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 1, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - January 1, 2020 marks the 48th day since the Iran protests began.
IRAN - January 1, 2020 marks the 48th day since the Iran protests began.
- DECEMBER 29, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - As of December 29, 615 victims of the "November riots" identified
IRAN - As of December 29, 615 victims of the "November riots" identified
- DECEMBER 29, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - The age of sex workers in Iran reached 12-year-olds.
IRAN - The age of sex workers in Iran reached 12-year-olds.
DECEMBER 29, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Kurd political prisoner Houshmand Alipour sentenced to death
IRAN - Kurd political prisoner Houshmand Alipour sentenced to death
DECEMBER 25, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - A man, not identified, hanged at the prison of Sirjan on December 25
IRAN - A man, not identified, hanged at the prison of Sirjan on December 25
- DECEMBER 25, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - As of Dec. 25, identified the names of 601 victims of the "november uprising"
IRAN - As of Dec. 25, identified the names of 601 victims of the "november uprising"
- DECEMBER 25, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - As of Dec. 25, 400 women killed in the "November uprising". The names of 35.
IRAN - As of Dec. 25, 400 women killed in the "November uprising". The names of 35.
- DECEMBER 25, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 48 Cases of Child Brides Under the age of 13 Registered in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province
IRAN - 48 Cases of Child Brides Under the age of 13 Registered in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province
- DECEMBER 25, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mohammad Ali Aramesh hanged at the prison of Zanjan city on December 25.
IRAN - Mohammad Ali Aramesh hanged at the prison of Zanjan city on December 25.
DECEMBER 25, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Elimination of death penalty for juveniles under 18 is not on the agenda.
IRAN - Elimination of death penalty for juveniles under 18 is not on the agenda.
- DECEMBER 22, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - The identities of two women hanged in Raja’i Shahr on December 4, 2019, have been confirmed.
IRAN - The identities of two women hanged in Raja’i Shahr on December 4, 2019, have been confirmed.
- DECEMBER 18, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - The names of 30 women killed so far during the "November protests"
IRAN - The names of 30 women killed so far during the "November protests"
DECEMBER 18, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - A woman, Eshrat Nazari, was hanged in Raja’i Shahr prison on December 18.
IRAN - A woman, Eshrat Nazari, was hanged in Raja’i Shahr prison on December 18.
- DECEMBER 18, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - UN General Assembly censures Tehran regime for rights abuses.
IRAN - UN General Assembly censures Tehran regime for rights abuses.
- DECEMBER 18, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 134 Nobel prizes for Ahmadreza Djalali
IRAN - 134 Nobel prizes for Ahmadreza Djalali
- DECEMBER 18, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - An unidentified man was hanged in Raja'i Shahr prison on 18 December.
IRAN - An unidentified man was hanged in Raja'i Shahr prison on 18 December.
- DECEMBER 18, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Farzad Saifpanahi executed in the central prison of Sanandaj on December 18.
IRAN - Farzad Saifpanahi executed in the central prison of Sanandaj on December 18.
- DECEMBER 16, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Over 1,500 protesters killed during the protests in November
IRAN - Over 1,500 protesters killed during the protests in November
- DECEMBER 15, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Government Attempts for Recording Name of Dead Protesters at Martyr Foundation.
IRAN - Government Attempts for Recording Name of Dead Protesters at Martyr Foundation.
- DECEMBER 15, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Davoud Shams executed at the central prison of Bandar Abbas on December 15.
IRAN - Davoud Shams executed at the central prison of Bandar Abbas on December 15.
- DECEMBER 14, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Iran protests 2019, day 30: Names of 457 victims published.
IRAN - Iran protests 2019, day 30: Names of 457 victims published.
- DECEMBER 12, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Manuchehr Iranshahi was executed on December 12 in Raja’i Shahr Prison of Karaj.
IRAN - Manuchehr Iranshahi was executed on December 12 in Raja’i Shahr Prison of Karaj.
DECEMBER 10, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Naeim hanged at the prison of Vakilabad on December 10
IRAN - Naeim hanged at the prison of Vakilabad on December 10
- DECEMBER 9, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Two prisoners, not identified, were executed at Kashan prison on December 9.
IRAN - Two prisoners, not identified, were executed at Kashan prison on December 9.
- DECEMBER 9, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 5 Kurdish citizens executed in prison of Dizel Abad in Kermanshah on December 9.
IRAN - 5 Kurdish citizens executed in prison of Dizel Abad in Kermanshah on December 9.
DECEMBER 9, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Fatemeh R., a woman and a minor, was hanged in Raja’i Shahr Prison of Karaj.
IRAN - Fatemeh R., a woman and a minor, was hanged in Raja’i Shahr Prison of Karaj.
- DECEMBER 9, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Arsalan Yarivand hanged at the prison of Borujerd on December 9.
IRAN - Arsalan Yarivand hanged at the prison of Borujerd on December 9.
DECEMBER 8, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Wife and husband hanged at Vakilabad prison in Mashhad
IRAN - Wife and husband hanged at Vakilabad prison in Mashhad
- DECEMBER 7, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Supreme Court upholds death sentence for man who "insulted" Muhammad in Telegram
IRAN - Supreme Court upholds death sentence for man who "insulted" Muhammad in Telegram
- DECEMBER 5, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Abdossatar Dehmordeh hanged at the prison of Yazd on December 5
IRAN - Abdossatar Dehmordeh hanged at the prison of Yazd on December 5