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
- 8,611
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 8,611 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 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
- JANUARY 26, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
The Iranian regime has hanged three prisoners including a woman in the Lorestan province.
The Iranian regime has hanged three prisoners including a woman in the Lorestan province.
- JANUARY 26, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
seven men were hanged at Ghezel Hesar prison of Karaj for drug related crimes, Azeri-Press Agency
seven men were hanged at Ghezel Hesar prison of Karaj for drug related crimes, Azeri-Press Agency
- JANUARY 25, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
BasNews, an independent news agency based in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, reported
BasNews, an independent news agency based in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, reported
- JANUARY 24, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
A prisoner has been executed in the main prison in the northern Iranian city of Sari, regime officials
A prisoner has been executed in the main prison in the northern Iranian city of Sari, regime officials
- JANUARY 23, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
Seven prisoners were secretly hanged in the central prison of Bandar Abbas between 22 and 23 January
Seven prisoners were secretly hanged in the central prison of Bandar Abbas between 22 and 23 January
JANUARY 23, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SEVEN PRISONERS HANGED IN KERMANSHAH
The Iranian regime executed seven prisoners in the central prison of the city of Kermanshah in western
- JANUARY 22, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
a prisoner, who was identified as Shahsavar Raeesi, was hanged in the central prison of Zahedan, reported
a prisoner, who was identified as Shahsavar Raeesi, was hanged in the central prison of Zahedan, reported
JANUARY 22, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: UN RIGHTS EXPERTS ‘ALARMED’ AT SHARP INCREASE IN HANGINGS, URGES HALT TO EXECUTIONS
Independent United Nations human rights expert today called on the Government of Iran
- JANUARY 21, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
a young man identified as Sajjad Pour-Najaf was hanged in the prison of Tabriz, unofficial sources
a young man identified as Sajjad Pour-Najaf was hanged in the prison of Tabriz, unofficial sources
- JANUARY 20, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
Changiz Shahnavazi, a prisoner accused of murder, was hanged in the central prison of Zahedan, reported
Changiz Shahnavazi, a prisoner accused of murder, was hanged in the central prison of Zahedan, reported
- JANUARY 17, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
one man was hanged in the prison of Meshginshahr, Ardebil Province, reported Aranmoghan news
one man was hanged in the prison of Meshginshahr, Ardebil Province, reported Aranmoghan news
- JANUARY 17, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN YASOOJ
A 45 years-old prisoner was executed on charge of drug trafficking in Yasooj prison, Iran.
- JANUARY 15, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
a shocking report by the inmates leaked out of Adelabad Prison in Shiraz, disclosing unceasing clandestine
a shocking report by the inmates leaked out of Adelabad Prison in Shiraz, disclosing unceasing clandestine
JANUARY 15, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SIX PRISONERS HANGED FOR DRUG RELATED CHARGES
Six prisoners were hanged in two different Iranian prisons early this morning. The state run Iranian news
- JANUARY 14, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
According to reliable sources in Iran 12 prisoners were hanged in the Rajaishahr prison of Karaj (west
According to reliable sources in Iran 12 prisoners were hanged in the Rajaishahr prison of Karaj (west
- JANUARY 14, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
one man was hanged in public in Saveh (southwest of Tehran), reported the state run Iranian news agency
one man was hanged in public in Saveh (southwest of Tehran), reported the state run Iranian news agency
- JANUARY 14, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
Iranian state media reported about execution of a prisoner in the prison of Ardebil (northwestern
Iranian state media reported about execution of a prisoner in the prison of Ardebil (northwestern
- JANUARY 14, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the state run Iranian news agency Fars, five prisoners were hanged in the Adelabad
According to the state run Iranian news agency Fars, five prisoners were hanged in the Adelabad
- JANUARY 13, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
at least one public execution was carried out in Sirjan, Kerman Province, of an individual convicted of
at least one public execution was carried out in Sirjan, Kerman Province, of an individual convicted of
- JANUARY 12, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the official Iranian news agency IRNA, a 45 year old prisoner was hanged
According to the official Iranian news agency IRNA, a 45 year old prisoner was hanged
- JANUARY 11, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
According to Tasnimnews two prisoners convicted of murder were hanged in the prison of Sari (
According to Tasnimnews two prisoners convicted of murder were hanged in the prison of Sari (
- JANUARY 9, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
two people, who were identified as Gh. D. and M. A., were executed in Bandar Abbas, reported the Iran
two people, who were identified as Gh. D. and M. A., were executed in Bandar Abbas, reported the Iran
- JANUARY 9, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: THREE PRISONERS HANGED IN OROMIYEH PRISON
The Iranian regime has hanged three prisoners in the main prison in the city of Oromiyeh, in western Iran
- JANUARY 8, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED IN MASHHAD FOR MURDER
two prisoners were hanged in the prison of Mashhad, Iran.
- JANUARY 7, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: THREE PRISONERS HANGED IN QAZVIN
three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Qazvin, after being convicted of drug related crimes, FARS
- JANUARY 7, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: ONE YOUNG MAN HANGED IN GACHSARAN
A young man charged with premeditated murder was hanged in the morning
JANUARY 5, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN SARI FOR MURDER
One prisoner was hanged in the prison of Sari (Northern Iran) today, reported the official Iranian news agency IRNA.
- JANUARY 1, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
In accordance with Article 4 of the Iranian Constitution...
In accordance with Article 4 of the Iranian Constitution...
- DECEMBER 30, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: AT LEAST 1 PRISONER HANGED IN ZAHEDAN
At least one prisoner was hanged on charge of murder in central prison of Zahedan