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
AUGUST 31, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: UNIDENTIFIED PRISONER HANGED IN PUBLIC
An unidentified prisoner who was sentenced to death on the charge of "raping a married woman" was hanged in public on the morning in Bandar Abbas while a crowd of people watched, according to a report by the state-run news agency, Mehr.
- AUGUST 28, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN CHARGED WITH RAPE HANGED IN RAJAI SHAHR PRISON
Prison authorities in Rajai Shahr break routine and execute a prisoner on a Monday rather than the usual Wednesday.
AUGUST 23, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SUNNI PRISONER HANGED ON MOHAREBEH CHARGE
Sunni prisoner Seyed Jamal Seyed Mousavi was reportedly hanged at Karaj's Rajai Shahr Prison on Wednesday August 23, but his famliy did not find out until Sunday August 27.
AUGUST 10, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: BRUTAL EXECUTION OF A YOUNG PRISONER WHO WAS 15 YEARS OLD WHEN ARRESTED
In the early morning of August 10, the mullahs’ regime once again executed a teenager.
- AUGUST 1, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN PUBLIC IN FRONT OF LARGE CROWD
A prisoner by the name of Hossein Sarooki was hanged in public in the city of Juybar on murder charges.
JULY 25, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED AT ZANJAN CENRAL PRISON
According to close sources, two prisoners were executed on the morning at Zanjan Central Prison on drug related charges.
JULY 24, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE INMATES INCLUDING AFGHAN CITIZEN EXECUTED ON DRUG CHARGES
Three prisoners, including an Afghan citizen, were reportedly hanged at Isfahan Central Prison on drug related charges. According to close sources, the executions were carried out on the morning of July 24.
JULY 22, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE PRISONERS EXECUTED
JULY 17, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR PRISONERS EXECUTED ON DRUG, ARMED ROBBERY CHARGES
According to close sources, on the morning four prisoners were hanged at Isfahan Central Prison.
- JULY 16, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MPS APPROVE GENERALITIES OF BILL TO REDUCE DEATH PENALTY FOR DRUG OFFENCES
The Iranian parliament approved general outlines of a bill to reduce death penalty for drug offences in the country.
- JULY 16, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: ONE MAN EXECUTED ON DRUG RELATED CHARGES
The Baluch Activists Campaign has reported on the execution of one prisoner on the morning at Chabahar Prison (Sistan & Baluchestan province, southern Iran).
- JULY 16, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO EXECUTED ON DRUG RELATED CHARGES
Two prisoners were executed at Bandar Abbas Central Prison, close sourced said.
- JULY 15, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: THREE PRISONERS HANGED ON DRUG RELATED CHARGES
Three prisoners were reportedly hanged at Zahedan Central Prison on drug related charges.
JULY 12, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN HANGED AT ZAHEDAN PRISON
A prisoner was reportedly hanged at Zahedan Central Prison on unknown charges.
JULY 10, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER EXECUTED ON DRUG RELATED CHARGES
A prisoner was reportedly executed on the morning at Mahabad Prison on drug related charges.
JULY 9, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: AT LEAST 10 PRISONERS INCLUDING AFGHAN CITIZENS HANGED ON DRUG CHARGES
At least ten prisoners, including three Afghan citizens, were reportedly hanged at Taybad Prison (Razavi Khorasan province, northeastern Iran) on drug related charges.
JULY 8, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR PRISONERS HANGED ON DRUG CHARGES
Four prisoners were reportedly hanged on the morning at Urmia's central prison on drug related charges.
- JULY 5, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: EIGHT PRISONERS HANGED AT RAJAI SHAHR PRISON
Eight prisoners were reportedly hanged on the morning at Rajai Shahr Prison.
- JULY 4, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED IN PUBLIC
Two prisoners were hanged in public on rape charges.
- JULY 1, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO MEN AND A WOMAN HANGED ON DRUG CHARGES
Two men and one woman were reportedly hanged at Rasht's central prison on drug related charges.
- JUNE 30, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 239 EXECUTIONS IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2017
According to reports by Iran Human Rights (IHR), 239 executions were carried out in Iran in the first six months of 2017.
JUNE 18, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: ORUMIYEH’S FEMALE DEATH-ROW PRISONERS IN HORRIBLE CONDITIONS
Women imprisoned in the women’s ward of the Central Prison of Orumiyeh are detained in deplorable conditions in overcrowded cells lacking the least sanitary needs.
JUNE 12, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 20 PEOPLE LASHED FOR EATING OR DRINKING DURING RAMADAN FASTING HOURS
Since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, about 90 case files were reportedly opened in the city of Qazvin (central Iran) for individuals who were caught eating or drinking during the fasting hours.
- JUNE 6, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER HANGED ON MURDER CHARGES
A prisoner identified as Homayoun Toolabi was reportedly hanged at Khorramabad Prison on murder charges.
- MAY 28, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
An unidentified prisoner sentenced to death on rape charges was reportedly hanged in public in Shiraz in front of a crowd of people.
An unidentified prisoner sentenced to death on rape charges was reportedly hanged in public in Shiraz in front of a crowd of people.
- MAY 26, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
A prisoner was reportedly hanged at Khorramabad's Parsilon Prison on the charge of possession and trafficking 850 grams of heroin.
A prisoner was reportedly hanged at Khorramabad's Parsilon Prison on the charge of possession and trafficking 850 grams of heroin.
MAY 26, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE PRISONERS HANGED ON DRUG CHARGES
The Iranian authorities reportedly hanged three prisoners on drug related charges in the morning.
- MAY 25, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PROMINENT WRESTLER EXECUTED ON VAGUE CHARGES
A prominent wrestler in Iran was reportedly hanged at Kermanshah's Dizel Abad Prison in the morning on vague charges.
- MAY 24, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: JUVENILE OFFENDER HANGED
A juvenile offender was hanged in the Central Prison of Karaj in the morning.
- MAY 23, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: SIX PRISONERS EXECUTED
Six prisoners were executed in two different Iranian prisons early in the morning,