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
- 9,155
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 9,155 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
JANUARY 20, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED ON DRUG CHARGES
Two prisoners were reportedly hanged on the morning at Khorammabad's Parsilon Prison (western Iran) on drug related charges.
- JANUARY 19, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: NINE PRISONERS HANGED ON DRUG CHARGES
At least nine prisoners have been hanged in Iran on drug charges in the last days.
- JANUARY 18, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
A juvenile prisoner was hanged at Tabriz Prison, the human rights news agency HRANA reported.
A juvenile prisoner was hanged at Tabriz Prison, the human rights news agency HRANA reported.
JANUARY 18, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE EXECUTED, INCLUDING 2 AFGHAN NATIONALS
five prisoners were reportedly hanged in Iran in two different cities.
- JANUARY 17, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
five people were executed in two different cities on drug related charges. A 36-year-old prisoner, identified
five people were executed in two different cities on drug related charges. A 36-year-old prisoner, identified
JANUARY 16, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN PUBLIC FOR MURDER
A prisoner was hanged in the village of Bektash near Miandoab (northwestern Iran), reported official Iranian news agencies.
- JANUARY 15, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
two prisoners, identified as Akbar K. and Morteza H., were executed in the Central Prison of Qazvin for
two prisoners, identified as Akbar K. and Morteza H., were executed in the Central Prison of Qazvin for
- JANUARY 15, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
A juvenile prisoner who was convicted of murder at the age of 16, was executed in Kerman (southeastern Iran).
A juvenile prisoner who was convicted of murder at the age of 16, was executed in Kerman (southeastern Iran).
JANUARY 15, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: JUVENILE OFFENDER EXECUTED IN KERMAN PRISON
Arman Bahr Asemani was hanged in Kerman Prison along with an older co-defendant, Shams Allah R.
- JANUARY 14, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
two prisoners were executed on drug charges at Dizel Abad Prison in Kermanshah, Iran Human Rights
two prisoners were executed on drug charges at Dizel Abad Prison in Kermanshah, Iran Human Rights
JANUARY 14, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 14 PRISONERS EXECUTED AT KARAJ CENTRAL PRISON
According to close sources, at least 14 prisoners were reportedly hanged at Karaj Central Prison on drug related charges.
JANUARY 14, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: AT LEAST 5 PRISONERS EXECUTED AT RAJAI SHAHR PRISON
At least five prisoners were reportedly executed at Karaj's Rajai Shahr Prison. According to close sources,
JANUARY 12, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: ‘ENSAMBLE CONTRE LA PEINE DE MORT’ ALERTS FIFA THAT IN IRAN PEOPLE ARE EXECUTED IN FOOTBALL STADIUMS
In a letter sent by Raphael Chenuil-Hazan, President of “Ensamble contre la peine de mort-Together
JANUARY 8, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO HANGED IN PUBLIC FOR 'WAGING WAR AGAINST GOD’
Two prisoners were hanged in public in the city of Sarpol-e Zahab (Kermanshah province, western Iran) on Moharebeh charges.
JANUARY 4, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR PRISONERS EXECUTED ON ARMED ROBBERY, DRUG RELATED CHARGES
Iran reportedly hanged three prisoners at Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj and one prisoner at Lakan central prison in Rasht.
- JANUARY 3, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: FOUR PRISONERS EXECUTED ON DRUG RELATED CHARGES
Four prisoners were reportedly executed at Karaj Central Prison on drug related charges. Close sources
JANUARY 2, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PROTEST OUTSIDE TEHRAN PRISON IN SUPPORT OF HUNGER STRIKING ACTIVIST ARASH SADEGHI
Hundreds of people have marched on Tehran's Evin Prison to demand the release of a student activist who has been on hunger strike for 71 days.
JANUARY 2, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED ON DRUG CHARGES
A prisoner identified as Nosrat Khazai was reportedly hanged at Ghazvin's central prison (northern Iran) on drug related charges.
- JANUARY 1, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
In accordance with Article 4 of the Iranian Constitution...
In accordance with Article 4 of the Iranian Constitution...
- DECEMBER 28, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PUBLIC FLOGGING SENTENCE CARRIED OUT
According to eyewitnesses, flogging punishment of a young man charged with theft, and whose identity is
DECEMBER 25, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO AMPUTATION SENTENCES CARRIED OUT
Amputation verdicts of two prisoners were carried out in the prison of Urmia (Northwestern Iran).
DECEMBER 22, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER EXECUTED IN PUBLIC
A prisoner was hanged in public in the city of Ilam, Western Iran, on rape charges
DECEMBER 19, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYUN GENERAL ASSEMBLY REBUKES IRAN FOR HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD
Today the international community firmly denounced a wide range of human rights violations in Iran.
DECEMBER 15, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR PRISONERS EXECUTED IN KARAJ CENTRAL PRISON
Iranian regime executed four prisoners in Karaj Central Prison, west of Tehran, on drug related charges, reports indicate.
- DECEMBER 15, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER EXECUTED ON DRUG RELATED CHARGES
A prisoner sentenced to death on drug related charges was reportedly executed at Bandar Abbas Central Prison (Hormozgan province, southern Iran), according to close sources.
- DECEMBER 14, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: ONE PRISONER HANGED FOR DRUG CHARGES
The website of the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported about the execution of one
- DECEMBER 11, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TEN PRISONERS HANGED ON THE SAME DAY
Ten prisoners were reportedly hanged at Rajai Shahr Prison (Alborz province, northern Iran) on murder charges.
DECEMBER 7, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS EXECUTED
A prisoner was reportedly hanged at Dizel Abad Prison (Kermanshah province, western Iran) on
DECEMBER 3, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SUPREME COURT CONFIRMS DEATH SENTENCE FOR TYCOON
Iran's official IRNA news agency is reporting that the country's Supreme Court has confirmed the death
- NOVEMBER 30, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
24-year-old engineering student Amir bin Said was sentenced to death by a Saudi court for posting pictures
24-year-old engineering student Amir bin Said was sentenced to death by a Saudi court for posting pictures