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
JULY 12, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: A PRISONER HANGED AT KHOY PRISON
A prisoner was executed on murder charges at Khoy Prison in the morning
- JULY 10, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN PUBLICLY FLOGS YOUNG MAN FOR DRINKING ALCOHOL
A young man was publicly flogged in eastern city of Kashmar, in Razavi Khorasan Province, the state-run Young Journalist Club website reported.
- JULY 7, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN EXECUTES 8 ISIS FIGHTERS OVER 2017 ATTACK ON PARLIAMENT
Iran said it executed eight people convicted in the 2017 Islamic State group attack on parliament and the shrine of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in Tehran.
JULY 7, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: AFGHAN NATIONAL HANGED IN ZAHEDAN
According to HRANA news agency, on the morning a prisoner was hanged at Zahedan Central Prison on murder charges.
- JULY 7, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mousa Ghazanfar Abadi executed
IRAN - Mousa Ghazanfar Abadi executed
JULY 5, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER EXECUTED IN MAZANDARAN PROVINCE
According to ILNA news agency, a prisoner identified as A. M., son of Seyyed Ne'mat, was executed in Mazandaran Province.
JULY 4, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: WOMAN HANGED IN THE CENTRAL PRISON OF ORUMIEH
A woman was hanged at dawn in the Central Prison of Orumieh along with two other male prisoners. The identity of the executed woman has not been made available, yet.
- JULY 3, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN REDUCES DEATH PENALTY, LIFE SENTENCE AGAINST 1700 DRUG CONVICTS
Abbas Jafari-Dolatabadi, the Tehran prosecutor general, announced that 1,700 sentences of narcotic-related cases have been commuted from capital punishment and life sentence to less severe forms of punishment.
JULY 3, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN EXECUTED IN TABRIZ
According to a close source, on the morning a prisoner was executed at Tabriz Central Prison.
JUNE 30, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO EXECUTED ON MURDER CHARGES
According to a close source, on the morning 2 prisoners were executed at Gorgan Prison on murder charges.
- JUNE 27, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED IN KARAJ
According to a close source, on the morning two prisoners were executed at Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj.
JUNE 27, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: JUVENILE OFFENDER EXECUTED
According to Amnesty International sources, Abolfazl Chazani Sharahi, a juvenile offender charged with murder at the age of 15, was executed at Qom Central Prison.
- JUNE 26, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: A PRISONER HANGED ON MURDER CHARGES AT TABRIZ CENTRAL PRISON
A prisoner was executed on murder charge at Tabriz central prison this morning.
JUNE 20, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER EXECUTED AT SHIRVAN PRISON
A prisoner was hanged at Shirvan Prison in Northern Khorasan Province.
- JUNE 18, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN HANGS SUFI OVER KILLING OF 3 POLICEMEN
Iran has executed a member of a Sufi order who rammed a bus into police as they tried to disperse a rally, killing three of them.
JUNE 18, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE PRISONERS EXECUTED
Five prisoners who were sentenced to death on murder charges were hanged at Rajai Shahr Prison.
JUNE 15, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - BILL FOR COLLECTIVE PARDONS
OF POLITICAL PRISONERS
- JUNE 11, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 8 SEATH SENTENCES
FOR DAESH MEMBERS
- JUNE 7, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
POSSIBLE DEATH SENTENCE FOR HAMIDREZA AMINI
PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE
- JUNE 6, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. 2 DEATH SENTENCES
MAZIAR AND FARID SENTENCED
- MAY 29, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN DRUG EXECUTIONS FALL BY 99% FOLLOWING LEGAL AMENDMENT
The implementation of the death penalty for drug offences has all but ended in Iran, although human rights advocates continue to express concern at the judicial system’s response to drugs.
- MAY 16, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN HANGED AT ARDABIL CENTRAL PRISON ON MURDER CHARGES
According to a close source, on the morning a prisoner was hanged at Ardabil Central Prison on murder charges.
- MAY 15, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 2 PUBLIC EXECUTIONS
MAY 14, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR EXECUTIONS IN THE CITIES OF ILAM, ZAHEDAN AND URMIA
Four prisoners were executed in the cities of Ilam, Zahedan and Urmia. All of the prisoners were found guilty of murder.
MAY 13, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 8 DAESH MEMBERS GET DEATH PENALTY
An Iranian court sentenced eight Daesh members to death over a 2017 attack on the Iranian parliament, a judicial official said.
MAY 13, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN PUBLIC
- MAY 13, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN ISFAHAN
According to IHR sources, on the morning a prisoner was hanged at Isfahan Central Prison.
- MAY 12, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO HANGED AT GORGAN CENTRAL PRISON FOR 'WAGING WAR AGAINST GOD'
According to a report by IRIB News Agency, on the morning two prisoners were executed at Gorgan Central Prison.
- MAY 9, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER HANGED AT RAJAI SHAHR PRISON
According to a close source, on the morning a prisoner was executed at Rajai Shahr Prison. The prisoner, charged with murder, was identified as Reza Hamidi.
- MAY 5, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN BABOL PRISON
According to Rokna news agency, a prisoner was hanged on the morning at Babol Prison on murder charges.