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
JUNE 6, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. 2 DEATH SENTENCES
MAZIAR AND FARID SENTENCED
MAY 29, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN DRUG EXECUTIONS FALL BY 99% FOLLOWING LEGAL AMENDMENT
The implementation of the death penalty for drug offences has all but ended in Iran, although human rights advocates continue to express concern at the judicial system’s response to drugs.
MAY 16, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN HANGED AT ARDABIL CENTRAL PRISON ON MURDER CHARGES
According to a close source, on the morning a prisoner was hanged at Ardabil Central Prison on murder charges.
- MAY 15, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 2 PUBLIC EXECUTIONS
MAY 14, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR EXECUTIONS IN THE CITIES OF ILAM, ZAHEDAN AND URMIA
Four prisoners were executed in the cities of Ilam, Zahedan and Urmia. All of the prisoners were found guilty of murder.
MAY 13, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 8 DAESH MEMBERS GET DEATH PENALTY
An Iranian court sentenced eight Daesh members to death over a 2017 attack on the Iranian parliament, a judicial official said.
MAY 13, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN PUBLIC
- MAY 13, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN ISFAHAN
According to IHR sources, on the morning a prisoner was hanged at Isfahan Central Prison.
MAY 12, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO HANGED AT GORGAN CENTRAL PRISON FOR 'WAGING WAR AGAINST GOD'
According to a report by IRIB News Agency, on the morning two prisoners were executed at Gorgan Central Prison.
MAY 9, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED AT RAJAI SHAHR PRISON
According to a close source, on the morning a prisoner was executed at Rajai Shahr Prison. The prisoner, charged with murder, was identified as Reza Hamidi.
MAY 5, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN BABOL PRISON
According to Rokna news agency, a prisoner was hanged on the morning at Babol Prison on murder charges.
- MAY 3, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN ZAHEDAN
According to Baluch Activists Campaign, on the morning a prisoner was executed at Zahedan Central Prison on murder charges.
- APRIL 30, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN HANGED IN ISFAHAN ON DRUG-RELATED CHARGES
According to the IHR source, on the morning a prisoner was executed at Isfahan Central Prison on drug-related charges.
- APRIL 30, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN SAVEH PRISON
According to Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA), on the morning a prisoner was executed at Saveh Prison on the charge of raping and murdering a five-year-old child.
APRIL 30, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN ESLAMABAD-E-GHARB PRISON
According to HRANA news agency, on the morning a prisoner was executed at Eslamabad-e-Gharb Prison on murder charges.
- APRIL 25, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: FOUR HANGED IN ZAHEDAN, RAJAI SHAHR
Four prisoners were executed in Zahedan, Rajai Shahr.
APRIL 24, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED AT BANDAR ABBAS PRISON
According to a close source, on the morning a prisoner was executed at Bandar Abbas Central Prison.
- APRIL 23, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: FOUR PRISONERS HANGED AT ORUMIYEH CENTRAL PRISON
Four prisoners were executed on murder charges at Orumiyeh’s central prison in the morning.
APRIL 18, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: BAHMAN VARMAZIYAR EXECUTED DESPITE EXTENSIVE CRITICISM
Iran hanged Bahman Varmaziyar, sentenced to death for armed robbery, in Hamedan Prison, state media reported.
- APRIL 18, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: EIGHT PRISONERS INCLUDING TWO AFGHANS EXECUTED
According to a close source, eight prisoners most of whom were charged with murder were executed on the morning at Rajai Shahr Prison.
- APRIL 10, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN HANGED IN KERMAN PRISON
According to Baluch Activists Campaign, on the morning a prisoner was executed at Kerman Central Prison. The prisoner, identified as Omid Damani, 33, was charged with murder.
APRIL 10, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: A MAN EXECUTED IN NORTHERN IRAN FOR MURDERING A CHILD
According to ISNA a man who was charged with murdering a 3-year-old boy, named Ahoura, was hanged at Rasht Central Prison.
MARCH 27, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 21-YEAR-OLD WOMAN TO BE SENT TO THE GALLOWS
The death sentence for a young woman was confirmed by the Supreme Court, according to the state-run Aftab news agency.
MARCH 19, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PROTESTER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR RUNNING OVER POLICEMEN
An Iranian court sentenced to death a protester for ramming a bus into a group of policemen last month, killing three, before being arrested.
MARCH 15, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO BROTHERS HANGED IN PUBLIC OVER ARMED ROBBERY CHARGES
According to IRIB, on the morning two prisoners were hanged in public in Dogonbadan (the capital of Gachsaran County, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province).
- MARCH 11, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: A MAN HANGED IN KHOY CENTRAL PRISON
According to a report by HRANA, on the morning a prisoner was executed at Khoy Central Prison on rape charges.
MARCH 10, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SPIRITUAL LEADER ON DEATH ROW GETS JAIL ON RETRIAL
The leader of an Iranian spiritual movement, whose repeated death sentences drew UN and US condemnation, has been given a five-year jail term after a second retrial, his lawyer said.
- MARCH 6, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 3 KURD MEN HANGED IN DIZELABAD PRISON OF KERMANSHAH
At the morning hours three Kurd inmates were executed at Dizelabad Prison of Kermanshah, western Iran.
- MARCH 5, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER HANGED ON MURDER CHARGES IN URMIA
According to a close source, on the morning a prisoner was hanged at Urmia Central Prison on murder charges.
- MARCH 4, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN HANGED IN MARAGHEH PRISON
According to reports, on the morning a prisoner charged with murder was hanged in Maragheh Prison.