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
- OCTOBER 2, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Four prisoners executed on October 2 at Raja’i Shahr Prison.
IRAN - Four prisoners executed on October 2 at Raja’i Shahr Prison.
- OCTOBER 2, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A man was hanged in public on October 2 in the city of Rasht.
IRAN - A man was hanged in public on October 2 in the city of Rasht.
- OCTOBER 1, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Razgar Zandi was hanged at Sanandaj prison on October 1.
IRAN - Razgar Zandi was hanged at Sanandaj prison on October 1.
- SEPTEMBER 26, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 3 men, Rauf Azadikhah, Shahaboddin Mohammad Pour, and Ebrahim Ahmadi Pour, executed on September 26 at Urmia Prison
IRAN - 3 men, Rauf Azadikhah, Shahaboddin Mohammad Pour, and Ebrahim Ahmadi Pour, executed on September 26 at Urmia Prison
- SEPTEMBER 26, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A woman, Leila Zarafshan, executed on September 26, 2019 in the Central Prison of Sanandaj
IRAN - A woman, Leila Zarafshan, executed on September 26, 2019 in the Central Prison of Sanandaj In the morning of Thursday, September 26, 2019, Leila Zarafshan was hanged in the Central Prison of Sanandaj
- SEPTEMBER 26, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - On September 26, a man was hanged at Isfahan Central Prison
IRAN - On September 26, a man was hanged at Isfahan Central Prison
- SEPTEMBER 26, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Unidentified prisoner hanged in Salmas on Sept. 26.
IRAN - Unidentified prisoner hanged in Salmas on Sept. 26.
- SEPTEMBER 25, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 5 prisoners were hanged on September 25 at Rajai-Shahr prison.
IRAN - 5 prisoners were hanged on September 25 at Rajai-Shahr prison.
- SEPTEMBER 25, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Soltan Fathi Rad executed on September 25 at the Central Prison of Borujerd.
IRAN - Soltan Fathi Rad executed on September 25 at the Central Prison of Borujerd.
- SEPTEMBER 25, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mojtaba Soleimani, Mostafa Bakhti and 4 more executed at Raja’i Shahr prison on September 25
IRAN - Mojtaba Soleimani, Mostafa Bakhti and 4 more executed at Raja’i Shahr prison on September 25
- SEPTEMBER 25, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Unidentified woman hanged at Rajaii Shahr on September 25
IRAN - Unidentified woman hanged at Rajaii Shahr on September 25
- AUGUST 29, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 8 executions in Raja’i Shahr Prison on August 29.
IRAN - 8 executions in Raja’i Shahr Prison on August 29.
- AUGUST 28, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Hamid Reza Derakhshandeh was executed on August 28 in public in the city of Kazeroun.
IRAN - Hamid Reza Derakhshandeh was executed on August 28 in public in the city of Kazeroun.
- AUGUST 27, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Reza Moti, was executed at Tabriz Central Prison on August 27.
IRAN - Reza Moti, was executed at Tabriz Central Prison on August 27.
- AUGUST 27, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Zabihollah Zakari and Valid Ahmad were hanged at Tohid Prison in Bandar Abbas on August 27.
IRAN - Zabihollah Zakari and Valid Ahmad were hanged at Tohid Prison in Bandar Abbas on August 27.
- AUGUST 27, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 20-year-old civil rights activist Saba Kord-Afshari sentenced to 24 years.
IRAN - 20-year-old civil rights activist Saba Kord-Afshari sentenced to 24 years.
- AUGUST 26, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A man, identified only as H., was hanged in public on August 26.
IRAN - A man, identified only as H., was hanged in public on August 26.
- AUGUST 25, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Hojatollah Assadian was hanged on August 25 in Mazandaran province.
IRAN - Hojatollah Assadian was hanged on August 25 in Mazandaran province.
- AUGUST 25, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A man idenfied only as Houshang was hanged on August 25 in Bandar Abbas
IRAN - A man idenfied only as Houshang was hanged on August 25 in Bandar Abbas
- AUGUST 25, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - An unidentified woman was hanged on August 25, 2019 in the Central Prison of Mashhad (Vakilabad)
IRAN - An unidentified woman was hanged on August 25, 2019 in the Central Prison of Mashhad (Vakilabad)
- AUGUST 24, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Civil activists face a new wave of repression
IRAN - Civil activists face a new wave of repression
- AUGUST 23, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 200 Imprisoned Women Protest Inhumane Conditions of Qarchak Prison
IRAN - 200 Imprisoned Women Protest Inhumane Conditions of Qarchak Prison
- AUGUST 21, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Morad Shahsavari was hanged at the prison of Shirvan city on August 21.
IRAN - Morad Shahsavari was hanged at the prison of Shirvan city on August 21.
- AUGUST 21, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Abolhassan Ghorbani was hanged at a prison in the city of Sari on August 21.
IRAN - Abolhassan Ghorbani was hanged at a prison in the city of Sari on August 21.
- AUGUST 21, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on the case of scientist Ahmad Reza Djalali
IRAN - Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on the case of scientist Ahmad Reza Djalali
- AUGUST 18, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Amin Zanganeh was executed at Shiraz prison on August 18.
IRAN - Amin Zanganeh was executed at Shiraz prison on August 18.
- AUGUST 15, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Hashem Mardoudi was executed at the prison of Najafabad city on August 15.
IRAN - Hashem Mardoudi was executed at the prison of Najafabad city on August 15.
- AUGUST 15, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 3 men (Olya Norouzehi, Iman Saravani and Gol-Ahmad Azarnegar) hanged at Zahedan Central Prison on August 15.
IRAN - 3 men (Olya Norouzehi, Iman Saravani and Gol-Ahmad Azarnegar) hanged at Zahedan Central Prison on August 15.
- AUGUST 14, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Karam A. was executed at Mashhad prison on August 14.
IRAN - Karam A. was executed at Mashhad prison on August 14.
- AUGUST 14, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Saeed Khalaj was hanged at Raja’i Shahr on August 14.
IRAN - Saeed Khalaj was hanged at Raja’i Shahr on August 14.