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
SEPTEMBER 23, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: ONE MAN WAS HANGED PUBLICLY
One prisoner was hanged in public in the Northwestern Iranian province of Azarbaijan.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 6 PEOPLE EXECUTED TODAY
According to official and unofficial reports from Iran, at least six prisoners were executed in three different prisons today.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: ONE MAN HANGED IN PUBLIC IN TEHRAN
One man was hanged in public in Tehran early this morning.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: ONE MAN HANGED IN PUBLIC
According to the official website of the Iranian Judiciary in the province of Semnan, one
SEPTEMBER 10, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: CONDEMNED PRISONER SPARED DEATH SENTENCE FOR NOW
Iranian authorities did not go through with the execution of Gholamreza Khosravi Savadjani
- SEPTEMBER 8, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. 11 PRISONERS HANGED IN PRISON
According to unofficial reports in Iran, eleven prisoners were hanged in Tehran’s Evin prison early this morning.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: CHRISTIAN PASTOR RELEASED FROM JAIL
Youcef Nadarkhani, 35, was released from prison and reunited with his family after
- AUGUST 29, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
two Iranians were sent to the gallows after the Malaysian High Court
two Iranians were sent to the gallows after the Malaysian High Court
- AUGUST 9, 2012United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
the Khorfakkan Court of Appeal upheld a lower court’s verdict
the Khorfakkan Court of Appeal upheld a lower court’s verdict
- JULY 31, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
TEHRAN PROTESTS AT RIYADH FOR EXECUTION OF IRANIAN NATIONALS
Iran complained to Saudi government for ignoring Judicial Accord it signed with the Islamic
- JULY 30, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
FOUR SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR IRAN'S BIGGEST BANK FRAUD
A Tehran court has sentenced to death four people convicted in Iran's biggest-ever banking
- JULY 24, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: TWO IRANIAN MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH
two Iranian men were sentenced to death by the High Court...
- JULY 22, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: THREE PRISONERS HANGED IN ISFAHAN
Three prisoners were hanged in Isfahan prison (central Iran), reported the official web site of the Iranian judiciary in the Isfahan province.
- JULY 20, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran’s Supreme Court annulled the death sentence passed on...
Iran’s Supreme Court annulled the death sentence passed on...
JULY 19, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED FOR RAPE, MURDER
Two prisoners were hanged in two Iranian cities.
- JULY 19, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: ONE PRISONER HANGED IN ILAM
One prisoner was hanged in the prison of Ilam (western Iran) reported the official website of the judiciary of Ilam Province.
- JULY 17, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Qazvin early in the morning. In a press
three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Qazvin early in the morning. In a press
- JULY 16, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: THREE PRISONERS HANGED IN KERMAN FOR RAPE
Three prisoners were hanged in Kerman prison, reported today the official site of the Iranian judiciary in the province of Kerman.
- JULY 12, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
Three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Qazvin early in the morning, reported the official
Three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Qazvin early in the morning, reported the official
- JULY 12, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
According to reliable sources that Iran Human Rights have been in contact with, the
According to reliable sources that Iran Human Rights have been in contact with, the
JULY 12, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Two prisoners were hanged in the prison of Yasooj (western Iran) reported the local media.
JULY 10, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED IN ZAHEDAN
Two prisoners were hanged in the central prison of Zahedan, the capital
- JULY 9, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
Three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Qazvin (west of Tehran) early this
Three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Qazvin (west of Tehran) early this
- JULY 8, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the state run Iranian news agency Fars one prisoner was hanged in
According to the state run Iranian news agency Fars one prisoner was hanged in
JULY 8, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SIX AHWAZIS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR ALLEGEDLY POSING A THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY
Six Arab political activists in southern Iran’s Ahwaz region were sentenced to death by an Iranian
- JULY 2, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
The state run Iranian news agency Fars reported that three prisoners were hanged in the
The state run Iranian news agency Fars reported that three prisoners were hanged in the
JULY 1, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
two prisoners were hanged in the prison of Rafsanjan, Iran, early in the morning. According
- JUNE 30, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCE HANDED TO SIX IRANIANS
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African affairs says Saudi Arabia has commuted
JUNE 30, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: IRANIAN BUSINESSMAN TO HANG FOR DRUGS
An Iranian businessman was sent to the gallows by a High Court in Malaysia for trafficking 2kg of
- JUNE 28, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
In Iran, one man was hanged publicly in Robat Karim, early in the morning
In Iran, one man was hanged publicly in Robat Karim, early in the morning