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
- JANUARY 6, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Day 53 of Iran Protests: 703 of the Victims Have so Far Been Identified.
IRAN - Day 53 of Iran Protests: 703 of the Victims Have so Far Been Identified.
- JANUARY 6, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Ali Ashouri was executed at Isfahan Prison on January 6, 2020
IRAN - Ali Ashouri was executed at Isfahan Prison on January 6, 2020
- JANUARY 5, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - At least 400 women fell for freedom during Iran protests in November 2019. List of 54 names identified.
IRAN - At least 400 women fell for freedom during Iran protests in November 2019. List of 54 names identified.
JANUARY 5, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Report: 79 Kurdish Border Porters (Kolbari) Died, 165 Injured in 2019.
IRAN - Report: 79 Kurdish Border Porters (Kolbari) Died, 165 Injured in 2019.
- JANUARY 3, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: EIGHT HANGED IN KARAJ WHILE PROTESTS IN THE COUNTRY CONTINUE
According to Iran Human Rights sources, on the early morning of 1st January 2020, eight men were executed at Karaj city’s Rajai-Shahr prison, near Tehran.
- JANUARY 2, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 29 more names of martyrs, bringing the number of those identified to 644
IRAN - 29 more names of martyrs, bringing the number of those identified to 644
- JANUARY 1, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
In accordance with Article 4 of the Iranian Constitution...
In accordance with Article 4 of the Iranian Constitution...
- JANUARY 1, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - The execution of a juvenile offender was postponed for a month.
IRAN - The execution of a juvenile offender was postponed for a month.
- JANUARY 1, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 8 men executed at Rajai-Shahr prison on January 1
IRAN - 8 men executed at Rajai-Shahr prison on January 1
- 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 20, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - in Geneva UN human rights experts today (20 December 2019) intervened on the "November Protests"
IRAN - in Geneva UN human rights experts today (20 December 2019) intervened on the "November Protests"
- 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 16, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: WOMAN HANGED WITH HER HUSBAND IN THE PRISON OF MASHHAD
A woman by the name of Maryam on 8 December 2019 was hanged with her husband in the Central Prison of Mashhad.
- 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.