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
DECEMBER 15, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Government Attempts for Recording Name of Dead Protesters at Martyr Foundation.
IRAN - Government Attempts for Recording Name of Dead Protesters at Martyr Foundation.
- DECEMBER 14, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Iran protests 2019, day 30: Names of 457 victims published.
IRAN - Iran protests 2019, day 30: Names of 457 victims published.
- DECEMBER 12, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Manuchehr Iranshahi was executed on December 12 in Raja’i Shahr Prison of Karaj.
IRAN - Manuchehr Iranshahi was executed on December 12 in Raja’i Shahr Prison of Karaj.
DECEMBER 12, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SEVEN PRISONERS HANGED IN KERMANSHAH, KASHAN
Seven prisoners were hanged on 9 December 2019 in two different Iranian cities.
DECEMBER 10, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Naeim hanged at the prison of Vakilabad on December 10
IRAN - Naeim hanged at the prison of Vakilabad on December 10
DECEMBER 10, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR ‘INSULTING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM’
Iran’s Supreme Court upholds an inferior court’s death sentence for a 39-year-old man for insulting Muhammad, the prophet of Islam in a social media platform.
- DECEMBER 9, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Two prisoners, not identified, were executed at Kashan prison on December 9.
IRAN - Two prisoners, not identified, were executed at Kashan prison on December 9.
- DECEMBER 9, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 5 Kurdish citizens executed in prison of Dizel Abad in Kermanshah on December 9.
IRAN - 5 Kurdish citizens executed in prison of Dizel Abad in Kermanshah on December 9.
DECEMBER 9, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Fatemeh R., a woman and a minor, was hanged in Raja’i Shahr Prison of Karaj.
IRAN - Fatemeh R., a woman and a minor, was hanged in Raja’i Shahr Prison of Karaj.
- DECEMBER 9, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Arsalan Yarivand hanged at the prison of Borujerd on December 9.
IRAN - Arsalan Yarivand hanged at the prison of Borujerd on December 9.
DECEMBER 8, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Wife and husband hanged at Vakilabad prison in Mashhad
IRAN - Wife and husband hanged at Vakilabad prison in Mashhad
- DECEMBER 7, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Supreme Court upholds death sentence for man who "insulted" Muhammad in Telegram
IRAN - Supreme Court upholds death sentence for man who "insulted" Muhammad in Telegram
- DECEMBER 5, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Abdossatar Dehmordeh hanged at the prison of Yazd on December 5
IRAN - Abdossatar Dehmordeh hanged at the prison of Yazd on December 5
DECEMBER 5, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ali Golmohammadi executed at Rajai-Shahr prison on December 4.
IRAN - Ali Golmohammadi executed at Rajai-Shahr prison on December 4.
DECEMBER 5, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: WOMAN EXECUTED FOR KILLING ‘ATTEMPTED RAPIST’
In the morning of 4 December 2019, Somayyeh Shahbazi Jahrouii, 33, was hanged in Ahvaz Prison (Karoon (Karoun) or Sepidar Prison), in Ahvaz, Khuzestan Province.
- DECEMBER 4, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A woman, Somayyeh Shahbazi Jahrouii, was hanged in Sepidar Prison on December 4.
IRAN - A woman, Somayyeh Shahbazi Jahrouii, was hanged in Sepidar Prison on December 4.
DECEMBER 4, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ali Mahmoudpour and Morteza Ashrafi were hanged at Urmia prison on December 4.
IRAN - Ali Mahmoudpour and Morteza Ashrafi were hanged at Urmia prison on December 4.
- DECEMBER 4, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Elias Notizehi hanged at the prison of Zahedan on December 4.
IRAN - Elias Notizehi hanged at the prison of Zahedan on December 4.
DECEMBER 4, 2019ItalyDEATH PENALTYIRAN - HoC and Italian Lawmakers Urge Support for Iran Protests.
IRAN - HoC and Italian Lawmakers Urge Support for Iran Protests.
- DECEMBER 4, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Maybe 2 women hanged on December 4, 2019, in Raja’i Shahr Prison
IRAN - Maybe 2 women hanged on December 4, 2019, in Raja’i Shahr Prison
DECEMBER 3, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Naser Ilghami hanged at Tabriz Central Prison on December 3.
IRAN - Naser Ilghami hanged at Tabriz Central Prison on December 3.
- DECEMBER 3, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - As of Dec. 3, Death Toll Of Iran Protests Surpasses 1,000; Names of 221 Slain Protesters.
IRAN - As of Dec. 3, Death Toll Of Iran Protests Surpasses 1,000; Names of 221 Slain Protesters.
DECEMBER 3, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Joint Letter Of Nobel Laureates To The United Nations Secretary-General
IRAN - Joint Letter Of Nobel Laureates To The United Nations Secretary-General
DECEMBER 3, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN EXECUTED AT BIRJAND PRISON FOR DRUG CHARGES
According to Baluchi Activists Campaign, on the morning of 24 November 2019, Mohammad Dabir was executed at Birjand prison for drug charges.
- NOVEMBER 30, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Press Conference In The Italian Parliament
IRAN - Press Conference In The Italian Parliament
NOVEMBER 30, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Quran Expert Recommends Torturing Arrested Protesters
IRAN - Quran Expert Recommends Torturing Arrested Protesters
- NOVEMBER 28, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Unknown man hanged, maybe in public, in Kerman city on November 28
IRAN - Unknown man hanged, maybe in public, in Kerman city on November 28
- NOVEMBER 28, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Salbi Marandi, 80, received 70 lashes before being sent to prison.
IRAN - Salbi Marandi, 80, received 70 lashes before being sent to prison.
- NOVEMBER 28, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Unidentified man executed in Kerman city on November 28
IRAN - Unidentified man executed in Kerman city on November 28
NOVEMBER 28, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 4 iranian lawyers awarded for Human Rights commitment