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
SEPTEMBER 26, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE PRISONERS HANGED AT RAJAI-SHAHR PRISON
According to Iran Human Rights sources, on the morning of 25 September 2019, at least five people were executed at Rajai-Shahr prison near Tehran.
- SEPTEMBER 25, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 5 prisoners were hanged on September 25 at Rajai-Shahr prison.
IRAN - 5 prisoners were hanged on September 25 at Rajai-Shahr prison.
- SEPTEMBER 25, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Soltan Fathi Rad executed on September 25 at the Central Prison of Borujerd.
IRAN - Soltan Fathi Rad executed on September 25 at the Central Prison of Borujerd.
- SEPTEMBER 25, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mojtaba Soleimani, Mostafa Bakhti and 4 more executed at Raja’i Shahr prison on September 25
IRAN - Mojtaba Soleimani, Mostafa Bakhti and 4 more executed at Raja’i Shahr prison on September 25
- SEPTEMBER 25, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Unidentified woman hanged at Rajaii Shahr on September 25
IRAN - Unidentified woman hanged at Rajaii Shahr on September 25
SEPTEMBER 25, 2019IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN MARAGHEH PRISON FOR MURDER
Jafar (Kazem) Seyedhosseini was executed on 4 August 2019 in Maragheh prison, Iran Human Rights reported on 25 September.
- AUGUST 29, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 8 executions in Raja’i Shahr Prison on August 29.
IRAN - 8 executions in Raja’i Shahr Prison on August 29.
- AUGUST 28, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Hamid Reza Derakhshandeh was executed on August 28 in public in the city of Kazeroun.
IRAN - Hamid Reza Derakhshandeh was executed on August 28 in public in the city of Kazeroun.
- AUGUST 27, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Reza Moti, was executed at Tabriz Central Prison on August 27.
IRAN - Reza Moti, was executed at Tabriz Central Prison on August 27.
- AUGUST 27, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Zabihollah Zakari and Valid Ahmad were hanged at Tohid Prison in Bandar Abbas on August 27.
IRAN - Zabihollah Zakari and Valid Ahmad were hanged at Tohid Prison in Bandar Abbas on August 27.
- AUGUST 27, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 20-year-old civil rights activist Saba Kord-Afshari sentenced to 24 years.
IRAN - 20-year-old civil rights activist Saba Kord-Afshari sentenced to 24 years.
- AUGUST 26, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A man, identified only as H., was hanged in public on August 26.
IRAN - A man, identified only as H., was hanged in public on August 26.
- AUGUST 25, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Hojatollah Assadian was hanged on August 25 in Mazandaran province.
IRAN - Hojatollah Assadian was hanged on August 25 in Mazandaran province.
- AUGUST 25, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A man idenfied only as Houshang was hanged on August 25 in Bandar Abbas
IRAN - A man idenfied only as Houshang was hanged on August 25 in Bandar Abbas
- AUGUST 25, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - An unidentified woman was hanged on August 25, 2019 in the Central Prison of Mashhad (Vakilabad)
IRAN - An unidentified woman was hanged on August 25, 2019 in the Central Prison of Mashhad (Vakilabad)
- AUGUST 24, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Civil activists face a new wave of repression
IRAN - Civil activists face a new wave of repression
- AUGUST 23, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 200 Imprisoned Women Protest Inhumane Conditions of Qarchak Prison
IRAN - 200 Imprisoned Women Protest Inhumane Conditions of Qarchak Prison
- AUGUST 21, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Morad Shahsavari was hanged at the prison of Shirvan city on August 21.
IRAN - Morad Shahsavari was hanged at the prison of Shirvan city on August 21.
- AUGUST 21, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Abolhassan Ghorbani was hanged at a prison in the city of Sari on August 21.
IRAN - Abolhassan Ghorbani was hanged at a prison in the city of Sari on August 21.
- AUGUST 21, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on the case of scientist Ahmad Reza Djalali
IRAN - Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on the case of scientist Ahmad Reza Djalali
- AUGUST 18, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Amin Zanganeh was executed at Shiraz prison on August 18.
IRAN - Amin Zanganeh was executed at Shiraz prison on August 18.
- AUGUST 15, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Hashem Mardoudi was executed at the prison of Najafabad city on August 15.
IRAN - Hashem Mardoudi was executed at the prison of Najafabad city on August 15.
- AUGUST 15, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 3 men (Olya Norouzehi, Iman Saravani and Gol-Ahmad Azarnegar) hanged at Zahedan Central Prison on August 15.
IRAN - 3 men (Olya Norouzehi, Iman Saravani and Gol-Ahmad Azarnegar) hanged at Zahedan Central Prison on August 15.
- AUGUST 14, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Karam A. was executed at Mashhad prison on August 14.
IRAN - Karam A. was executed at Mashhad prison on August 14.
- AUGUST 14, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Saeed Khalaj was hanged at Raja’i Shahr on August 14.
IRAN - Saeed Khalaj was hanged at Raja’i Shahr on August 14.
- AUGUST 14, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A man, identified only as M.H., was executed at the prison of Khodabandeh on August 14.
IRAN - A man, identified only as M.H., was executed at the prison of Khodabandeh on August 14.
- AUGUST 14, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Family spares ex-Tehran mayor Mohammad Ali Najafi.
IRAN - Family spares ex-Tehran mayor Mohammad Ali Najafi.
- AUGUST 13, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Seyed Reza Dabbagh was hanged on Aug 13 at Kashmar Prison
IRAN - Seyed Reza Dabbagh was hanged on Aug 13 at Kashmar Prison
- AUGUST 10, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - S.E. was hanged at Babol prison on August 10.
IRAN - S.E. was hanged at Babol prison on August 10.
- AUGUST 10, 2019IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Ghodrat Alipanah and "Yasser" were hanged on August 10 in the prison of Mashhad
IRAN - Ghodrat Alipanah and "Yasser" were hanged on August 10 in the prison of Mashhad