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
- NOVEMBER 26, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the official website of the Iranian Judiciary in Qazvin, a prisoner identified as “M. Sh
According to the official website of the Iranian Judiciary in Qazvin, a prisoner identified as “M. Sh
- NOVEMBER 26, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
A group of five inmates were hanged in Gohardasht prison in the city of Karaj. They were part of a group of
A group of five inmates were hanged in Gohardasht prison in the city of Karaj. They were part of a group of
- NOVEMBER 26, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
two men named as Ali M and Ali Q were hanged in public for 'mischief' in north-eastern city of Mashhad.
two men named as Ali M and Ali Q were hanged in public for 'mischief' in north-eastern city of Mashhad.
- NOVEMBER 24, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
a 38-year-old father of two children, Reza Karimdadzehi son of Eisa, was executed in the Central Prison of
a 38-year-old father of two children, Reza Karimdadzehi son of Eisa, was executed in the Central Prison of
NOVEMBER 24, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SUPREME COURT UPHELD A DEATH SENTENCE FOR INSULTING THE PROPHET ON FACEBOOK
Branch 41 of the Iranian Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence of the blogger Soheil Arabi for insulting the Prophet on the Facebook.
NOVEMBER 22, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR MEN LASHED IN PUBLIC FOR ‘MISCHIEF’
The Iranian regime henchmen lashed four men for “mischief” in public in a southern city.
- NOVEMBER 20, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN HANGED IN PUBLIC
A man was hanged in public in a northern city, a day after the United Nations
- NOVEMBER 18, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
UNITED NATIONS: HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE DEMANDS THAT IRAN STOP EXECUTIONS
The U.N. General Assembly human rights committee approved a resolution expressing deep concern about
NOVEMBER 15, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE YOUNG MEN HANGED IN PUBLIC IN BANDAR ABBAS
Three young men were publicly hanged in the city of Bandar Abbas (Southern Iran).
NOVEMBER 13, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SIX PRISONERS HANGED
Six more prisoners were hanged in Iran as the execution rate soars under so-called 'moderate' Hassan
NOVEMBER 12, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN HANGED IN PUBLIC IN THE CITY OF SHIRAZ
According to the official Iranian news agency IRNA one prisoner was hanged in public in the city of Shiraz
NOVEMBER 8, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN HANGED IN PUBLIC IN CITY OF MASHHAD
A 36 year old man was hanged in public in the city of Mashhad (Northeastern Iran) in the morning.
- NOVEMBER 1, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN SAYS NEARLY ALL EXECUTIONS DRUG-RELATED
Iran's top human rights official responded to UN criticism of the death penalty in his country by saying 93
OCTOBER 28, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 3 KURDS AND ONE IRANIAN EXECUTED IN URMIA
3 Kurds and an Iranian citizen were executed in the Urmia city of East Kurdistan.
OCTOBER 25, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: WOMAN CHARGED WITH MURDER HANGED
A 26- year old woman charged with murder was hanged in Iran early morning, Tehran Prosecutor’s Office said, Iranian ISNA news agency reported.
- OCTOBER 25, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: A PRISONER HANGED IN RAJAI SHAHR PRISON IN KARAJ
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), in the morning a prisoner
OCTOBER 25, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE PRISONERS HANGED FOR DRUG-RELATED CHARGES
Five prisoners were hanged in the prison of Rasht (Northern Iran) in the morning, reported the official
- OCTOBER 23, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), six inmates
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), six inmates
- OCTOBER 23, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), two prisoners were hanged
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), two prisoners were hanged
- OCTOBER 22, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER HANGED AFTER SIX YEARS ON DEATH ROW
a 35-year-old prisoner was executed in the prison of Amol, reported the state run news agency FARS. The
- OCTOBER 21, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 3 AFGHANS EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
At least three Afghans were hanged to death in Iran over drugs smuggling charges, Afghan officials said.
OCTOBER 19, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: EIGHT INMATES EXECUTED, SIX DIE IN A PRISON DUE TO DIRE CONDITIONS
eight inmates were hanged in Ghezel-Hessar Karaj Prison.
- OCTOBER 18, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: FOUR PRISONERS HANGED IN RASHT
four men were executed for drug-related charges in the main prison of Rasht, reported the official website of
OCTOBER 18, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: A TEENAGE BOY WAS SENT TO GALLOWS
A teenage boy identified as Fardin Jaffarian, 18, was hanged early in the morning in Tabriz Central prison,
OCTOBER 13, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SIX PRISONERS SECRETLY HANGED
The Iranian regime has secretly hanged at least six prisoners last week in three cities, according to reports
- OCTOBER 7, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: A PRISONER HANGED IN ZAHEDAN
Iranian authorities in the main prison of Zahedan hanged a 30-year-old man for murder early
- OCTOBER 6, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRANIAN CONVICTED IN CONTROVERSIAL MURDER CASE COULD ESCAPE DEATH SENTENCE
An Iranian woman facing the death sentence in a murder case that some have labeled a miscarriage of
- OCTOBER 2, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN DROPS DEATH-SENTENCE CARRYING CHARGES AGAINST PASTORS, CHRISTIANS
Iran has apparently dropped death-sentence carrying charges against two evangelical pastors and another
- SEPTEMBER 30, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: REYHANEH JABBARI EXECUTION POSTPONED AFTER CAMPAIGN
An Iranian woman due to be put to death for killing a man she said was trying to sexually abuse her is
- SEPTEMBER 24, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
one man was hanged in the prison of Noshahr early in the morning, FARS news agency reported. He was
one man was hanged in the prison of Noshahr early in the morning, FARS news agency reported. He was