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
- NOVEMBER 13, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mohamad Rasool Chawlaki hanged on 13 November in Ilam prison.
IRAN - Mohamad Rasool Chawlaki hanged on 13 November in Ilam prison.
NOVEMBER 12, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: OFFICIAL SAYS 15,000 EXECUTED FOR DRUG OFFENSES SINCE 1979
The secretary of a religious watchdog office in Iran has admitted that since the establishment of the Islamic Republic 4 decades ago (1979), the authorities have executed 15,000 people for drug-related crimes.
- NOVEMBER 12, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - UN Human Rights Council Urges Iran Regime to End Torture, Execution of Minors and Discrimination Against Women
IRAN - UN Human Rights Council Urges Iran Regime to End Torture, Execution of Minors and Discrimination Against Women
- NOVEMBER 12, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A prisoner, not identified, was executed on November 12, at Lakan Prison, in Rasht.
IRAN - A prisoner, not identified, was executed on November 12, at Lakan Prison, in Rasht.
- NOVEMBER 12, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Two prisoners, Jassem Heidari and Jamshid Torkashvand, were executed at Tohid Prison (in Bandar Abbas) on November 12.
IRAN - Two prisoners, Jassem Heidari and Jamshid Torkashvand, were executed at Tohid Prison (in Bandar Abbas) on November 12.
- NOVEMBER 11, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Iranian Women Have the Highest Suicide Rate in the Middle East.
IRAN - Iranian Women Have the Highest Suicide Rate in the Middle East.
- NOVEMBER 10, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Hossein Arasteh and Rashed Afrouz hanged on November 10 at Lakan Prison in Rasht
IRAN - Hossein Arasteh and Rashed Afrouz hanged on November 10 at Lakan Prison in Rasht
- NOVEMBER 8, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - The United Nations Human Rights Council discussed the Iran case.
IRAN - The United Nations Human Rights Council discussed the Iran case.
- NOVEMBER 6, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Bagher Azimi was hanged on November 6
IRAN - Bagher Azimi was hanged on November 6
- NOVEMBER 5, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Unidentified man hanged at Ardabil prison on November 5.
IRAN - Unidentified man hanged at Ardabil prison on November 5.
- NOVEMBER 5, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mohammad Doosti hanged on 5 November at Tabriz Central Prison.
IRAN - Mohammad Doosti hanged on 5 November at Tabriz Central Prison.
- NOVEMBER 5, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Karam Sedghi hanged at the central prison of Borujerd city on November 5.
IRAN - Karam Sedghi hanged at the central prison of Borujerd city on November 5.
- NOVEMBER 5, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A former Iranian political prisoner criticizes Western democracies and the United Nations for their inactivity.
IRAN - A former Iranian political prisoner criticizes Western democracies and the United Nations for their inactivity.
- NOVEMBER 4, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Hossein Asgari hanged at Shiraz Central Prison on November 4.
IRAN - Hossein Asgari hanged at Shiraz Central Prison on November 4.
- NOVEMBER 4, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 15,000 Executed In Iran For Drug Offenses Since 1979.
IRAN - 15,000 Executed In Iran For Drug Offenses Since 1979.
- OCTOBER 31, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mehran Ghorbani was hanged in Lakan Prison (aka Rasht Central Prison) on October 31.
IRAN - Mehran Ghorbani was hanged in Lakan Prison (aka Rasht Central Prison) on October 31.
- OCTOBER 31, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A man (not identified) hanged in public in the city of Khomein (or Arak).
IRAN - A man (not identified) hanged in public in the city of Khomein (or Arak).
- OCTOBER 25, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Saeed Mohammadi, a minor at the time of the crime, was hanged in the central prison of Karaj on October 25.
IRAN - Saeed Mohammadi, a minor at the time of the crime, was hanged in the central prison of Karaj on October 25.
- OCTOBER 24, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Defiant Iran Faces Condemnation of Its Human Rights Record on Several Fronts.
IRAN - Defiant Iran Faces Condemnation of Its Human Rights Record on Several Fronts.
- OCTOBER 23, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - UN expert: Iran continues to execute minors, has 90 on death row
IRAN - UN expert: Iran continues to execute minors, has 90 on death row
- OCTOBER 23, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - On Oct. 23 authorities have amputated one hand of a prisoner who was charged with stealing.
IRAN - On Oct. 23 authorities have amputated one hand of a prisoner who was charged with stealing.
- OCTOBER 22, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mojtaba Roshangar Emam and Heidar Mehrshat Hanged at Shiraz Prison on October 22.
IRAN - Mojtaba Roshangar Emam and Heidar Mehrshat Hanged at Shiraz Prison on October 22.
- OCTOBER 17, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Converted Iranian Christian Mahrokh Ghanbari (also Rokhsareh Qanbari), presented herself at Shahid Kachooei Prison
IRAN - Converted Iranian Christian Mahrokh Ghanbari (also Rokhsareh Qanbari), presented herself at Shahid Kachooei Prison
- OCTOBER 15, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Bahman Parvizi was hanged at Zanjan prison on October 15.
IRAN - Bahman Parvizi was hanged at Zanjan prison on October 15.
- OCTOBER 12, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - An unidentified man was hanged on October 12 at the city of Bandar Abbas
IRAN - An unidentified man was hanged on October 12 at the city of Bandar Abbas
- OCTOBER 10, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Alam Karimi was hanged on October 10 at Sanandaj Central Prison
IRAN - Alam Karimi was hanged on October 10 at Sanandaj Central Prison
- OCTOBER 9, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A man, Alireza Mehmandoust, and a woman, were hanged at Rajai-Shahr prison on October 9.
IRAN - A man, Alireza Mehmandoust, and a woman, were hanged at Rajai-Shahr prison on October 9.
OCTOBER 9, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Annual report on the death penalty in Iran.
IRAN - Annual report on the death penalty in Iran.
- OCTOBER 8, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Jahan Agashteh executed at Vakilabad prison on Oct. 8.
IRAN - Jahan Agashteh executed at Vakilabad prison on Oct. 8.
- OCTOBER 6, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Abdolhakim Shahbakhsh and Assadollah Alizehi hanged at the prison of Kerman on Oct. 6.
IRAN - Abdolhakim Shahbakhsh and Assadollah Alizehi hanged at the prison of Kerman on Oct. 6.