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
- OCTOBER 19, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO BROTHERS SENTENCED TO AMPUTATION OF FOUR FINGERS
Iran’s Supreme Court has sentenced two brothers to have their fingers amputated for stealing, Iran-HRM reported on 8 October 2020.
- OCTOBER 18, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A female prisoner, identified as Zeinab Khodamradi, was reportedly hanged on October 18
IRAN - A female prisoner, identified as Zeinab Khodamradi, was reportedly hanged on October 18
OCTOBER 18, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Execution of Nearly 400 Kurdish Citizens Over the Past Five Years.
IRAN - Execution of Nearly 400 Kurdish Citizens Over the Past Five Years.
OCTOBER 16, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Christian convert Mohammad Reza Omidi lashed 80 times for drinking communion wine.
IRAN - Christian convert Mohammad Reza Omidi lashed 80 times for drinking communion wine.
OCTOBER 15, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Further details on Razieh’s execution in Vakilabad prison on 11 October.
IRAN - Further details on Razieh’s execution in Vakilabad prison on 11 October.
- OCTOBER 15, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: FOUR MEN EXECUTED AT RAJAI SHAHR PRISON
According to Iran Human Rights, four male prisoners were executed in Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj on 13 October 2020.
OCTOBER 13, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Four men were executed at Rajai Shahr Prison on October 13.
IRAN - Four men were executed at Rajai Shahr Prison on October 13.
OCTOBER 13, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mehrshad Barahouyi has been executed at Ghaen Prison on October 13.
IRAN - Mehrshad Barahouyi has been executed at Ghaen Prison on October 13.
- OCTOBER 12, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Survey On Iranians' Attitudes Towards The Death Penalty.
IRAN - Survey On Iranians' Attitudes Towards The Death Penalty.
OCTOBER 12, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Iran must halt execution of Barzan Nasrollahzadeh, a Kurdish arrested as juvenile.
IRAN - Iran must halt execution of Barzan Nasrollahzadeh, a Kurdish arrested as juvenile.
OCTOBER 12, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 30,000 Underage Girls Forcibly Marry Every Year.
IRAN - 30,000 Underage Girls Forcibly Marry Every Year.
- OCTOBER 12, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN SENTENCED TO HAVE FOUR FINGERS AMPUTATED
Iran has sentenced a man to have four fingers amputated as a punishment for stealing, iran-hrm reported on October 4, 2020.
- OCTOBER 11, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A woman, identified only as Razieh, executed on October 11 in the prison of Mashhad.
IRAN - A woman, identified only as Razieh, executed on October 11 in the prison of Mashhad.
OCTOBER 11, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - A man, identified only as Ali, was executed at Vakilabad Prison on October 11.
IRAN - A man, identified only as Ali, was executed at Vakilabad Prison on October 11.
OCTOBER 10, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - IHR: 209 Executions Since Start of 2020 in Iran.
IRAN - IHR: 209 Executions Since Start of 2020 in Iran.
OCTOBER 9, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - HRANA: Death Penalty Report, 256 executions in 12 months
IRAN - HRANA: Death Penalty Report, 256 executions in 12 months
OCTOBER 8, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Narges Mohammadi was released from Zanjan Central Prison
IRAN - Narges Mohammadi was released from Zanjan Central Prison
OCTOBER 8, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Two Brothers Sentenced to Amputation of Four Fingers.
IRAN - Two Brothers Sentenced to Amputation of Four Fingers.
OCTOBER 6, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - ONU: Iran prisons are severely overcrowded.
IRAN - ONU: Iran prisons are severely overcrowded.
- OCTOBER 4, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Nabi Saberi-Lahijani has been executed at Sari Central Prison on October 4.
IRAN - Nabi Saberi-Lahijani has been executed at Sari Central Prison on October 4.
- OCTOBER 4, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Arash Ali Akbari Sentenced to Have Four Fingers Amputated.
IRAN - Arash Ali Akbari Sentenced to Have Four Fingers Amputated.
- OCTOBER 3, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A prisoner, identified as Taher Ghaffari, was reportedly hanged on October 3
IRAN - A prisoner, identified as Taher Ghaffari, was reportedly hanged on October 3
OCTOBER 3, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Fariba Adelkhah Released With Ankle Bracelet.
IRAN - Fariba Adelkhah Released With Ankle Bracelet.
OCTOBER 1, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hooshmand Alipour sentenced to 38 months.
IRAN - Hooshmand Alipour sentenced to 38 months.
- OCTOBER 1, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: JUVENILE OFFENDER ARMAN ABDOLALI SENTENCED TO DEATH DESPITE LACK OF EVIDENCE
Arman Abdolali, who was under 18 years old at the time of committing the alleged murder, has been sentenced to death again by Branch Five of the Tehran Criminal Court despite the victim’s body never being found.
- SEPTEMBER 30, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Saeed Bolouri executed at Aligoudarz Prison on September 30.
IRAN - Saeed Bolouri executed at Aligoudarz Prison on September 30.
- SEPTEMBER 30, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Kaveh Shahrouz (also Shahrouz Kazemi-Noureddinvand) has been executed at Dastgerd Prison on 30 September 2020
IRAN - Kaveh Shahrouz (also Shahrouz Kazemi-Noureddinvand) has been executed at Dastgerd Prison on 30 September 2020
- SEPTEMBER 30, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER EXECUTED AT GONBAD KAVOUS PRISON FOR MURDER
According to the Iran newspaper website, on the morning of 28 September 2020, a man sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) was executed at Gonbad Kavous Prison.
- SEPTEMBER 29, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Twenty suicides recorded in Urmia Central Prison in the past two weeks
IRAN - Twenty suicides recorded in Urmia Central Prison in the past two weeks
- SEPTEMBER 28, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A prisoner, identified as Aref Aminpour, was reportedly hanged on September 28
IRAN - A prisoner, identified as Aref Aminpour, was reportedly hanged on September 28