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
- FEBRUARY 25, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA - Saudi Arabia sentences 1 to death, 7 to jail in Iran spying case.
SAUDI ARABIA - Saudi Arabia sentences 1 to death, 7 to jail in Iran spying case.
- FEBRUARY 25, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Saudi Arabia sentences 1 to death, 7 to jail in Iran spying case.
IRAN - Saudi Arabia sentences 1 to death, 7 to jail in Iran spying case.
FEBRUARY 24, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE NOVEMBER PROTESTERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
A Revolutionary Court in Tehran has sentenced three people arrested in the heat of anti-government protests last November to death, Radio Farda reported on 23 February 2020.
- FEBRUARY 21, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Amir Hossein Moradi, Saeed Tamjidi, and Mohammad Rajabi sentenced to death
IRAN - Amir Hossein Moradi, Saeed Tamjidi, and Mohammad Rajabi sentenced to death
FEBRUARY 19, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - The UN Special Rapporteur, Javaid Rehman, on the November Protests.
IRAN - The UN Special Rapporteur, Javaid Rehman, on the November Protests.
- FEBRUARY 19, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Two men, Mohammad Cheraghi and Mehrdad, hanged on February 19 at Rajai-Shahr prison
IRAN - Two men, Mohammad Cheraghi and Mehrdad, hanged on February 19 at Rajai-Shahr prison
FEBRUARY 16, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - According to the “2019 Iran Human Rights Monitor Annual Report”, torture and corporal punishment are a common practice in Iran’s prisons.
IRAN - According to the “2019 Iran Human Rights Monitor Annual Report”, torture and corporal punishment are a common practice in Iran’s prisons.
FEBRUARY 13, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hassan Saraei hanged at Isfahan prison on February 13, 2020.
IRAN - Hassan Saraei hanged at Isfahan prison on February 13, 2020.
- FEBRUARY 12, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Hadi Mahi and Sadeq Akbarpour hanged on February 12, 2020 in Adel Abad Prison
IRAN - Hadi Mahi and Sadeq Akbarpour hanged on February 12, 2020 in Adel Abad Prison
- FEBRUARY 12, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Two prisoners, Naeim Zavareh and Ali Dadkhah, hanged on February 12, 2020, at the central prison of Qom
IRAN - Two prisoners, Naeim Zavareh and Ali Dadkhah, hanged on February 12, 2020, at the central prison of Qom
- FEBRUARY 11, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 20 Kurdish prisoners have passed away in Iran's prisons in 2019
IRAN - 20 Kurdish prisoners have passed away in Iran's prisons in 2019
- FEBRUARY 9, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Dozens of detainees of the November protests reportedly have died under torture
IRAN - Dozens of detainees of the November protests reportedly have died under torture
- FEBRUARY 9, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Dozens of detainees of the November protests reportedly have died under torture
IRAN - Dozens of detainees of the November protests reportedly have died under torture
FEBRUARY 6, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Sentences confirmed for three women's rights activists: Yasaman Aryani, Monireh Arabshahi and Mojan Keshavarz
IRAN - Sentences confirmed for three women's rights activists: Yasaman Aryani, Monireh Arabshahi and Mojan Keshavarz
- FEBRUARY 5, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - At least 52 Kurdish citizens have been executed in 2019
IRAN - At least 52 Kurdish citizens have been executed in 2019
- FEBRUARY 5, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Borzu Mohammadi executed in Dizel Abad prison on February 5
IRAN - Borzu Mohammadi executed in Dizel Abad prison on February 5
- FEBRUARY 5, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Three prisoners were hanged on February 5 at Dizel-Abad prison in Kermanshah.
IRAN - Three prisoners were hanged on February 5 at Dizel-Abad prison in Kermanshah.
- FEBRUARY 5, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - At least four people were hanged in Zahedan prison on February 4 and 5
IRAN - At least four people were hanged in Zahedan prison on February 4 and 5
- FEBRUARY 4, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Rouhani Led a Campaign of Lying Regarding Shooting Down of Ukrainian Passenger Jet.
IRAN - Rouhani Led a Campaign of Lying Regarding Shooting Down of Ukrainian Passenger Jet.
- FEBRUARY 4, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Iran to execute Amir Rahimpour, alleged CIA spy
IRAN - Iran to execute Amir Rahimpour, alleged CIA spy
- FEBRUARY 3, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 7 Sunni prisoners sentenced to death.
IRAN - 7 Sunni prisoners sentenced to death.
- FEBRUARY 3, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Human Rights Activists News Agency report on arrests following the November and January protests in Iran
IRAN - Human Rights Activists News Agency report on arrests following the November and January protests in Iran
FEBRUARY 2, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Rasoul Mollahasani executed in Broujerd prison on February 2.
IRAN - Rasoul Mollahasani executed in Broujerd prison on February 2.
- FEBRUARY 2, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - At least three prisoners (Sajjad Zahiri, Nima Gharadaghi and Hossein Pasha) were hanged on February 2, 2020 at Raja’i Shahr.
IRAN - At least three prisoners (Sajjad Zahiri, Nima Gharadaghi and Hossein Pasha) were hanged on February 2, 2020 at Raja’i Shahr.
- FEBRUARY 1, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A tourist was lashed 80 times for drinking alcohol on a tour.
IRAN - A tourist was lashed 80 times for drinking alcohol on a tour.
- FEBRUARY 1, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A prisoner, Mohammad Ameri, was beaten to death on February 1 in Raja’i Shahr Prison
IRAN - A prisoner, Mohammad Ameri, was beaten to death on February 1 in Raja’i Shahr Prison
- JANUARY 30, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mohsen Khojasteh was hanged at Lakan prison, in Rasht, on January 30, 2020.
IRAN - Mohsen Khojasteh was hanged at Lakan prison, in Rasht, on January 30, 2020.
- JANUARY 27, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Peyman Sheikhi hanged in the prison of Raja’i Shahr on January 27.
IRAN - Peyman Sheikhi hanged in the prison of Raja’i Shahr on January 27.
- JANUARY 27, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 2 men, Kh. Gh. and A. Gh., hanged in Chaharmahal Bakhtiari Province on January 27
IRAN - 2 men, Kh. Gh. and A. Gh., hanged in Chaharmahal Bakhtiari Province on January 27
- JANUARY 26, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 5 prisoners were executed at Rajai-Shahr prison on January 26
IRAN - 5 prisoners were executed at Rajai-Shahr prison on January 26