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
AUGUST 7, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO MEN HANGED IN PUBLIC
Two men were publicly hanged in the city of Kermanshah (Western Iran), reported the Iranian state media.
AUGUST 6, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SIX PRISONERS EXECUTED IN SHIRAZ AND KARAJ
Six prisoners were hanged in the cities of Shiraz and Karaj, Iran.
AUGUST 3, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE PUBLIC EXECUTIONS IN SHIRAZ
Three prisoners were hanged in public in the city of Shiraz (Southern Iran), reported the Iranian state media.
JULY 23, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 10 PRISONERS INCLUDING 4 WOMEN HANGED
Iran hanged at least 10 prisoners including four women last Sunday (July 20) and Monday (July 21).
JULY 21, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 32-YEAR-OLD DEFENDANT SENTENCED TO DEATH BY STONING
A local court in Iran’s northern Mazandaran Province sentenced a 32-year-old defendant to death by
- JUNE 26, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
eleven men were hanged in Ghezelhesar prison of Karaj, reported the National Council of Resistance of
eleven men were hanged in Ghezelhesar prison of Karaj, reported the National Council of Resistance of
- JUNE 25, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
Two prisoners were executed in the prison of Rajaishahr, in Karaj, Iran Human Rights
Two prisoners were executed in the prison of Rajaishahr, in Karaj, Iran Human Rights
- JUNE 25, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 10 PRISONERS HANGED IN URUMIEH PRISON
Ten prisoners were hanged in the city of Urumieh, in northwestern Iran.
JUNE 23, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SEVEN PRISONERS EXECUTED FOR DRUG-RELATED CHARGES
Seven prisoners were hanged in the prison of Rasht (Northern Iran) reported the official website of the
JUNE 19, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: EIGHT MORE PRISONERS HANGED IN BIRJAND AND YAZD
Eight prisoners were executed in two Iranian prisons. Five of them were executed on charge of drug
- JUNE 15, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
a prisoner identified only as H. J. was executed for drug trafficking in the prison of Shahr Kord, Jahanbin
a prisoner identified only as H. J. was executed for drug trafficking in the prison of Shahr Kord, Jahanbin
JUNE 14, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TEN PRISONERS HANGED ON FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF HASSAN ROUHANI'S PRESIDENCY
The Iranian regime's henchmen hanged at least ten imamates in a prison in northwestern city of Uromiyeh on
- JUNE 12, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
a prisoner identified only as A. N. was hanged for murder in the prison of Zanjan, reported the Iranian
a prisoner identified only as A. N. was hanged for murder in the prison of Zanjan, reported the Iranian
- JUNE 12, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
two prisoners – Ali Chebishat, 48, and Seyyed Khald Mousavi, 35 – were hanged for Moharebeh in
two prisoners – Ali Chebishat, 48, and Seyyed Khald Mousavi, 35 – were hanged for Moharebeh in
JUNE 12, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO AHWAZI ARAB ACTIVISTS EXECUTED
Iran Human Rights reported that two Ahwazi Arab prisoners, Ali Chebeishat and Sayed Khaled Mousavi,
- JUNE 11, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 3 PRISONERS HANGED IN RAJAI SHAHR
three prisoners were hanged on charge of murder in the Rajai Shahr Prison of Karaj. Two of them were
- JUNE 10, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the state run Iranian news agency Mehr, a prisoner identified as Abbas M
According to the state run Iranian news agency Mehr, a prisoner identified as Abbas M
- JUNE 10, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
A prisoner was hanged in the main prison in the city of Zahedan.
A prisoner was hanged in the main prison in the city of Zahedan.
- JUNE 10, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
a 23-year-old juvenile offender, identified as Amir Sardhaee, was hanged in the central prison of Tabriz for
a 23-year-old juvenile offender, identified as Amir Sardhaee, was hanged in the central prison of Tabriz for
- JUNE 9, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
According to reliable sources Iran Human Rights (IHR) has been in contact with, a prisoner
According to reliable sources Iran Human Rights (IHR) has been in contact with, a prisoner
- JUNE 9, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
a prisoner identified as Yasin Kord, 30, was executed for murder in the prison of Zahedan, Human Rights
a prisoner identified as Yasin Kord, 30, was executed for murder in the prison of Zahedan, Human Rights
- JUNE 8, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
A prisoner was hanged in the prison of Sari (Northern Iran) reported the official website of
A prisoner was hanged in the prison of Sari (Northern Iran) reported the official website of
- JUNE 8, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
The iranian regime hanged three prisoners in the central prison of Bandar Abbas.
The iranian regime hanged three prisoners in the central prison of Bandar Abbas.
- JUNE 7, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
four people were collectively hanged in the Shahr-e-Kord Prison.
four people were collectively hanged in the Shahr-e-Kord Prison.
- JUNE 7, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
A man was executed in Tabriz (Northwestern Iran), according to the website Oyannews. According
A man was executed in Tabriz (Northwestern Iran), according to the website Oyannews. According
JUNE 2, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: ONE PRISONER HANGED IN BANDAR ABBAS
One prisoner was hanged in the prison of Bandar Abbas (Southern Iran) reported the official website of the Iranian Judiciary in Hormozgan Province.
- JUNE 1, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
A 49 years-old Iranian dissident, Gholamreza Khosravi Savajani, was hanged in the Rajaishahr prison of
A 49 years-old Iranian dissident, Gholamreza Khosravi Savajani, was hanged in the Rajaishahr prison of
MAY 28, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: WOMAN HANGED BY HER MOTHER-IN-LAW IN AMOL
a 28-year-old woman, who allegedly had killed her husband, was hanged by the man's mother in the prison of Amol, reported FARS News Agency.
- MAY 26, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: ONE PRISONER HANGED IN QAZVIN
One prisoner was hanged in the prison of Qazvin, reported the official website of the Iranian Judiciary
MAY 24, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAIN CONVICT IN BIGGEST BANKING FRAUD HANGED IN TEHRAN
Iran hanged the first of four men sentenced to death for a massive financial scam that tainted the government of former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Tehran’s Public Prosecutor’s Office said.