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
MAY 3, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: VAHED ROSTAMZADEH EXECUTED IN HAMADAN PRISON ON DRUG CHARGES
According to Iran Human Rights sources, Vahed Rostamzadeh who was sentenced to death on “drug” charges, was executed in Hamadan Central Prison on 30 April 2020.
- MAY 2, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Likely massacre of migrants by the Iranian border police
IRAN - Likely massacre of migrants by the Iranian border police
MAY 2, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Supreme Court Upholds Cutting the Fingers of Four Inmates
IRAN - Supreme Court Upholds Cutting the Fingers of Four Inmates
- APRIL 30, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Soleiman Mirzayi was executed late April in Borujerd.
IRAN - Soleiman Mirzayi was executed late April in Borujerd.
- APRIL 30, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Vahed Rostamzadeh was executed in Hamadan Central Prison on April 30.
IRAN - Vahed Rostamzadeh was executed in Hamadan Central Prison on April 30.
APRIL 30, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Iran Sentences A Popular Instagram Couple In Self-Exile To Jail, Lashes.
IRAN - Iran Sentences A Popular Instagram Couple In Self-Exile To Jail, Lashes.
- APRIL 29, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - During the first two months of the coronavirus, deaths in Tehran increased by 3,700
IRAN - During the first two months of the coronavirus, deaths in Tehran increased by 3,700
- APRIL 29, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - According to PMOI/MEK, on April 29 Coronavirus Death Toll Exceeds 37,200.
IRAN - According to PMOI/MEK, on April 29 Coronavirus Death Toll Exceeds 37,200.
APRIL 29, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE PRISONERS EXECUTED FOR MURDER CHARGES
Three prisoners were hanged in Iran on 28 April 2020.
- APRIL 28, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Zarar Peyghami and Yasser Rasouli hanged on April 28 at Urmia
IRAN - Zarar Peyghami and Yasser Rasouli hanged on April 28 at Urmia
- APRIL 28, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Faegh Sharifi was hanged on April 28, 2020 in Sanandaj prison.
IRAN - Faegh Sharifi was hanged on April 28, 2020 in Sanandaj prison.
- APRIL 28, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 3,600 individuals arrested for "spreading rumors about coronavirus".
IRAN - 3,600 individuals arrested for "spreading rumors about coronavirus".
- APRIL 28, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Two prisoners, not identified, were hanged at Mashhad prison on April 28.
IRAN - Two prisoners, not identified, were hanged at Mashhad prison on April 28.
APRIL 27, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - According to PMOI/MEK, on April 27 Coronavirus Death Toll Exceeds 36,200.
IRAN - According to PMOI/MEK, on April 27 Coronavirus Death Toll Exceeds 36,200.
- APRIL 27, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Keyvanollah Moradi was executed in Sanandaj Central Prison on April 27, the third day of Ramadan
IRAN - Keyvanollah Moradi was executed in Sanandaj Central Prison on April 27, the third day of Ramadan
APRIL 26, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 10 PRISONERS QUICKLY HANGED BEFORE RAMADAN
Iran quickly hanged 10 prisoners on 22 April 2020, before Ramadan.
- APRIL 24, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Abdul Wahed Faizi and Ramyar (Payam) Mukhles executed on April 24 in Sanandaj Central Prison.
IRAN - Abdul Wahed Faizi and Ramyar (Payam) Mukhles executed on April 24 in Sanandaj Central Prison.
- APRIL 23, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Touraj Morad Hassali executed on April 23 in Dieselabad Prison in Kermanshah
IRAN - Touraj Morad Hassali executed on April 23 in Dieselabad Prison in Kermanshah
- APRIL 23, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - According to PMOI/MEK, on April 23 Coronavirus Death Toll Exceeds 34,200
IRAN - According to PMOI/MEK, on April 23 Coronavirus Death Toll Exceeds 34,200
- APRIL 23, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mohammad Haghighatnejad was hanged at Shiraz prison on April 23.
IRAN - Mohammad Haghighatnejad was hanged at Shiraz prison on April 23.
- APRIL 23, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Sina Mohammadi, a minor at the time of the murder, was hanged at Sanandaj prison on April 23
IRAN - Sina Mohammadi, a minor at the time of the murder, was hanged at Sanandaj prison on April 23
- APRIL 23, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mowla Mowlaei was hanged at Khalkhal prison on April 23.
IRAN - Mowla Mowlaei was hanged at Khalkhal prison on April 23.
- APRIL 23, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A Baluchi political prisoner, Abdolbaset Dahani, was hanged at Zahedan prison on April 23.
IRAN - A Baluchi political prisoner, Abdolbaset Dahani, was hanged at Zahedan prison on April 23.
APRIL 23, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: POSSIBLE JUVENILE OFFENDER HANGED FOR MURDER
Majid Esmaeilzadeh was hanged on the morning of 18 April 2020 at the central prison of Ardabil.
- APRIL 22, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Onu blasts executions of child offenders
IRAN - Onu blasts executions of child offenders
- APRIL 22, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Iran quickly hangs 10 prisoners before Ramadan.
IRAN - Iran quickly hangs 10 prisoners before Ramadan.
- APRIL 22, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Ali Sheikhani, Mojtaba Haeri and Jamal Jafari-Nasab executed at Isfahan central prison on April 22.
IRAN - Ali Sheikhani, Mojtaba Haeri and Jamal Jafari-Nasab executed at Isfahan central prison on April 22.
APRIL 22, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: JUVENILE OFFENDER SHAYAN SAEEDPOUR EXECUTED
Juvenile offender Shayan Saeedpour was hanged on 21 April 2020 at the prison of Saqqez city, Kurdistan province.
- APRIL 21, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Juvenile offender Shayan Saeedpour was executed this morning, April 21, at the prison of Saqqez city
IRAN - Juvenile offender Shayan Saeedpour was executed this morning, April 21, at the prison of Saqqez city
APRIL 21, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Amnesty International year report
IRAN - Amnesty International year report