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
MAY 7, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 14 PRISONERS HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
14 prisoners were hanged in Iran between May 6 and 7 for drug related charges.
- MAY 3, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
in a secret and collective execution, 20 prisoners were hanged in the Karaj Central Prison, said Human
in a secret and collective execution, 20 prisoners were hanged in the Karaj Central Prison, said Human
APRIL 30, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED IN SANANDAJ, MASHHAD
two prisoners have been hanged in Iran, Hrana reported.
APRIL 26, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 4 PRISONERS HANGED IN ARAK PRISON
Four prisoners were hanged in the morning in Arak city.
APRIL 23, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: NINE PRISONERS HANGED IN BANDAR ABBAS
Iran hanged a group of nine men including a 70-year-old who had been held in prison for the past fourteen years, allegedly for drug-related offences.
- APRIL 23, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 5 PRISONERS HANGED IN KERMAN AND JIROFT
Five prisoners who had been charged with drug related crimes, went to the gallows, in Kerman city and
APRIL 22, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 9 PRISONERS EXECUTED IN SHIRAZ
9 death row prisoners were hanged in Adel Abad prison in Shiraz.
APRIL 21, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWENTY PRISONERS EXECUTED FOR DRUG RELATED CHARGES
Twenty prisoners were hanged for drug related charges between 16 and 20 April in three different Iranian cities.
- APRIL 20, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TEN PRISONERS HANGED IN ESFAHAN, SHIRAZ AND ZAHEDAN
Ten prisoners were hanged in Iran on April 13 and 20.
- APRIL 18, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
According to a report from inside Iran, 4 prisoners were hanged in Zahedan’s Central Prison, east of the
According to a report from inside Iran, 4 prisoners were hanged in Zahedan’s Central Prison, east of the
- APRIL 13, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
Four prisoners with drug-related charges were executed in Esfahan prison, according to the report of
Four prisoners with drug-related charges were executed in Esfahan prison, according to the report of
- APRIL 13, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 8 PRISONERS HANGED IN A PRISON IN KARAJ
The Iranian regime’s henchmen in Central Prison in the city of Karaj hanged eight prisoners.
- APRIL 13, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: THREE PRISONERS HANGED
three prisoners were hanged in Iran between April 11 and 12.
- APRIL 12, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
One prisoner was hanged in the city of Mehriz (Yazd Province, Central Iran) early Sunday morning April 12, reported the Iranian state media.
One prisoner was hanged in the city of Mehriz (Yazd Province, Central Iran) early Sunday morning April 12, reported the Iranian state media.
- APRIL 11, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
According to unofficial reports two prisoners were hanged in the prison of Zahedan (Baluchistan Province, Southeastern Iran) Saturday morning, April 11.
According to unofficial reports two prisoners were hanged in the prison of Zahedan (Baluchistan Province, Southeastern Iran) Saturday morning, April 11.
APRIL 10, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE KURDISH POLITICAL PRISONERS SENTENCED TO DEATH CHARGED WITH ‘ENMITY AGAINST GOD’
Three Kurdish political prisoners have been tried and sentenced to death as a result of a trial held in the
- APRIL 4, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: INMATE HANGED IN ZABOL FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
The Iranian regime’s henchman in the city of Zabol (southeastern Iran) secretly hanged a man in the city’s main prison.
- MARCH 26, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 12 PRISONERS SECRETLY EXECUTED IN A DAY
Iran secretly hanged at least 12 inmates in prisons in cities of Shiraz and Mashhad.
MARCH 26, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SEVEN PRISONERS HANGED IN SHIRAZ
At least seven prisoners were hanged in a prison in the southern city of Shiraz.
MARCH 19, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO MORE HANGED IN PUBLIC IN JIROFT
two men were hanged in public in the city of Jiroft, reported the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).
MARCH 15, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE PRISONERS INCLUDING 3 AFGHANS HANGED IN ZAHEDAN AND SHIRAZ
At least five men, including three Afghani citizens, were hanged between March 14 and 15 in two Iranian prisons, said the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).
- MARCH 11, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 3 PRISONERS HANGED IN URUMIAH PRISON
Based on reliable sources from inside Iran, 3 prisoners who were identified as Salah-eddin Sherafat, from
MARCH 7, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 12 PRISONERS HANGED IN KARAJ
At least a dozen prisoners were hanged in Ghessel Hessar prison in Karaj, reported the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).
- MARCH 5, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 17 MORE PRISONERS HANGED
At least 17 prisoners were hanged in Iran between March 3 and 4.
- MARCH 4, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
The Iranian regime hanged six Sunni political prisoners early in the morning despite international calls to
The Iranian regime hanged six Sunni political prisoners early in the morning despite international calls to
- MARCH 3, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
One prisoner was hanged publicly in Darab (Southern Iran) early in the morning, reported
One prisoner was hanged publicly in Darab (Southern Iran) early in the morning, reported
- MARCH 3, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the “Human rights activists news agency” (HRANA) 10 prisoners were hanged
According to the “Human rights activists news agency” (HRANA) 10 prisoners were hanged
- MARCH 2, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: “AN EYE FOR AN EYE” PUNISHMENT UNDER SHARIA CARRIED OUT KARAJ
A man who was not identified by name was blinded in the left eye in the Rajaishahr prison of Karaj as part
MARCH 2, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR PRISONERS HANGED FOR DRUG RELATED CRIMES
Four prisoners were hanged in Iran in the last days for drug related crimes.
- FEBRUARY 27, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
a prisoner was hanged in the Central Prison of Tabas, reported the Human
a prisoner was hanged in the Central Prison of Tabas, reported the Human