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
MAY 27, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE MEN EXECUTED IN FRONT OF CHILDREN
Three men were hanged in public in Mashhad (northeastern Iran), reported the Iranian state media.
MAY 25, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 22 PRISONERS EXECUTED AT GHEZELHESAR PRISON IN KARAJ
At least twenty-two prisoners were executed at the Ghezelhesar prison in Karaj between 24 and 25 May, Iran Human Rights reported.
MAY 23, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 1 EXECUTION, 3 PUBLIC FLOGGINGS
One prisoner was hanged in the prison of Ardebil (Northwestern Iran) in the morning, reported the Iranian state media.
- MAY 20, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
one prisoner identified as A. Kh. was hanged in public in the city of Ghochan. He was convicted of murder
one prisoner identified as A. Kh. was hanged in public in the city of Ghochan. He was convicted of murder
- MAY 20, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
five people were hanged in the Rajaishahr prison of Karaj, reported Iranian state broadcasting
five people were hanged in the Rajaishahr prison of Karaj, reported Iranian state broadcasting
- MAY 19, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
a man identified as Ayoub Torkamani was hanged in the municipality’s soccer field in
a man identified as Ayoub Torkamani was hanged in the municipality’s soccer field in
MAY 19, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: AT LEAST FIVE PEOPLE EXECUTED
Five prisoners were hanged in two Iranian cities in the morning, reported Iranian state media.
MAY 19, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE PRISONERS HANGED IN SHIRAZ
MAY 12, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SEVEN PRISONERS SECRETLY HANGED IN SHIRAZ
In a prison in the southern city of Shiraz, Iranian regime’s henchmen secretly hanged seven prisoners on May 10 and 12.
MAY 9, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE PRISONERS HANGED FOR MURDER
Five prisoners were hanged in two different prisons in Iran in the morning.
MAY 7, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 14 PRISONERS HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
14 prisoners were hanged in Iran between May 6 and 7 for drug related charges.
- MAY 3, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
in a secret and collective execution, 20 prisoners were hanged in the Karaj Central Prison, said Human
in a secret and collective execution, 20 prisoners were hanged in the Karaj Central Prison, said Human
- APRIL 30, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED IN SANANDAJ, MASHHAD
two prisoners have been hanged in Iran, Hrana reported.
- APRIL 26, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 4 PRISONERS HANGED IN ARAK PRISON
Four prisoners were hanged in the morning in Arak city.
APRIL 23, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: NINE PRISONERS HANGED IN BANDAR ABBAS
Iran hanged a group of nine men including a 70-year-old who had been held in prison for the past fourteen years, allegedly for drug-related offences.
- APRIL 23, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 5 PRISONERS HANGED IN KERMAN AND JIROFT
Five prisoners who had been charged with drug related crimes, went to the gallows, in Kerman city and
- APRIL 22, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 9 PRISONERS EXECUTED IN SHIRAZ
9 death row prisoners were hanged in Adel Abad prison in Shiraz.
APRIL 21, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWENTY PRISONERS EXECUTED FOR DRUG RELATED CHARGES
Twenty prisoners were hanged for drug related charges between 16 and 20 April in three different Iranian cities.
- APRIL 18, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
According to a report from inside Iran, 4 prisoners were hanged in Zahedan’s Central Prison, east of the
According to a report from inside Iran, 4 prisoners were hanged in Zahedan’s Central Prison, east of the
- APRIL 13, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
Four prisoners with drug-related charges were executed in Esfahan prison, according to the report of
Four prisoners with drug-related charges were executed in Esfahan prison, according to the report of
- APRIL 13, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 8 PRISONERS HANGED IN A PRISON IN KARAJ
The Iranian regime’s henchmen in Central Prison in the city of Karaj hanged eight prisoners.
- APRIL 12, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
One prisoner was hanged in the city of Mehriz (Yazd Province, Central Iran) early Sunday morning April 12, reported the Iranian state media.
One prisoner was hanged in the city of Mehriz (Yazd Province, Central Iran) early Sunday morning April 12, reported the Iranian state media.
- APRIL 11, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
According to unofficial reports two prisoners were hanged in the prison of Zahedan (Baluchistan Province, Southeastern Iran) Saturday morning, April 11.
According to unofficial reports two prisoners were hanged in the prison of Zahedan (Baluchistan Province, Southeastern Iran) Saturday morning, April 11.
APRIL 10, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE KURDISH POLITICAL PRISONERS SENTENCED TO DEATH CHARGED WITH ‘ENMITY AGAINST GOD’
Three Kurdish political prisoners have been tried and sentenced to death as a result of a trial held in the
- APRIL 4, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: INMATE HANGED IN ZABOL FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
The Iranian regime’s henchman in the city of Zabol (southeastern Iran) secretly hanged a man in the city’s main prison.
- MARCH 26, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 12 PRISONERS SECRETLY EXECUTED IN A DAY
Iran secretly hanged at least 12 inmates in prisons in cities of Shiraz and Mashhad.
MARCH 26, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SEVEN PRISONERS HANGED IN SHIRAZ
At least seven prisoners were hanged in a prison in the southern city of Shiraz.
MARCH 19, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO MORE HANGED IN PUBLIC IN JIROFT
two men were hanged in public in the city of Jiroft, reported the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).
MARCH 15, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE PRISONERS INCLUDING 3 AFGHANS HANGED IN ZAHEDAN AND SHIRAZ
At least five men, including three Afghani citizens, were hanged between March 14 and 15 in two Iranian prisons, said the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).
- MARCH 11, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 3 PRISONERS HANGED IN URUMIAH PRISON
Based on reliable sources from inside Iran, 3 prisoners who were identified as Salah-eddin Sherafat, from