hanged on November 8
IRAN - Ramadan A. reportedly hanged on November 8
NOVEMBER 8, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 2 Young Men Flogged in Public For Theft.
IRAN - 2 Young Men Flogged in Public For Theft.
- NOVEMBER 8, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: NASRIN SOTOUDEH 'TEMPORARILY' RELEASED AMID HEALTH CONCERNS
Nasrin Sotoudeh, an Iranian human rights lawyer jailed on spying and propaganda charges, has been temporarily released from prison.
NOVEMBER 7, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Nasrin Sotoudeh 'Temporarily' Released Amid Health Concerns
IRAN - Nasrin Sotoudeh 'Temporarily' Released Amid Health Concerns
NOVEMBER 7, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Unidentified man executed on November 7 at Mashhad Central Prison.
IRAN - Unidentified man executed on November 7 at Mashhad Central Prison.
NOVEMBER 7, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Iranian political prisoners are being “systematically starved”
IRAN - Iranian political prisoners are being “systematically starved”
NOVEMBER 3, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Still on the 4 executions carried out in Urmia on 29 October.
IRAN - Still on the 4 executions carried out in Urmia on 29 October.
- NOVEMBER 3, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 19-YEAR-OLD PRISONER EXECUTED IN RAJAI SHAHR PRISON
According to semi-official news website Javan Online, a prisoner sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder was executed in recent days in Rajai Shahr Prison, IHR reported on 29 October 2020.
NOVEMBER 1, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Heydar Ali Mohammadian executed at Yazd Central Prison on November 1
IRAN - Heydar Ali Mohammadian executed at Yazd Central Prison on November 1
NOVEMBER 1, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Jafar Hassani executed in Rasht Central Prison on November 1.
IRAN - Jafar Hassani executed in Rasht Central Prison on November 1.
NOVEMBER 1, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Habib Alaswad extradited from Turkey.
IRAN - Habib Alaswad extradited from Turkey.
OCTOBER 29, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Peyman executed in Rajai Shahr
IRAN - Peyman executed in Rajai Shahr
- OCTOBER 29, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Four prisoners executed in Urmia on October 29, 2020, and one committed suicide.
IRAN - Four prisoners executed in Urmia on October 29, 2020, and one committed suicide.
- OCTOBER 29, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Four Prisoners Hanged at Orumiyeh Central Prison (Urmia).
IRAN - Four Prisoners Hanged at Orumiyeh Central Prison (Urmia).
- OCTOBER 28, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A man, identified only as Meysam, was executed on October 28 in Gohardasht (Rajai Shahr) prison.
IRAN - A man, identified only as Meysam, was executed on October 28 in Gohardasht (Rajai Shahr) prison.
OCTOBER 28, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hadi Hosseini executed at Ardabil Central Prison on October 28.
IRAN - Hadi Hosseini executed at Ardabil Central Prison on October 28.
OCTOBER 28, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Coronavirus: One person dies of COVID-19 in Iran every three minutes
IRAN - Coronavirus: One person dies of COVID-19 in Iran every three minutes
- OCTOBER 28, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - According to PMOI/MEK, on October 28, 2020 the Coronavirus death toll passed 135,300
IRAN - According to PMOI/MEK, on October 28, 2020 the Coronavirus death toll passed 135,300
OCTOBER 28, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ehsan Nemati was executed in Karaj Central Prison on October 28. The torture of interrupted executions
IRAN - Ehsan Nemati was executed in Karaj Central Prison on October 28. The torture of interrupted executions
- OCTOBER 28, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER EXECUTED IN SANANDAJ CENTRAL PRISON FOR MURDER
According to Iran Human Rights, a prisoner was executed on 21 October 2020 morning in Sanandaj Central Prison.
OCTOBER 26, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Women’s Images Removed From Graveyards.
IRAN - Women’s Images Removed From Graveyards.
OCTOBER 26, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Peyman Safaei executed at Aligudarz Central Prison on October 26.
IRAN - Peyman Safaei executed at Aligudarz Central Prison on October 26.
OCTOBER 26, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - United Nations Third Committee Interactive Dialogue on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran
IRAN - United Nations Third Committee Interactive Dialogue on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran
OCTOBER 26, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - The manager of Iran’s main video-sharing platform sentenced to 10 years
IRAN - The manager of Iran’s main video-sharing platform sentenced to 10 years
- OCTOBER 24, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Six More Inmates Commit Suicide in Urmia.
IRAN - Six More Inmates Commit Suicide in Urmia.
- OCTOBER 24, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: CHRISTIAN CONVERT LASHED 80 TIMES FOR DRINKING COMMUNION WINE
Christian convert Mohammad Reza Omidi on 14 October 2020 was lashed 80 times for drinking communion wine. The sentence was carried out at the Prosecutor’s Office of Rasht.
- OCTOBER 21, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Shahram Takhsha has been executed in Sanandaj Central Prison on October 21.
IRAN - Shahram Takhsha has been executed in Sanandaj Central Prison on October 21.
OCTOBER 20, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - The death sentence of Barzan Nasrollahzadeh has been overturned
IRAN - The death sentence of Barzan Nasrollahzadeh has been overturned
OCTOBER 20, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - A women bike rider arrested in a street by the moral police in Najaf Abad on October 19, 2020.
IRAN - A women bike rider arrested in a street by the moral police in Najaf Abad on October 19, 2020.