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
JUNE 29, 2020United StatesDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Prosecutor In Iran Claims He Has Issued An Arrest Warrant For Trump.
IRAN - Prosecutor In Iran Claims He Has Issued An Arrest Warrant For Trump.
- JUNE 28, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mohammad Yazdani executed on June 28 in Rajai Shahr prison
IRAN - Mohammad Yazdani executed on June 28 in Rajai Shahr prison
- JUNE 27, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Karim Alizadeh was executed on June 27 in Rajai Shahr prison
IRAN - Karim Alizadeh was executed on June 27 in Rajai Shahr prison
JUNE 27, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Sajjad Sadeghi, a radio presenter, was lashed 74 times on June 27 for disclosing information on corruption of MP
IRAN - Sajjad Sadeghi, a radio presenter, was lashed 74 times on June 27 for disclosing information on corruption of MP
JUNE 26, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Eight more Iranian protesters sentenced to death.
IRAN - Eight more Iranian protesters sentenced to death.
JUNE 26, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: DEATH SENTENCES OF AMIR-HOSSEIN MORADI, SAEED TAMJIDI AND MOHAMMAD RAJABI UPHELD
Iran Human Rights News Agency (HRANA) on 24 June 2020 reported that the Supreme Court of Iran has upheld the death sentences of three young men who were arrested by security forces during the November 2019 protests.
JUNE 24, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - More information on the execution of Hedayat Abdollahpour: he was shot by a firing squad
IRAN - More information on the execution of Hedayat Abdollahpour: he was shot by a firing squad
JUNE 24, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - According to PMOI/MEK, on June 24, the Coronavirus death toll is 60,700.
IRAN - According to PMOI/MEK, on June 24, the Coronavirus death toll is 60,700.
- JUNE 24, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Death sentences of Amir-Hossein Moradi, Saeed Tamjidi and Mohammad Rajabi upheld
IRAN - Death sentences of Amir-Hossein Moradi, Saeed Tamjidi and Mohammad Rajabi upheld
JUNE 23, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF WOMEN IN MASHHAD SUMMONED AND DETAINED FOR REMOVING HIJAB
An Iranian Judiciary official in Razavi Khorasan Province announced that a considerable number of women in Mashhad had been summoned and detained for removing Hijab (the mandatory veil) in their photos posted on social media.
JUNE 22, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: YASSER ABDOLLAHZADEH HANGED AT THE CENTRAL PRISON OF SHIRAZ CITY
A man was hanged on 16 June 2020 at the central prison of Shiraz city for murder.
JUNE 21, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER TORTURED TO DEATH; FAMILY FORCED TO SAY IT WAS CORONAVIRUS
An Iranian prisoner was tortured to death by intelligence officers but his father was forced to sign the death off as coronavirus, according to the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, even though he has tested negative for the disease.
JUNE 19, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Former Iranian corrupted judge was found dead in Romania
IRAN - Former Iranian corrupted judge was found dead in Romania
- JUNE 18, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Somayeh Fathi, 18-year-old, was killed by her brothers and father on June 18 for so-called honour killing
IRAN - Somayeh Fathi, 18-year-old, was killed by her brothers and father on June 18 for so-called honour killing
- JUNE 18, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A prisoner, not identified, was reportedly hanged on June 18
IRAN - A prisoner, not identified, was reportedly hanged on June 18
- JUNE 18, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Seyed Kamal Hosseini tortured to death, but father was forced to sign the death off as coronavirus
IRAN - Seyed Kamal Hosseini tortured to death, but father was forced to sign the death off as coronavirus
JUNE 18, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO MEN HANGED AT MASHHAD PRISON (VAKILABAD)
Two prisoners were hanged at Mashhad prison (Vakilabad) on 9 June 2020.
JUNE 17, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ali Arjangi, who was under 18 at the time of the crime, may be executed shortly.
IRAN - Ali Arjangi, who was under 18 at the time of the crime, may be executed shortly.
- JUNE 17, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - According to PMOI/MEK, on June 17, 2020, Coronavirus death toll is 52,800.
IRAN - According to PMOI/MEK, on June 17, 2020, Coronavirus death toll is 52,800.
JUNE 17, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Omid Hashem-Zehi was executed at Zahedan prison on June 17.
IRAN - Omid Hashem-Zehi was executed at Zahedan prison on June 17.
JUNE 17, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Two more "honor killings" of young women
IRAN - Two more "honor killings" of young women
JUNE 16, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Political prisoner Narges Mohammadi suffers for witnessing execution.
IRAN - Political prisoner Narges Mohammadi suffers for witnessing execution.
- JUNE 16, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Considerable number of women in Mashhad summoned and detained for removing Hijab
IRAN - Considerable number of women in Mashhad summoned and detained for removing Hijab
- JUNE 16, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Yasser Abdollahzadeh hanged on June 16 at the central prison of Shiraz city
IRAN - Yasser Abdollahzadeh hanged on June 16 at the central prison of Shiraz city
JUNE 15, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Iraj Sedighi was hanged at Ardabil prison on June 15.
IRAN - Iraj Sedighi was hanged at Ardabil prison on June 15.
JUNE 15, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE MEN EXECUTED IN ONE DAY AT RAJAI SHAHR PRISON
According to the Iranian newspaper, Hamshahri, five people were executed on 10 June 2020 at Rajai Shahr prison.
JUNE 14, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: RAHIN YOUSEFI HANGED AT ORMIYEH PRISON
On the early morning of 10 June 2020, Rahin Yousefi was hanged at Ormiyeh prison, a reliable source told Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN).
- JUNE 11, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A man was hanged in public in Firuraq on June 11.
IRAN - A man was hanged in public in Firuraq on June 11.
- JUNE 10, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Execution of Mola Nasrollah Narooyi, who was not sentenced to death.
IRAN - Execution of Mola Nasrollah Narooyi, who was not sentenced to death.
- JUNE 10, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Rahin Yousefi hanged at Ormiyeh prison on June 10
IRAN - Rahin Yousefi hanged at Ormiyeh prison on June 10