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
- DECEMBER 21, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
UN DOUBLES IRAN DRUG FUNDING DESPITE EXECUTION SURGE
DECEMBER 21, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: DEATH PENALTY ANNULLED FOR SPIRITUAL LEADER MOHAMMAD ALI TAHERI
Iran's Supreme Court annulled the death penalty for spiritual leader Mohammad Ali Taheri and referred his
DECEMBER 21, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED FOR MURDER
A prisoner charged with murder was hanged at Amol Prison (in the province of Mazandaran) and one
DECEMBER 20, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SEVEN PEOPLE HANGED IN ONE DAY, TWO OF THE EXECUTIONS IN PUBLIC
At least seven prisoners were hanged in Iran. Two of the executions were carried out in public.
DECEMBER 14, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: YOUNG MAN EXECUTED IN PUBLIC
Iran hanged a 20-year-old man in public in the city of Noshahr, northern Iran.
- DECEMBER 10, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
On the eve of the International Human Rights Day, the Iranian regime’s henchmen hanged a young man,
On the eve of the International Human Rights Day, the Iranian regime’s henchmen hanged a young man,
DECEMBER 9, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH BY STONING
A court in the north of Iran has reportedly sentenced a woman to lashings, 25 years in prison, and also
DECEMBER 7, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN BANDAR ABBAS
A prisoner with an alleged murder charge was reportedly hanged at Bandar Abbas Central Prison in the
- DECEMBER 6, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
The Iranian regime’s henchmen hanged a 36-year-old father of three in a prison in the city of Gorgan in
The Iranian regime’s henchmen hanged a 36-year-old father of three in a prison in the city of Gorgan in
DECEMBER 6, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE MEN AND ONE WOMAN HANGED IN ONE DAY
Three men with alleged murder charges were reportedly hanged to death at Zahedan Central Prison and
- NOVEMBER 30, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
two prisoners were reportedly hanged at Zahedan Central Prison on rape charges. According to confirmed
two prisoners were reportedly hanged at Zahedan Central Prison on rape charges. According to confirmed
NOVEMBER 26, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: YOUNG PRISONER HANGED IN PUBLIC
A young prisoner charged with rape was hanged to death in public in Meyami, Semnan.
- NOVEMBER 25, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
two executions were carried out at Tabriz Central Prison (in East Azerbaijan province), the Kurdistan
two executions were carried out at Tabriz Central Prison (in East Azerbaijan province), the Kurdistan
- NOVEMBER 24, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the Baluchestan Activists Campaign, five people were hanged at Minab Prison (in Hormozgan province) in the morning.
According to the Baluchestan Activists Campaign, five people were hanged at Minab Prison (in Hormozgan province) in the morning.
NOVEMBER 24, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE PRISONERS HANGED IN KARAJ
The Iranian regime’s henchmen in city of Karaj hanged at least five prisoners in Gohardasht Prison.
NOVEMBER 23, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED IN TABRIZ
Two prisoners were hanged at Tabriz Central Prison on drug related charges, a reliable source said.
- NOVEMBER 18, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 5 HANGED, INCLUDING AFGHAN NATIONAL
According to confirmed sources, Iranian authorities executed at least 5 prisoners.
- NOVEMBER 16, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
A prisoner was reportedly executed at Tabriz Central Prison on murder charges and has been identified as
A prisoner was reportedly executed at Tabriz Central Prison on murder charges and has been identified as
- NOVEMBER 14, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
A Pakistani citizen, identified as Younes Jamaloldini, was reportedly hanged at Zahedan Central Prison on
A Pakistani citizen, identified as Younes Jamaloldini, was reportedly hanged at Zahedan Central Prison on
- NOVEMBER 13, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRANIAN PRESIDENT CLAIMS MASS HANGINGS HELP EUROPE, ABOLITION WOULD ‘BE DANGEROUS’
In a rare public comment on the death penalty since he took office in June 2013, President Hassan Rouhani claimed Iran has hanged hundreds of drug offenders to prevent drug trafficking into Europe.
- NOVEMBER 12, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the Kurdistan Human Rights Network, four prisoners were executed at Tabriz Central Prison
According to the Kurdistan Human Rights Network, four prisoners were executed at Tabriz Central Prison
- NOVEMBER 10, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
three prisoners were reportedly hanged at Baft Prison on alleged rape charges. An official report by
three prisoners were reportedly hanged at Baft Prison on alleged rape charges. An official report by
- NOVEMBER 9, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
Two prisoners were reportedly hanged at Tabriz Prison on alleged murder charges. Although Iranian official
Two prisoners were reportedly hanged at Tabriz Prison on alleged murder charges. Although Iranian official
- NOVEMBER 9, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER HANGED BY CRANE IN PUBLIC
A prisoner identified as "A.S." was hanged by crane in public on rape charges. The hanging was reportedly
- NOVEMBER 9, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: THREE PRISONERS HANGED ON ALLEGED DRUG CHARGES
Iranian authorities reportedly hanged three prisoners to death between November 8-9 on alleged drug
NOVEMBER 8, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR PRISONERS HANGED ON DRUG CHARGES
Four prisoners were reportedly hanged in the morning at Karaj Central Prison on drug related charges.
NOVEMBER 7, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: KURDISH MINOR SENTENCED TO DEATH
An Iranian Kurdish teenager, convicted of murder, has been sentenced to death by Iranian judicial
NOVEMBER 5, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: GIRL ON DEATH ROW SINCE AGE 12 SAVED FROM EXECUTION
Somayeh was 12 years old when she was arrested by Iranian authorities for allegedly participating in the
NOVEMBER 4, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE PRISONERS HANGED FOR MURDER
Two prisoners were reportedly hanged to death in the morning at Rajai Shahr Prison on murder charges.
- NOVEMBER 1, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED IN PUBLIC
Two prisoners, both reportedly 30 years old, were hanged in public in Aliabad-e Katul (a city located in the province of Golestan) early in the morning.