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
- JANUARY 26, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Sobhan Karimi was hanged at the prison of Zanjan on January 26
IRAN - Sobhan Karimi was hanged at the prison of Zanjan on January 26
- JANUARY 23, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Isa Zamin Gerefteh, known as “the Crocodile of the Persian Gulf”, hanged in an unknown prison on January 23.
IRAN - Isa Zamin Gerefteh, known as “the Crocodile of the Persian Gulf”, hanged in an unknown prison on January 23.
- JANUARY 23, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Isa Bashgardi was hanged in the prison of Minab on January 23
IRAN - Isa Bashgardi was hanged in the prison of Minab on January 23
- JANUARY 23, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Urmia: Three Death Row Prisoners Taken Back to Ward.
IRAN - Urmia: Three Death Row Prisoners Taken Back to Ward.
- JANUARY 23, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Massih Hatami hanged on January 23, at the prison of Bandar Abbas.
IRAN - Massih Hatami hanged on January 23, at the prison of Bandar Abbas.
- JANUARY 23, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Javad Alilou was hanged on January 23, at the prison of Bandar Abbas.
IRAN - Javad Alilou was hanged on January 23, at the prison of Bandar Abbas.
- JANUARY 21, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Bayram Gholikhani was hanged at Tabriz Prison on January 21
IRAN - Bayram Gholikhani was hanged at Tabriz Prison on January 21
- JANUARY 20, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Raman Mohammad Amini was hanged in Tohid Prison (Bandar Abbas) on January 20.
IRAN - Raman Mohammad Amini was hanged in Tohid Prison (Bandar Abbas) on January 20.
- JANUARY 20, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Sarollah Mirshekari hanged in Shiraz on January 20
IRAN - Sarollah Mirshekari hanged in Shiraz on January 20
JANUARY 20, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - List of 106 women executed under Rouhani
IRAN - List of 106 women executed under Rouhani
JANUARY 16, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Two men (Heshmat Sheikhani + unk) were hanged on January 16 at the prison of Borujerd
IRAN - Two men (Heshmat Sheikhani + unk) were hanged on January 16 at the prison of Borujerd
JANUARY 15, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Two brothers, Darioush and Danesh Darvishpour, executed on January 15, at Urmia.
IRAN - Two brothers, Darioush and Danesh Darvishpour, executed on January 15, at Urmia.
- JANUARY 14, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A man (not identified) was hanged at Vakilabad prison on January 14, 2020
IRAN - A man (not identified) was hanged at Vakilabad prison on January 14, 2020
JANUARY 14, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - A woman, Sara M., executed in in Vakilabad Prison, maybe on Jan. 14
IRAN - A woman, Sara M., executed in in Vakilabad Prison, maybe on Jan. 14
JANUARY 14, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - A woman, Maliheh Haji Hassani, was executed on January 14 in Adelabad Prison
IRAN - A woman, Maliheh Haji Hassani, was executed on January 14 in Adelabad Prison
- JANUARY 12, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A prisoner, identified only as M. P., was hanged in the prison of the city of Amol on January 12
IRAN - A prisoner, identified only as M. P., was hanged in the prison of the city of Amol on January 12
JANUARY 12, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Iran. 12 January 2020, second consecutive day of people's protests
IRAN - Iran. 12 January 2020, second consecutive day of people's protests
- JANUARY 12, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A man, identified only as Omid D. hanged at Vakilabad prison on January 12
IRAN - A man, identified only as Omid D. hanged at Vakilabad prison on January 12
- JANUARY 10, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - The 702 victims of the “November riots” identified by PMOI / MEK as of January 6, 2020
IRAN - The 702 victims of the “November riots” identified by PMOI / MEK as of January 6, 2020
- JANUARY 10, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - The 702 victims of the “November riots” identified by PMOI / MEK as of January 6, 2020
IRAN - The 702 victims of the “November riots” identified by PMOI / MEK as of January 6, 2020
- JANUARY 9, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A prisoner, identified only as M.C., was reportedly hanged on January 9
IRAN - A prisoner, identified only as M.C., was reportedly hanged on January 9
JANUARY 8, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - A man, identified only as Saman, was executed at Rajaii Shahr Prison on 8 January
IRAN - A man, identified only as Saman, was executed at Rajaii Shahr Prison on 8 January
- JANUARY 6, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Day 53 of Iran Protests: 703 of the Victims Have so Far Been Identified.
IRAN - Day 53 of Iran Protests: 703 of the Victims Have so Far Been Identified.
- JANUARY 6, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Ali Ashouri was executed at Isfahan Prison on January 6, 2020
IRAN - Ali Ashouri was executed at Isfahan Prison on January 6, 2020
- JANUARY 5, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Report: 79 Kurdish Border Porters (Kolbari) Died, 165 Injured in 2019.
IRAN - Report: 79 Kurdish Border Porters (Kolbari) Died, 165 Injured in 2019.
- JANUARY 5, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - At least 400 women fell for freedom during Iran protests in November 2019. List of 54 names identified.
IRAN - At least 400 women fell for freedom during Iran protests in November 2019. List of 54 names identified.
- JANUARY 2, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 29 more names of martyrs, bringing the number of those identified to 644
IRAN - 29 more names of martyrs, bringing the number of those identified to 644
- JANUARY 1, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
In accordance with Article 4 of the Iranian Constitution...
In accordance with Article 4 of the Iranian Constitution...
- JANUARY 1, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - The execution of a juvenile offender was postponed for a month.
IRAN - The execution of a juvenile offender was postponed for a month.
- JANUARY 1, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 8 men executed at Rajai-Shahr prison on January 1
IRAN - 8 men executed at Rajai-Shahr prison on January 1