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
- NOVEMBER 4, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 15,000 Executed In Iran For Drug Offenses Since 1979.
IRAN - 15,000 Executed In Iran For Drug Offenses Since 1979.
NOVEMBER 4, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN HANGED IN PUBLIC FOR KILLING A POLICEMAN
A man (not identified) was hanged in public in the city of Khomein (Markazi province) on 31 October 2019, according to IRIB News.
- OCTOBER 31, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mehran Ghorbani was hanged in Lakan Prison (aka Rasht Central Prison) on October 31.
IRAN - Mehran Ghorbani was hanged in Lakan Prison (aka Rasht Central Prison) on October 31.
- OCTOBER 31, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A man (not identified) hanged in public in the city of Khomein (or Arak).
IRAN - A man (not identified) hanged in public in the city of Khomein (or Arak).
OCTOBER 31, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED FOR MURDER
According to Iran Human Rights sources, on the morning of 22 October 2019, two prisoners were hanged at the central prison of Shiraz city, Fars province.
OCTOBER 29, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN EXECUTED YOUNG MAN SENTENCED AS JUVENILE
Authorities in the central prison of Karaj on 25 October 2019 executed a prisoner for a murder he allegedly committed when he was 16.
- OCTOBER 25, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Saeed Mohammadi, a minor at the time of the crime, was hanged in the central prison of Karaj on October 25.
IRAN - Saeed Mohammadi, a minor at the time of the crime, was hanged in the central prison of Karaj on October 25.
- OCTOBER 24, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Defiant Iran Faces Condemnation of Its Human Rights Record on Several Fronts.
IRAN - Defiant Iran Faces Condemnation of Its Human Rights Record on Several Fronts.
- OCTOBER 23, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - UN expert: Iran continues to execute minors, has 90 on death row
IRAN - UN expert: Iran continues to execute minors, has 90 on death row
- OCTOBER 23, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - On Oct. 23 authorities have amputated one hand of a prisoner who was charged with stealing.
IRAN - On Oct. 23 authorities have amputated one hand of a prisoner who was charged with stealing.
- OCTOBER 22, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mojtaba Roshangar Emam and Heidar Mehrshat Hanged at Shiraz Prison on October 22.
IRAN - Mojtaba Roshangar Emam and Heidar Mehrshat Hanged at Shiraz Prison on October 22.
- OCTOBER 17, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Converted Iranian Christian Mahrokh Ghanbari (also Rokhsareh Qanbari), presented herself at Shahid Kachooei Prison
IRAN - Converted Iranian Christian Mahrokh Ghanbari (also Rokhsareh Qanbari), presented herself at Shahid Kachooei Prison
- OCTOBER 15, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Bahman Parvizi was hanged at Zanjan prison on October 15.
IRAN - Bahman Parvizi was hanged at Zanjan prison on October 15.
- OCTOBER 12, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - An unidentified man was hanged on October 12 at the city of Bandar Abbas
IRAN - An unidentified man was hanged on October 12 at the city of Bandar Abbas
- OCTOBER 11, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: THREE PRISONERS EXECUTED FOR MURDER, DRUG TRAFFICKING
Three prisoners have been hanged recently in Iran in different cases.
- OCTOBER 10, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Alam Karimi was hanged on October 10 at Sanandaj Central Prison
IRAN - Alam Karimi was hanged on October 10 at Sanandaj Central Prison
- OCTOBER 9, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A man, Alireza Mehmandoust, and a woman, were hanged at Rajai-Shahr prison on October 9.
IRAN - A man, Alireza Mehmandoust, and a woman, were hanged at Rajai-Shahr prison on October 9.
OCTOBER 9, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Annual report on the death penalty in Iran.
IRAN - Annual report on the death penalty in Iran.
- OCTOBER 8, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Jahan Agashteh executed at Vakilabad prison on Oct. 8.
IRAN - Jahan Agashteh executed at Vakilabad prison on Oct. 8.
- OCTOBER 6, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Abdolhakim Shahbakhsh and Assadollah Alizehi hanged at the prison of Kerman on Oct. 6.
IRAN - Abdolhakim Shahbakhsh and Assadollah Alizehi hanged at the prison of Kerman on Oct. 6.
- OCTOBER 3, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN SANANDAJ DESPITE CIVIL ACTIVISTS CALL FOR FORGIVENESS
Razgar Zandi was hanged at Sanandaj prison on 1 October 2019.
- 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 30, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN HANGED AT ISFAHAN PRISON FOR MURDER
On the morning of 26 September 2019, a man was hanged at Isfahan Central Prison for murder charges, Islamic Republic News Agency reported.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: WOMAN EXECUTED FOR MURDERING HER HUSBAND
In the morning of 26 September 2019 Leila Zarafshan was hanged in the Central Prison of Sanandaj.
- 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.