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
- OCTOBER 26, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
at least seven murder convicts were hanged at Kermanshah's Dizel Abad Prison, reported Iran Human
at least seven murder convicts were hanged at Kermanshah's Dizel Abad Prison, reported Iran Human
- OCTOBER 19, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
U.N. CONDEMNS IRAN'S EXECUTION OF MINORS, NOTES 'WORRYING TREND'
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned Iran's execution of two minors last week,
- OCTOBER 13, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: JUVENILE OFFENDER FATEMEH SALBEHI HANGED
Iranian authorities have executed the juvenile offender Fatemeh Salbehi, according to Iran Human Rights' sources.
OCTOBER 12, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE PRISONERS HANGED IN PUBLIC
The mullahs' regime hanged three prisoners in public in Kazeroun, southern Iran.
OCTOBER 12, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SIX PRISONERS HANGED IN CENTRAL PRISON OF KARAJ
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), six prisoners - Bahman
- OCTOBER 11, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran's fundamentalist regime hanged a man in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas after serving 15 years
Iran's fundamentalist regime hanged a man in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas after serving 15 years
- OCTOBER 10, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran hanged three prisoners in the central prison of Rasht, northern Iran, on the World Day Against the
Iran hanged three prisoners in the central prison of Rasht, northern Iran, on the World Day Against the
OCTOBER 7, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE PRISONERS EXECUTED IN KARAJ
three prisoners were executed at Karaj's Rajai Shahr Prison, the website of the General Directorate of Prisons and Security and Corrective Measures in Tehran reported.
- OCTOBER 6, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
Farzad Ahmadpanah was hanged for murder in the prison of Sanandaj, reported the Human Rights
Farzad Ahmadpanah was hanged for murder in the prison of Sanandaj, reported the Human Rights
- OCTOBER 6, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
a juvenile offender, Samad Zahabi, was secretly hanged for a murder he allegedly committed at 17,
a juvenile offender, Samad Zahabi, was secretly hanged for a murder he allegedly committed at 17,
- OCTOBER 6, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: FOUR PRISONERS EXECUTED
The mullahs hanged four men in northern and southern Iran.
- OCTOBER 5, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
two men were hanged for murder in the Vakilabad prison of Mashhad, reported the daily newspaper
two men were hanged for murder in the Vakilabad prison of Mashhad, reported the daily newspaper
OCTOBER 4, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN HANGED, 9 OTHERS AT IMMINENT RISK OF EXECUTION
Iran's fundamentalist regime hanged a prisoner in southern Iran and transferred at least nine other death-row
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED TO TWO YEARS' THEOLOGY STUDY
An Iranian man who was on death row for allegedly insulting the prophet Muhammad has had his sentence
SEPTEMBER 20, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: YOUNG PRISONER EXECUTED IN MASHHAD FOR HARASSING WOMAN
A young prisoner, who was charged with the harassment of a woman and then sentenced to death, was
- SEPTEMBER 19, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
two men accused of drug smuggling were hanged in Rasht's central prison, reported the
two men accused of drug smuggling were hanged in Rasht's central prison, reported the
- SEPTEMBER 16, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
a man identified as Saeed Zargari was hanged in public in the city of Ardestan, announced
a man identified as Saeed Zargari was hanged in public in the city of Ardestan, announced
- SEPTEMBER 16, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER EXECUTED IN SANANDAJ
Iran's fundamentalist regime hanged a prisoner in the Kurdish city of Sanandaj, western Iran.
- SEPTEMBER 14, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: AT LEAST 4 PRISONERS HANGED IN GHEZELHESAR PRISON IN KARAJ
At least four prisoners were hanged in Ghezelhesar prison in Karaj.
- SEPTEMBER 12, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED IN GILAN FOR DRUG POSSESSION
Two prisoners with drug related charges were hanged to death at Rasht Central Prison in the morning,
- SEPTEMBER 9, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
six prisoners were hanged in Birjand and Tabriz Prisons.
six prisoners were hanged in Birjand and Tabriz Prisons.
- SEPTEMBER 8, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO HANGED IN BANDAR ABBAS FOR DRUG RELATED CHARGES
Two prisoners sentenced to death for drug related charges were executed at Bandar Abbas Central Prison on the morning, say unofficial reports.
- SEPTEMBER 7, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 11 PRISONERS EXECUTED FOR DRUG OFFENCES
Iranian authorities hanged 11 prisoners charged with drug offences early in the morning, according to the Iran Human Rights (IHR) sources in Ghezelhesar prison of Karaj (west of Tehran).
- SEPTEMBER 5, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
A prisoner, identified as Davoud Pourahmadian, was reportedly hanged to death for murder at Tabriz
A prisoner, identified as Davoud Pourahmadian, was reportedly hanged to death for murder at Tabriz
- SEPTEMBER 5, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN ZABOL PRISON
The mullahs' regime in Iran hanged a prisoner in his forties in the eastern town of Zabol.
SEPTEMBER 2, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: ANOTHER 5 PRISONERS HANGED COLLECTIVELY IN PRISON
Iran hanged five prisoners collectively in the Central Prison of Karaj, north-west of Tehran.
SEPTEMBER 1, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SIX PRISONERS HANGED
six prisoners were executed in Iran between August 29 and September 1st.
- AUGUST 29, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN EXECUTED FOR DRUG-RELATED OFFENCES
Yousef Baghizadeh, a prisoner convicted of drug-related offences, was hanged in Khoram Abad Central
- AUGUST 26, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
a murder convict, who was identified as Jamal Ja’afari, was hanged in the prison of Sanandaj, reported the
a murder convict, who was identified as Jamal Ja’afari, was hanged in the prison of Sanandaj, reported the
- AUGUST 23, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
a prisoner, who was identified as R. F., was hanged in Sari prison, reported the Judiciary in Mazandaran
a prisoner, who was identified as R. F., was hanged in Sari prison, reported the Judiciary in Mazandaran