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
- MARCH 4, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Ramin Razavi executed
IRAN - Ramin Razavi executed
- MARCH 2, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: INMATE HANGED FOR MURDER
An inmate, Ehsan Yaghoubi was hanged in the Central Prison of Ilam, in western Iran.
- MARCH 1, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: INMATE EXECUTED IN WESTERN CITIES OF HAMEDAN
A young man identified as Hamid Imani was executed in the Central Prison of Hamedan, western Iran.
FEBRUARY 28, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: YOUNG KURDISH MAN EXECUTED IN CENTRAL PRISON OF ILAM
A Kurdish man was hanged in Central Prison of Ilam, in western Iran.
FEBRUARY 27, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN JUSTICE MINISTER EXPECTS FEWER EXECUTIONS UNDER REVISED DRUG LAW
Iran’s justice minister said a recent reform of its drug laws should lead to fewer executions after the U.N. Secretary General said he remained alarmed about their high number - nearly 500 last year.
FEBRUARY 14, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 6 PRISONERS EXECUTED IN KARAJ
At least 6 prisoners were executed in the morning at Gohardasht Prison in Karaj.
- FEBRUARY 13, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER EXECUTED IN ZANJAN
According to a close source, a prisoner was hanged at Zanjan Central Prison.
FEBRUARY 5, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYPROFESSOR'S IRANIAN DEATH SENTENCE NOW 'DEFINITIVE', SAYS LAWYER
Attempts to overturn the death sentence of a professor in the Iranian courts have failed, according to the man’s lawyer.
JANUARY 31, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: YOUNG MAN HANGED FOR THEFT IN YASOUJ
A 29-year-old man identified as Abbas Rad was hanged on the morning for theft in Yasouj, capital of Kohgilouyeh and Boyer Ahmad Province.
JANUARY 30, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: WOMAN EXECUTED IN NORTHERN CITY OF NOSHAHR
A woman - Mahboubeh Mofidi - was executed for murder in the northern city of Noshahr.
- JANUARY 30, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MINOR OFFENDER HANGED
The Judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran hanged a minor offender.
JANUARY 30, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: KARIM ZARGAR, THE HEAD OF A SPIRITUAL INSTITUTION, WAS HANGED
Karim Zargar, the former general manager of IRIB's international section, Iran TV's channel one broadcast manager, head of the Faculty of Radio and Television, and owner and managing director of Film Reports magazine (Gozaresh-e-Film), was hanged at Rajai
JANUARY 30, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN HANGS MAN WHO WAS ONLY 15 AT TIME OF ALLEGED CRIME
The Iranian authorities executed a young man convicted of murder who was only 15 years old at the time of his alleged crime.
JANUARY 27, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED ON MURDER CHARGES
Two prisoners were executed at Orumiyeh Central Prison while another prisoner was transferred back to the ward due to the leniency shown by the victim’s family.
- JANUARY 23, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRANIAN RESEARCHER DEATH SENTENCE SUSPENDED
A death sentence for Iranian researcher and alleged spy Ahmadreza Djalali has been suspended, the university of eastern Piedmont said.
- JANUARY 21, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER EXECUTED AT SHIRAZ PRISON
A prisoner was hanged at Adelabad Prison in Shiraz on the charge of murdering a man during a street fight.
JANUARY 17, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS EXECUTED AT KARAJ CENTRAL PRISON
According to Iran Newspaper, on the morning two prisoners were executed at Karaj Central Prison. The prisoners were sentenced to death on the charge of rape.
JANUARY 17, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRANIAN AUTHORITIES CUT OFF A MAN'S HAND FOR STEALING
Iranian authorities have amputated one hand of a prisoner who was charged with stealing sheep. The amputation was carried out at Mashhad Central Prison.
- JANUARY 15, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER EXECUTED AT BABOL PRISON
According to a report by HRANA, a prisoner was executed on the morning at Babol prison. The 27-year-old prisoner, identified as Y. S., was sentenced to death on murder charges.
JANUARY 11, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER PUBLICLY HANGED IN SALMAS
A man was publicly hanged in Salmas in West Azerbaijan Province, according to the state-run Rokna news agency. A huge crowd, which might include children are assembled to watch the hanging.
JANUARY 10, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: EXECUTIONS SUSPENDED AFTER RELAXING LAW ON DRUG OFFENCES
All cases in which people have been sentenced to death in Iran for drug offences are to be reviewed, Ali Larijani, the speaker of the country’s parliament, said.
- JANUARY 10, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN EXECUTED IN QAZVIN FOR MURDER
Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Qazvin, announced the execution of a man identified only as Saeid in the central penitentiary of the city, according to the state-run Rokna news agency.
JANUARY 8, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS EXECUTED IN NORTHERN CITY OF SARI
Two prisoners were hanged in the prison of Sari (capital of Mazandaran Province in northern Iran). The two who have been named by the state media only as S.R. and A.B. were found guilty of murder.
JANUARY 4, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN HANGS MAN FOR RAPE, MURDER OF SIX-YEAR-OLD GIRL
Iran hanged a man convicted of raping and killing a six-year-old Afghan girl in a case that has shocked the nation, local media reported.
JANUARY 2, 2018IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: HANDS OFF CAIN, THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT ACTIVATES IMMEDIATELY TO PROTECT THE FREEDOM TO MANIFESTATE AND THE LIFE OF THE YOUNG IRANIANS ARRESTED AT THE RISK OF DEATH PENALTY
- JANUARY 1, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
In accordance with Article 4 of the Iranian Constitution...
In accordance with Article 4 of the Iranian Constitution...
- DECEMBER 25, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: SUPREME COURT APPROVES RESEARCHER'S DEATH PENALTY FOR SPYING
Iran’s Supreme Court has approved the death sentence of an Iranian researcher accused of spying for Israel.
- DECEMBER 24, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN HANGED AFTER BEING 20 YEARS ON DEATH ROW
A prisoner was hanged in Rajaii Shahr Prison of Karaj. The victim who has been identified by the state-media only as Ghadir, has been on death row since 20 years ago. He was found guilty of murder.
DECEMBER 20, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: EIGHT INMATES EXECUTED AT RAJAII SHAHR PRISON OF KARAJ
Iran hanged eight inmates in Rajaii Shahr Prison of Karaj, west of Tehran. The prisoners had been transferred to solitary confinement on December 18, in a group of 10, in preparation for their executions.
DECEMBER 19, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: ANOTHER WOMEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR ADULTERY IN TEHRAN
A woman was sentenced to death for adultery by the 1st Branch of the Alborz Penal Court in Alborz Province.