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
- FEBRUARY 15, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
Twelve prisoners were executed on the morning at Karaj's Rajai Shahr Prison. Six of the prisoners have
Twelve prisoners were executed on the morning at Karaj's Rajai Shahr Prison. Six of the prisoners have
- FEBRUARY 13, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
Three prisoners were hanged at Zabol Prison, according to a report by the human rights news agency Baloch Activists Campaign.
Three prisoners were hanged at Zabol Prison, according to a report by the human rights news agency Baloch Activists Campaign.
- FEBRUARY 13, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
Seven prisoners were reportedly hanged at Qom's Langroud Prison on drug related charges, news agency HRANA reported.
Seven prisoners were reportedly hanged at Qom's Langroud Prison on drug related charges, news agency HRANA reported.
- FEBRUARY 12, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
Two unidentified prisoners were reportedly hanged at Mashhad's Vakilabad Prison on murder charges.
Two unidentified prisoners were reportedly hanged at Mashhad's Vakilabad Prison on murder charges.
- FEBRUARY 10, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCES OF SIX JUVENILE OFFENDERS
Iran has commuted death sentences against six juvenile offenders following UN criticism it was executing
- FEBRUARY 5, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
IRANIAN SCIENTIST SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR ESPIONAGE, CONTACT WITH ISRAELIS
Iranian national Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali, a professor at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), has reportedly been
FEBRUARY 2, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN AND WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH BY STONING
Criminal Court of the Western Lorestan province in Iran, condemned a man and a woman accused of so called ‘unethical relation’ to capital punishment of death by stoning.
- JANUARY 29, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
A total of four prisoners were hanged in public in Mashhad and Bandar Abbas.
A total of four prisoners were hanged in public in Mashhad and Bandar Abbas.
- JANUARY 28, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
two prisoners were reportedly hanged at Lakan, Rasht's central Prison.
two prisoners were reportedly hanged at Lakan, Rasht's central Prison.
- JANUARY 25, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
At least two prisoners were hanged at Karaj's Ghezel Hesar Prison on drug related charges. The prisoners
At least two prisoners were hanged at Karaj's Ghezel Hesar Prison on drug related charges. The prisoners
- JANUARY 23, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
Two prisoners were executed at Maragheh Prison on drug related charges. The prisoners have been identified as Iraj Ghafouri and Hossein Fatemi.
Two prisoners were executed at Maragheh Prison on drug related charges. The prisoners have been identified as Iraj Ghafouri and Hossein Fatemi.
JANUARY 21, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS INCLUDING A DISABLED MAN HANGED
two prisoners were hanged in Orumieh Central Prison on drug-related charges. They were identified as:
JANUARY 20, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED ON DRUG CHARGES
Two prisoners were reportedly hanged on the morning at Khorammabad's Parsilon Prison (western Iran) on drug related charges.
- JANUARY 18, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
A juvenile prisoner was hanged at Tabriz Prison, the human rights news agency HRANA reported.
A juvenile prisoner was hanged at Tabriz Prison, the human rights news agency HRANA reported.
JANUARY 18, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE EXECUTED, INCLUDING 2 AFGHAN NATIONALS
five prisoners were reportedly hanged in Iran in two different cities.
- JANUARY 17, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
five people were executed in two different cities on drug related charges. A 36-year-old prisoner, identified
five people were executed in two different cities on drug related charges. A 36-year-old prisoner, identified
JANUARY 16, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN PUBLIC FOR MURDER
A prisoner was hanged in the village of Bektash near Miandoab (northwestern Iran), reported official Iranian news agencies.
- JANUARY 15, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
two prisoners, identified as Akbar K. and Morteza H., were executed in the Central Prison of Qazvin for
two prisoners, identified as Akbar K. and Morteza H., were executed in the Central Prison of Qazvin for
- JANUARY 15, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
A juvenile prisoner who was convicted of murder at the age of 16, was executed in Kerman (southeastern Iran).
A juvenile prisoner who was convicted of murder at the age of 16, was executed in Kerman (southeastern Iran).
JANUARY 15, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: JUVENILE OFFENDER EXECUTED IN KERMAN PRISON
Arman Bahr Asemani was hanged in Kerman Prison along with an older co-defendant, Shams Allah R.
- JANUARY 14, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
two prisoners were executed on drug charges at Dizel Abad Prison in Kermanshah, Iran Human Rights
two prisoners were executed on drug charges at Dizel Abad Prison in Kermanshah, Iran Human Rights
JANUARY 14, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 14 PRISONERS EXECUTED AT KARAJ CENTRAL PRISON
According to close sources, at least 14 prisoners were reportedly hanged at Karaj Central Prison on drug related charges.
JANUARY 14, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: AT LEAST 5 PRISONERS EXECUTED AT RAJAI SHAHR PRISON
At least five prisoners were reportedly executed at Karaj's Rajai Shahr Prison. According to close sources,
JANUARY 12, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: ‘ENSAMBLE CONTRE LA PEINE DE MORT’ ALERTS FIFA THAT IN IRAN PEOPLE ARE EXECUTED IN FOOTBALL STADIUMS
In a letter sent by Raphael Chenuil-Hazan, President of “Ensamble contre la peine de mort-Together
JANUARY 8, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO HANGED IN PUBLIC FOR 'WAGING WAR AGAINST GOD’
Two prisoners were hanged in public in the city of Sarpol-e Zahab (Kermanshah province, western Iran) on Moharebeh charges.
JANUARY 4, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR PRISONERS EXECUTED ON ARMED ROBBERY, DRUG RELATED CHARGES
Iran reportedly hanged three prisoners at Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj and one prisoner at Lakan central prison in Rasht.
- JANUARY 3, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: FOUR PRISONERS EXECUTED ON DRUG RELATED CHARGES
Four prisoners were reportedly executed at Karaj Central Prison on drug related charges. Close sources
JANUARY 2, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PROTEST OUTSIDE TEHRAN PRISON IN SUPPORT OF HUNGER STRIKING ACTIVIST ARASH SADEGHI
Hundreds of people have marched on Tehran's Evin Prison to demand the release of a student activist who has been on hunger strike for 71 days.
JANUARY 2, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED ON DRUG CHARGES
A prisoner identified as Nosrat Khazai was reportedly hanged at Ghazvin's central prison (northern Iran) on drug related charges.
- JANUARY 1, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
In accordance with Article 4 of the Iranian Constitution...
In accordance with Article 4 of the Iranian Constitution...