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
- 9,221
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 9,221 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
SEPTEMBER 21, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 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 PENALTYIRAN: 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.
SEPTEMBER 14, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: AT LEAST 4 PRISONERS HANGED IN GHEZELHESAR PRISON IN KARAJ
At least four prisoners were hanged in Ghezelhesar prison in Karaj.
- SEPTEMBER 12, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED IN GILAN FOR DRUG POSSESSION
Two prisoners with drug related charges were hanged to death at Rasht Central Prison in the morning,
- SEPTEMBER 9, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
six prisoners were hanged in Birjand and Tabriz Prisons.
six prisoners were hanged in Birjand and Tabriz Prisons.
- SEPTEMBER 8, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO HANGED IN BANDAR ABBAS FOR DRUG RELATED CHARGES
Two prisoners sentenced to death for drug related charges were executed at Bandar Abbas Central Prison on the morning, say unofficial reports.
- SEPTEMBER 7, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 11 PRISONERS EXECUTED FOR DRUG OFFENCES
Iranian authorities hanged 11 prisoners charged with drug offences early in the morning, according to the Iran Human Rights (IHR) sources in Ghezelhesar prison of Karaj (west of Tehran).
- SEPTEMBER 5, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
A prisoner, identified as Davoud Pourahmadian, was reportedly hanged to death for murder at Tabriz
A prisoner, identified as Davoud Pourahmadian, was reportedly hanged to death for murder at Tabriz
- SEPTEMBER 5, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN ZABOL PRISON
The mullahs' regime in Iran hanged a prisoner in his forties in the eastern town of Zabol.
SEPTEMBER 2, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: ANOTHER 5 PRISONERS HANGED COLLECTIVELY IN PRISON
Iran hanged five prisoners collectively in the Central Prison of Karaj, north-west of Tehran.
SEPTEMBER 1, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SIX PRISONERS HANGED
six prisoners were executed in Iran between August 29 and September 1st.
- AUGUST 29, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN EXECUTED FOR DRUG-RELATED OFFENCES
Yousef Baghizadeh, a prisoner convicted of drug-related offences, was hanged in Khoram Abad Central
- AUGUST 26, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
a murder convict, who was identified as Jamal Ja’afari, was hanged in the prison of Sanandaj, reported the
a murder convict, who was identified as Jamal Ja’afari, was hanged in the prison of Sanandaj, reported the
- AUGUST 23, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
a prisoner, who was identified as R. F., was hanged in Sari prison, reported the Judiciary in Mazandaran
a prisoner, who was identified as R. F., was hanged in Sari prison, reported the Judiciary in Mazandaran
- AUGUST 20, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
five prisoners were hanged in Karaj's Rajai Shahr Prison, reported Javan News, which identified and
five prisoners were hanged in Karaj's Rajai Shahr Prison, reported Javan News, which identified and
- AUGUST 13, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
two other inmates – Abuzar Dehvari and Anvar Dehvari –were executed by gallows in
two other inmates – Abuzar Dehvari and Anvar Dehvari –were executed by gallows in
- AUGUST 4, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: FOUR PRISONERS HANGED FOR DRUG OFFENCES
Four prisoners were hanged in the prison of Yazd (Central Iran), reported the official website of the Iranian
AUGUST 3, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 20 MORE PRISONERS HANGED
At least 20 prisoners were hanged in Iran between July 28 and August 2nd.
AUGUST 1, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 7 EXECUTED OVER DRUG, MURDER CHARGES
According to official and unofficial reports, a total of seven prisoners were hanged in Iran on July 29 and August 1st.
- AUGUST 1, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN SENTENCED TO HAVE EYES GOUGED OUT
Authorities in Iran sentenced a young man to be blinded.
JULY 27, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE PRISONERS HANGED
Five men were hanged in Iran between July 25 and 26.
- JULY 22, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: UP TO 12 PRISONERS EXECUTED
According to official reports, 12 prisoners were hanged to death in Iran.
- JULY 16, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: LIVES OF TWO PRISONERS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER SPARED BY PLAINTIFFS
According to official reports by state run media Hamshahri Online, two prisoners who were sentenced to
JULY 15, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN PUBLIC DURING RAMADAN
Official sources in Iran have reported on the public execution of a prisoner in Mahvelat County. The
JULY 5, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO WOMEN SENTENCED TO DEATH PARDONED BY PLAINTIFFS
During a recent meeting of “peace and reconciliation” between prisoners in Isfahan’s central prison and a
- JULY 2, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
EUROPEAN STATES CONTINUE TO FUND DRUG HANGINGS AS IRAN EXECUTIONS SPIKE
New analysis released today by NGO Iran Human Rights shows that over two thirds of the 570 people so far executed in Iran this year were sentenced to death on drugs charges.