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
NOVEMBER 10, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: AT LEAST FIVE PRISONERS HANGED IN TWO DAYS
At least five prisoners were executed in Iran in two days, for different crimes.
- NOVEMBER 9, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
Two prisoners were reportedly hanged at Tabriz Prison on alleged murder charges. Although Iranian official
Two prisoners were reportedly hanged at Tabriz Prison on alleged murder charges. Although Iranian official
NOVEMBER 9, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE PRISONERS HANGED ON ALLEGED DRUG CHARGES
Iranian authorities reportedly hanged three prisoners to death between November 8-9 on alleged drug
NOVEMBER 9, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED BY CRANE IN PUBLIC
A prisoner identified as "A.S." was hanged by crane in public on rape charges. The hanging was reportedly
NOVEMBER 8, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR PRISONERS HANGED ON DRUG CHARGES
Four prisoners were reportedly hanged in the morning at Karaj Central Prison on drug related charges.
NOVEMBER 7, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: KURDISH MINOR SENTENCED TO DEATH
An Iranian Kurdish teenager, convicted of murder, has been sentenced to death by Iranian judicial
NOVEMBER 5, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: GIRL ON DEATH ROW SINCE AGE 12 SAVED FROM EXECUTION
Somayeh was 12 years old when she was arrested by Iranian authorities for allegedly participating in the
NOVEMBER 4, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE PRISONERS HANGED FOR MURDER
Two prisoners were reportedly hanged to death in the morning at Rajai Shahr Prison on murder charges.
NOVEMBER 1, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED IN PUBLIC
Two prisoners, both reportedly 30 years old, were hanged in public in Aliabad-e Katul (a city located in the province of Golestan) early in the morning.
- OCTOBER 26, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
at least seven murder convicts were hanged at Kermanshah's Dizel Abad Prison, reported Iran Human
at least seven murder convicts were hanged at Kermanshah's Dizel Abad Prison, reported Iran Human
OCTOBER 19, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYU.N. CONDEMNS IRAN'S EXECUTION OF MINORS, NOTES 'WORRYING TREND'
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned Iran's execution of two minors last week,
OCTOBER 13, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: JUVENILE OFFENDER FATEMEH SALBEHI HANGED
Iranian authorities have executed the juvenile offender Fatemeh Salbehi, according to Iran Human Rights' sources.
OCTOBER 12, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE PRISONERS HANGED IN PUBLIC
The mullahs' regime hanged three prisoners in public in Kazeroun, southern Iran.
- OCTOBER 12, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: SIX PRISONERS HANGED IN CENTRAL PRISON OF KARAJ
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), six prisoners - Bahman
- OCTOBER 11, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran's fundamentalist regime hanged a man in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas after serving 15 years
Iran's fundamentalist regime hanged a man in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas after serving 15 years
OCTOBER 11, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 4 PRISONERS HANGED
Iran's fundamentalist regime hanged four prisoners in the last two days.
- OCTOBER 10, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran hanged three prisoners in the central prison of Rasht, northern Iran, on the World Day Against the
Iran hanged three prisoners in the central prison of Rasht, northern Iran, on the World Day Against the
OCTOBER 7, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE PRISONERS EXECUTED IN KARAJ
three prisoners were executed at Karaj's Rajai Shahr Prison, the website of the General Directorate of Prisons and Security and Corrective Measures in Tehran reported.
- OCTOBER 6, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
Farzad Ahmadpanah was hanged for murder in the prison of Sanandaj, reported the Human Rights
Farzad Ahmadpanah was hanged for murder in the prison of Sanandaj, reported the Human Rights
- OCTOBER 6, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
a juvenile offender, Samad Zahabi, was secretly hanged for a murder he allegedly committed at 17,
a juvenile offender, Samad Zahabi, was secretly hanged for a murder he allegedly committed at 17,
- OCTOBER 6, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: FOUR PRISONERS EXECUTED
The mullahs hanged four men in northern and southern Iran.
- OCTOBER 5, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
two men were hanged for murder in the Vakilabad prison of Mashhad, reported the daily newspaper
two men were hanged for murder in the Vakilabad prison of Mashhad, reported the daily newspaper
OCTOBER 4, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN HANGED, 9 OTHERS AT IMMINENT RISK OF EXECUTION
Iran's fundamentalist regime hanged a prisoner in southern Iran and transferred at least nine other death-row
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED TO TWO YEARS' THEOLOGY STUDY
An Iranian man who was on death row for allegedly insulting the prophet Muhammad has had his sentence
- SEPTEMBER 21, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO MEN HANGED IN THE PRISON OF RASHT AND ONE IN PUBLIC IN THE CITY OF ARDESTAN
Three prisoners were hanged in Iran on September 16 and 19.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: YOUNG PRISONER EXECUTED IN MASHHAD FOR HARASSING WOMAN
A young prisoner, who was charged with the harassment of a woman and then sentenced to death, was
- SEPTEMBER 19, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
two men accused of drug smuggling were hanged in Rasht's central prison, reported the
two men accused of drug smuggling were hanged in Rasht's central prison, reported the
- SEPTEMBER 16, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
a man identified as Saeed Zargari was hanged in public in the city of Ardestan, announced
a man identified as Saeed Zargari was hanged in public in the city of Ardestan, announced
- SEPTEMBER 16, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER EXECUTED IN SANANDAJ
Iran's fundamentalist regime hanged a prisoner in the Kurdish city of Sanandaj, western Iran.
SEPTEMBER 15, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SEVEN PRISONERS HANGED IN BIRJAND AND TABRIZ PRISONS
Seven prisoners have been hanged in Birjand and Tabriz Prisons in the last days.