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
- SEPTEMBER 24, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
two prisoners convicted of drug-related charges were executed in the prison of Qazvin, FARS reported.
two prisoners convicted of drug-related charges were executed in the prison of Qazvin, FARS reported.
SEPTEMBER 24, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN EXECUTED FOR ‘CORRUPTION ON EARTH’ AND HERESY
A 37-year-old prisoner of conscience, Mohsen Amir Aslani, was executed in Rajaishahr prison of Karaj,
SEPTEMBER 24, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE MORE EXECUTIONS CONFIRMED AT RAJAEE SHAHR PRISON
Three more prisoners were executed at the same time as Mohsen Amir Aslani who was hanged because of
- SEPTEMBER 21, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
two men who were not identified by name were hanged in the prison of Mashhad for murder, reported
two men who were not identified by name were hanged in the prison of Mashhad for murder, reported
- SEPTEMBER 20, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
five inmates, including two pakistani women, were hanged in the Central Prison of Zahedan for drug
five inmates, including two pakistani women, were hanged in the Central Prison of Zahedan for drug
- SEPTEMBER 18, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
eight prisoners charged with carrying and possessing drugs were executed by hanging in the
eight prisoners charged with carrying and possessing drugs were executed by hanging in the
- SEPTEMBER 18, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
five men were hanged in public in the province of Fars, IRNA news agency reported. According
five men were hanged in public in the province of Fars, IRNA news agency reported. According
SEPTEMBER 18, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE PEOPLE HANGED IN PUBLIC
Five men, whose names were not disclosed, were hanged in public in Iran's southern province of Fars, the Mehr news agency reported.
- SEPTEMBER 18, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: FOUR EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
four prisoners were hanged at the Central Prison of Bandar Abbas for drug trafficking, reported the official
- SEPTEMBER 16, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
The Iranian regime henchmen hanged a prisoner in city of Qum. He was identified as Q.S., state-run news
The Iranian regime henchmen hanged a prisoner in city of Qum. He was identified as Q.S., state-run news
- SEPTEMBER 16, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
Hamid Ghanbari and Felid Ghasrik were hanged for drug trafficking in Uromiyeh prison, Iran.
Hamid Ghanbari and Felid Ghasrik were hanged for drug trafficking in Uromiyeh prison, Iran.
- SEPTEMBER 15, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
A prisoner identified as Ali was hanged for drug trafficking in Uromiyeh prison, in north western
A prisoner identified as Ali was hanged for drug trafficking in Uromiyeh prison, in north western
- SEPTEMBER 11, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
Five prisoners were put to death in the prison of Ghezel Hesar in Karaj. On the same day
Five prisoners were put to death in the prison of Ghezel Hesar in Karaj. On the same day
SEPTEMBER 11, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: ONE WOMAN AND ONE MAN HANGED FOR DRUG-RELATED CHARGES
A 60-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man were hanged in the prison of Rasht for drug trafficking, reported the Iranian State Broadcasting IRIB.
- SEPTEMBER 10, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
A man and a woman were executed in Varamin, Iran.
A man and a woman were executed in Varamin, Iran.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO YOUNG MEN HANGED PUBLICLY IN HAMEDAN
Two men were hanged in public in the city of Hamedan (Western Iran) early in the morning, reported the
SEPTEMBER 6, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: A MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR INSULTING THE PROPHET
The Tehran-based court has been reportedly sentenced to death and 3 years in prison Souhail Arabi, a 30-
- SEPTEMBER 4, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
A prisoner identified as Alaedin Dijoihar was executed in the Central Prison of Orumieh, after being
A prisoner identified as Alaedin Dijoihar was executed in the Central Prison of Orumieh, after being
- SEPTEMBER 2, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
Two prisoners were hanged in public in two different towns in the Mazanderan province, reported the
Two prisoners were hanged in public in two different towns in the Mazanderan province, reported the
SEPTEMBER 1, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 15 EXECUTED ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2014
The clerical regime of Iran hanged 15 prisoners, reports regarding executions revealed.
AUGUST 28, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: EIGHT INMATES HANGED IN BANDAR ABBAS
the Iranian regime's authorities hanged a group of eight prisoners in the main prison of Bandar Abbas,
- AUGUST 26, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: FIVE PRISONERS HANGED IN BANDAR ABBAS INCLUDING A PAKISTANI CITIZEN
AUGUST 24, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO MEN HANGED IN PUBLIC IN BORAZJAN AND SARI
- AUGUST 23, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: THREE PRISONERS INCLUDING A WOMAN HANGED IN ZAHEDAN, PRISONER’S FOUR FINGERS AMPUTATED IN PUBLIC
- AUGUST 21, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO PUBLIC HANGINGS
AUGUST 18, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: ELEVEN PEOPLE HANGED IN KARAJ, A MAN EXECUTED IN PUBLIC IN MIANEH
- AUGUST 13, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: FOUR PRISONERS HANGED IN TWO DIFFERENT IRANIAN PRISONS
AUGUST 12, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: A 22-YEAR OLD MAN HANGED IN BIRJAND
- AUGUST 9, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: THREE PRISONERS HANGED IN KARAJ
- AUGUST 7, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: AT LEAST NINE PRISONERS EXECUTED IN RASHT AND ZAHEDAN, INCLUDING A JUVENILE OFFENDER HANGED ALONG WITH HIS MOTHER