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
NOVEMBER 24, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: A PRISONER IS HANGED IN PUBLIC IN KHONJ
A prisoner was hanged on charge of rape and murder in public in Khonj, Iran.
- NOVEMBER 23, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
a prisoner was hanged in Zahedan central prison
a prisoner was hanged in Zahedan central prison
NOVEMBER 21, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO WOMEN AND FOUR MEN HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Six prisoners among them two women were hanged in the prison of Yazd (Central Iran), reported the official site of the Iranian Judiciary in Yazd.
- NOVEMBER 19, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
UNITED NATIONS: HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE CRITICIZES IRANIAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
The UN General Assembly’s human rights committee criticized serious rights violations in Iran, including
- NOVEMBER 18, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
UNITED KINGDOM: PRESSURE ON BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO END SUPPORT FOR COUNTER-NARCOTICS PROGRAMS IN IRAN AND PAKISTAN
The legal and human rights charity Reprieve has called on the United Kingdom to follow Ireland’s
- NOVEMBER 18, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
Prashid Nasri, Timor Nadri Zadeh and Barzan Nasrallah Zadeh
Prashid Nasri, Timor Nadri Zadeh and Barzan Nasrallah Zadeh
NOVEMBER 18, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: A PRISONER WAS HANGED IN ZAHEDAN
A prisoner was hanged in Zahedan central prison on charge of murder, reported
- NOVEMBER 16, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN ISFAHAN
The Iranian regime hanged a prisoner in the central prison of the city of Isfahan.
- NOVEMBER 9, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran publicly hanged two cousins in the city of Mashhad, according to the reports from Iran.
Iran publicly hanged two cousins in the city of Mashhad, according to the reports from Iran.
- NOVEMBER 8, 2013IrelandDEATH PENALTY
IRELAND: GOVERNMENT CEASED ANTI-DRUG PROGRAMME FUNDING OVER IRAN DEATH PENALTY FEARS
Ireland stopped funding an anti-drug programme in Iran because of concerns that drug traffickers
NOVEMBER 7, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 2 PRISONERS HANGED IN BANDAR ABBAS
two prisoners were hanged on charge of murder in Bandar Abbas prison, reported Human
NOVEMBER 6, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE PRISONERS HANGED FOR DRUG RELATED CRIMES
Five prisoners were hanged in the prison of Jiroft (Kerman province, southeastern Iran), reported
- NOVEMBER 4, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
six prisoners were hanged in Bam and Kerman
six prisoners were hanged in Bam and Kerman
- NOVEMBER 4, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
Five prisoners charged with murder were executed in the prison of Kermanshah
Five prisoners charged with murder were executed in the prison of Kermanshah
- NOVEMBER 4, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
The Iranian daily newspaper Khorasan reported that one prisoner identified as "A. M." was
The Iranian daily newspaper Khorasan reported that one prisoner identified as "A. M." was
- NOVEMBER 4, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
Shirkoo Moarefi, 32, a Kurdish political prisoner, was hanged in the prison of Saghez
Shirkoo Moarefi, 32, a Kurdish political prisoner, was hanged in the prison of Saghez
- NOVEMBER 3, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the official website of the Iranian Judiciary in Semnan, two prisoners were
According to the official website of the Iranian Judiciary in Semnan, two prisoners were
- OCTOBER 31, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
two prisoners convicted of murder were hanged in the central prison of Kermanshah
two prisoners convicted of murder were hanged in the central prison of Kermanshah
- OCTOBER 30, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the unofficial Kurdish "Mukrian news agency" eleven prisoners were
According to the unofficial Kurdish "Mukrian news agency" eleven prisoners were
- OCTOBER 30, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
According to Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) a woman identified as "Mitra Shahnavazi
According to Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) a woman identified as "Mitra Shahnavazi
- OCTOBER 30, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the news website "Kurdpa" (unofficial) three prisoners were hanged in the Adelabad
According to the news website "Kurdpa" (unofficial) three prisoners were hanged in the Adelabad
- OCTOBER 30, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
One Afghan citizen identified as "M. S." was hanged in the prison of Semnan, Iran, reported
One Afghan citizen identified as "M. S." was hanged in the prison of Semnan, Iran, reported
- OCTOBER 30, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
according to a report by Khuzestan judiciary
according to a report by Khuzestan judiciary
- OCTOBER 29, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
The Iranian regime's judiciary in the city of Sari hanged a prisoner in the city's main prison.
The Iranian regime's judiciary in the city of Sari hanged a prisoner in the city's main prison.
OCTOBER 29, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED IN GONBAD KAVOOS
Two people were executed in central prison of Gonbadkavoos, Iran.
- OCTOBER 28, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
a prisoner was hanged at Lakan Prison in the city of Rasht
a prisoner was hanged at Lakan Prison in the city of Rasht
OCTOBER 28, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN KHORRAMBAD
Iranian authorities executed a person by hanging in Parsilon Prison of Khorrambad
- OCTOBER 27, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
a prisoner was hanged at the main prison in the city of Gachsaran
a prisoner was hanged at the main prison in the city of Gachsaran
- OCTOBER 26, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
Jazi Darvishzadeh, a woman from Kalan Kani Village
Jazi Darvishzadeh, a woman from Kalan Kani Village
- OCTOBER 26, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
another Kurdish political prisoner, Reza Esmaili (Mamedi), 34 years old
another Kurdish political prisoner, Reza Esmaili (Mamedi), 34 years old