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
- MARCH 2, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
Hassan Zolfaghari, 23, was executed in Zahedan Central Prison, reported Human Rights and
Hassan Zolfaghari, 23, was executed in Zahedan Central Prison, reported Human Rights and
- MARCH 1, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
three prisoners, identified as A. Sh., H. M. and M. S., were executed in the Central Prison of Rasht,
three prisoners, identified as A. Sh., H. M. and M. S., were executed in the Central Prison of Rasht,
- MARCH 1, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
two prisoners, identified as M. M. and M. P., were executed in Rasht Central Prison, reported the IRIB
two prisoners, identified as M. M. and M. P., were executed in Rasht Central Prison, reported the IRIB
- FEBRUARY 27, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
one prisoner was hanged on charge of murder in Mashhad prison, Khorasan Newspaper reported. On the same day, another prisoner
one prisoner was hanged on charge of murder in Mashhad prison, Khorasan Newspaper reported. On the same day, another prisoner
- FEBRUARY 26, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), four prisoners were
according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), four prisoners were
- FEBRUARY 26, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
another people, identified as M. B., was executed in Rasht Central Prison, after being
another people, identified as M. B., was executed in Rasht Central Prison, after being
- FEBRUARY 26, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
a prisoner identified as F. J., was executed in Rasht Central Prison after being convicted of murder,
a prisoner identified as F. J., was executed in Rasht Central Prison after being convicted of murder,
FEBRUARY 26, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 6 HANGED PUBLICLY IN ALBORZ REGION
six people were hanged publicly in Alborz Region.
FEBRUARY 25, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED IN SEMNAN PRISON
Two prisoners were hanged in the northern city of Semnan, the Iranian regime's judiciary in the province has
- FEBRUARY 25, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: THREE PUBLIC EXECUTIONS IN A DAY
three prisoners were hanged in public in the neighbourhood of Islam in Abad Karaj on charge of Enmity
- FEBRUARY 24, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
two prisoners, identified as H. N. and A. N., were hanged in the Central Prison of Semnan after being
two prisoners, identified as H. N. and A. N., were hanged in the Central Prison of Semnan after being
- FEBRUARY 19, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the state run Mehr news agency two prisoners were hanged in the prison of Noshahr
According to the state run Mehr news agency two prisoners were hanged in the prison of Noshahr
FEBRUARY 19, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWELVE EXECUTIONS INCLUDING TWO IN PUBLIC
twelve prisoners were executed in six different Iranian cities. Two executions were carried out in public.
- FEBRUARY 18, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWENTY PRISONERS HANGED IN FOUR DIFFERENT CITIES
twenty prisoners were hanged in four different Iranian cities.
- FEBRUARY 17, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
Mehr news agency reported about the execution of two prisoners in the prison of Zanjan (north-west of
Mehr news agency reported about the execution of two prisoners in the prison of Zanjan (north-west of
FEBRUARY 15, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED IN PUBLIC IN KARAJ
Two men were hanged in public in the city of Karaj at 7 AM this morning, reported the Iranian state media.
- FEBRUARY 14, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
the Iranian Supreme Court upheld the death sentence for Rouhollah Tavana, a man who was arrested in
the Iranian Supreme Court upheld the death sentence for Rouhollah Tavana, a man who was arrested in
FEBRUARY 14, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONERS RELEASED FOR MEMORIZING THE QURAN
Sixteen prisoners on death row – five women and 11 men – were pardoned after they successfully
- FEBRUARY 13, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
a woman, Fataemeh Abbaspour, 45, was hanged in the city of Rodbar after serving nine years in prison,
a woman, Fataemeh Abbaspour, 45, was hanged in the city of Rodbar after serving nine years in prison,
FEBRUARY 13, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO MEN HANGED IN SHIRAZ
Two men were hanged in Iran's southern city of Shiraz this morning, Iranian Tasnim news agency reported.
FEBRUARY 13, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 2 PRISONERS WERE HANGED IN MASHHAD
two prisoners were hanged in Vakil Abad prison of Mashhad, reported the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).
FEBRUARY 12, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: DEATH ROW IRANIAN TEENAGER AWAITING EXECUTION WHEN HE TURNS 18
A 16-year-old boy has been sentenced to death in Iran for accidentally killing a friend during a brawl - and
FEBRUARY 10, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 15 PRISONERS HANGED IN CHABAHAR PRISON
The judiciary of Sistan province has executed 15 prisoners in Chabahar prison.
- FEBRUARY 6, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED IN BANDAR ABBAS
According to the official website of the Iranian Judiciary in Hormozgan province, two prisoners were
FEBRUARY 6, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: THREE IRANIANS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Three Iranians were sentenced to death at a High Court in Malaysia today for trafficking a total of 2.324
FEBRUARY 5, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN WHO SURVIVED EXECUTION GETS LIFE SENTENCE
an Iranian man who revived in the morgue after being hanged was sentenced to life imprisonment, Iran's Mehr news agency reported.
FEBRUARY 1, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: A PRISONER HANGED IN ZAHEDAN PRISON
Iran hanged a prisoner in Zahedan prison, reported the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). As
JANUARY 30, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 5 EXECUTIONS IN PRISON OF UREMIA
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), 5 of the 6 death row
JANUARY 29, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO AHWAZI ACTIVISTS EXECUTED
According to sources Iran Human Rights (IHR) has been in contact with, two Ahwazi Arab activists Hadi Rashedi and Hashem Shabani have been executed.
JANUARY 28, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN PUBLIC IN QAZWIN
A prisoner was hanged in public in the Iranian city of Qazwin. Chilling photos showing every stage of