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
MAY 31, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: HANDS OFF CAIN ASKS THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT TO INTERVENE ON AN ANTI-SEMITIC CARTOON CONTEST
Hands Off Cain asks the Italian Government to take a stand on yet another anti-Semitic event staged by the
- MAY 30, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
An unnamed 40-year-old prisoner, was hanged in public in the town of Noor in Mazandaran, according to
An unnamed 40-year-old prisoner, was hanged in public in the town of Noor in Mazandaran, according to
MAY 30, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PUBLIC EXECUTIONS CARRIED OUT
Iran’s regime has publicly hanged two men in Fars Province, southern Iran, and Mazandaran Province,
- MAY 29, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
A man identified only by his surname Zohrabi, was hanged in public in the town of Kovar, 40 kilometers south of Shiraz, the provincial capital in Fars.
A man identified only by his surname Zohrabi, was hanged in public in the town of Kovar, 40 kilometers south of Shiraz, the provincial capital in Fars.
- MAY 26, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN HANGED IN PUBLIC IN SHIRAZ
Iran publicly hanged a man in the southern city of Shiraz.
- MAY 25, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran’s regime executed 11 prisoners in their twenties, including at least one who is believed to have been a minor at the time of his alleged offence.
Iran’s regime executed 11 prisoners in their twenties, including at least one who is believed to have been a minor at the time of his alleged offence.
MAY 25, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 14 PRISONERS EXECUTED IN TWO DAYS
14 prisoners have been executed in Iran in two days.
- MAY 24, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
Three prisoners were executed in Karaj’s Qezelhesar Prison. One of them was identified as Ruhollah
Three prisoners were executed in Karaj’s Qezelhesar Prison. One of them was identified as Ruhollah
MAY 20, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE KURDISH RIGHTS ACTIVISTS PUBLICLY EXECUTED IN URMIA
Authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran executed five Kurdish rights activists in the northwestern Urmia
MAY 18, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE PRISONERS HANGED
At least five prisoners were executed in different iranian prisons.
- MAY 18, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO MURDER CONVICTS EXECUTED AT URMIA CENTRAL PRISON
The human rights news agency HRANA and the Kurdistan Human Rights Network report on the execution
MAY 17, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 13 PEOPLE HANGED ON THE SAME DAY, INCLUDING ONE MAN IN PUBLIC
Iran’s fundamentalist regime hanged at least 13 people on the same day, including one man in public.
- MAY 16, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN ISFAHAN
- MAY 14, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
Three prisoners were hanged in the Central Prison of Rasht, northern Iran, according to the regime's
Three prisoners were hanged in the Central Prison of Rasht, northern Iran, according to the regime's
MAY 14, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR MORE PRISONERS HANGED
Iran is continuing its heightening execution spree, hanging at least four more prisoners in the past three days.
- MAY 12, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
Behnam Mohammadi, 35, was hanged in Maragheh Prison, north-west Iran, after serving five years behind
Behnam Mohammadi, 35, was hanged in Maragheh Prison, north-west Iran, after serving five years behind
MAY 11, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED IN KARAJ
Two prisoners with murder charges were reportedly hanged at Karaj's Rajai Shahr Prison (northern Iran).
MAY 9, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS WITH MURDER CHARGES HANGED IN WEST AZERBAIJAN
Two prisoners with murder charges were reportedly hanged at Darya, Urmia's central prison (in the province of West Azerbaijan, northwestern Iran).
MAY 8, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PUBLIC EXECUTION IN KERMANSHAH
One prisoner was hanged publicly in the "Azadi" (Liberty) Square of Kermanshah, western Iran.
- MAY 3, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran’s judiciary in Ardebil Province said two unnamed prisoners were hanged in Ardebil Central Prison
Iran’s judiciary in Ardebil Province said two unnamed prisoners were hanged in Ardebil Central Prison
MAY 3, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN REGIME HANGS ANOTHER 5 PRISONERS
The mullahs’ regime in Iran hanged five prisoners, including a man in public.
- MAY 3, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: FIVE MORE PRISONERS HANGED
Five prisoners at least have been executed in Iran in the last three days.
- MAY 1, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
The regime's judiciary in Hamedan Province, western Iran, said that the authorities have hanged a prisoner,
The regime's judiciary in Hamedan Province, western Iran, said that the authorities have hanged a prisoner,
- MAY 1, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
Two unnamed prisoners, aged 25 and 28, were hanged at dawn in Mashhad Central Prison. The 28-year-
Two unnamed prisoners, aged 25 and 28, were hanged at dawn in Mashhad Central Prison. The 28-year-
- APRIL 28, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO EXECUTED FOR DRUG OFFENCES
Two prisoners were hanged in the morning in the Central Prison of Karaj (west of Tehran).
- APRIL 27, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
six prisoners were collectively hanged in Gohardasht (Rajai Shahr) Prison. One of the prisoners by the name
six prisoners were collectively hanged in Gohardasht (Rajai Shahr) Prison. One of the prisoners by the name
APRIL 27, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 10 MORE PRISONERS EXECUTED
10 prisoners have been executed in Iran in the last two days.
- APRIL 26, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
three young men of 22 to 30 years old were executed in Zahedan’s central prison while another prisoner
three young men of 22 to 30 years old were executed in Zahedan’s central prison while another prisoner
- APRIL 20, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN BANDAR ABBAS
According to a report by the Judiciary in Hormozgan, a prisoner, identified as H.M. (31 years old), was
APRIL 20, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 8 PEOPLE HANGED IN PRISONS
Iran's fundamentalist regime has hanged four prisoners in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan, central Iran, and another four in Orumieh, north-west Iran.