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
- 9,162
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 9,162 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 2, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: JUVENILE OFFENDER BEING EXECUTED IN 2018
IHR can confirm information about the execution of Abolfazl Naderi, a juvenile offender who was arrested at the age of 16 for an alleged murder.
- AUGUST 29, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN HANGS TWO INMATES IN RAJAEI SHAHR PRISON OF KARAJ
Two prisoners were executed in Rajaei Shahr Prison of Karaj, west of Tehran.
- AUGUST 26, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN HANGED IN ARDABIL
AUGUST 8, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE PRISONERS HANGED IN MINAB
According to a report by Azad News Agency (ANA), on the morning three prisoners were executed at Minab Prison.
- JULY 27, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO PRISONERS WERE HANGED AT URMIA CENTRAL PRISON
Two prisoners were hanged on drug related charges at Urmia Central prison
- JULY 22, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO MEN PUBLICLY HANGED IN MASHHAD
Two prisoners convicted of murder were publicly hanged in Mashhad, capital of the northeastern Iranian province of Razavi Khorasan, the state-run ISNA news agency reported.
JULY 21, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN RASHT
According to a close source, a prisoner was executed at Rasht Central Prison.
- JULY 20, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: FIVE PRISONERS HANGED IN KERMANSHAH PRISON
Five prisoners were executed at Dizel Abad Prison in Kermansh.
- JULY 18, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 65-YEAR-OLD PRISONER HANGED WITHOUT GIVING HIM ANY WARNING
A death row inmate in Dizelabad Prison of Kermanshah was executed, while he was given just a few hours notice before he is hanged, and relatives are not notified until the prisoner is already dead.
JULY 16, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN EXECUTED IN MASHHAD
According to a report by Khorasan Newspaper, on the morning a prisoner was executed at Mashhad Prison.
JULY 14, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: WEBSITE MANAGER SENTENCED TO DEATH
According to a close source, Mohammad Hossein Maleki, 47, from Shahin Shahr in Isfahan, was arrested by the agents of the Ministry of Intelligence on March 1, 2017.
JULY 12, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: A PRISONER HANGED AT KHOY PRISON
A prisoner was executed on murder charges at Khoy Prison in the morning
- JULY 10, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN PUBLICLY FLOGS YOUNG MAN FOR DRINKING ALCOHOL
A young man was publicly flogged in eastern city of Kashmar, in Razavi Khorasan Province, the state-run Young Journalist Club website reported.
- JULY 7, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: AFGHAN NATIONAL HANGED IN ZAHEDAN
According to HRANA news agency, on the morning a prisoner was hanged at Zahedan Central Prison on murder charges.
- JULY 7, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mousa Ghazanfar Abadi executed
IRAN - Mousa Ghazanfar Abadi executed
JULY 7, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN EXECUTES 8 ISIS FIGHTERS OVER 2017 ATTACK ON PARLIAMENT
Iran said it executed eight people convicted in the 2017 Islamic State group attack on parliament and the shrine of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in Tehran.
JULY 5, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER EXECUTED IN MAZANDARAN PROVINCE
According to ILNA news agency, a prisoner identified as A. M., son of Seyyed Ne'mat, was executed in Mazandaran Province.
JULY 4, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: WOMAN HANGED IN THE CENTRAL PRISON OF ORUMIEH
A woman was hanged at dawn in the Central Prison of Orumieh along with two other male prisoners. The identity of the executed woman has not been made available, yet.
JULY 3, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN EXECUTED IN TABRIZ
According to a close source, on the morning a prisoner was executed at Tabriz Central Prison.
JULY 3, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN REDUCES DEATH PENALTY, LIFE SENTENCE AGAINST 1700 DRUG CONVICTS
Abbas Jafari-Dolatabadi, the Tehran prosecutor general, announced that 1,700 sentences of narcotic-related cases have been commuted from capital punishment and life sentence to less severe forms of punishment.
JUNE 30, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO EXECUTED ON MURDER CHARGES
According to a close source, on the morning 2 prisoners were executed at Gorgan Prison on murder charges.
- JUNE 27, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED IN KARAJ
According to a close source, on the morning two prisoners were executed at Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj.
JUNE 27, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: JUVENILE OFFENDER EXECUTED
According to Amnesty International sources, Abolfazl Chazani Sharahi, a juvenile offender charged with murder at the age of 15, was executed at Qom Central Prison.
- JUNE 26, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: A PRISONER HANGED ON MURDER CHARGES AT TABRIZ CENTRAL PRISON
A prisoner was executed on murder charge at Tabriz central prison this morning.
JUNE 20, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER EXECUTED AT SHIRVAN PRISON
A prisoner was hanged at Shirvan Prison in Northern Khorasan Province.
JUNE 18, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE PRISONERS EXECUTED
Five prisoners who were sentenced to death on murder charges were hanged at Rajai Shahr Prison.
JUNE 18, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN HANGS SUFI OVER KILLING OF 3 POLICEMEN
Iran has executed a member of a Sufi order who rammed a bus into police as they tried to disperse a rally, killing three of them.
JUNE 15, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - BILL FOR COLLECTIVE PARDONS
OF POLITICAL PRISONERS
- JUNE 11, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 8 SEATH SENTENCES
FOR DAESH MEMBERS
- JUNE 7, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
POSSIBLE DEATH SENTENCE FOR HAMIDREZA AMINI
PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE