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
- JUNE 28, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
one prisoner was hanged publicly in Robat Karim, Iran, early in the morning
one prisoner was hanged publicly in Robat Karim, Iran, early in the morning
- JUNE 28, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the state run Iranian news agency ISNA, one man was hanged
According to the state run Iranian news agency ISNA, one man was hanged
JUNE 26, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: WOMAN 'ADULTERER'S' SENTENCING TO DEATH BY STONING 'CANCELLED', SAYS LAWYER
An Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning for alleged adultery will not undergo the punishment
- JUNE 24, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO PEOPLE AT IMMINENT DANGER OF EXECUTION FOR CONSUMING ALCOHOL
Two people who were sentenced to death for consuming alcohol in Iran are at imminent danger of execution.
JUNE 20, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR MEN HANGED FOR RAPE
According to the Iranian state-run media, four prisoners were hanged publicly in Tehran early in the morning.
JUNE 18, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR AHWAZI PRISONERS EXECUTED
According to reliable sources in Iran, three Ahwazi Arab political prisoners were executed.
JUNE 13, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: IRANIAN TO HANG FOR TRAFFICKING IN METHAMPHETAMINE
The High Court in Malaysia sentenced an Iranian man to death by hanging after being found guilty of
JUNE 13, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: ONE PRISONER HANGED IN ISFAHAN
One prisoner was hanged in the prison of Isfahan (central Iran) early this morning.
JUNE 11, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED PUBLICLY IN BUSHEHR
Two prisoners were hanged publicly in the city of Bushehr (southern Iran) this morning.
JUNE 11, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TEHRAN PROTESTS AT RIYADH FOR EXECUTION OF IRANIAN NATIONALS
the Iranian foreign ministry summoned Saudi Charge D'Affaires Hassan Zaid in the absence
- JUNE 11, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: SIX PRISONERS HANGED IN GROUP EXECUTION IN EVIN PRISON
The clerical regime of Iran in a group execution hanged 6 prisoners in the notorious Evin prison.
JUNE 9, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED IN ZAHEDAN
According to the official site of the Iranian judiciary in the Baluchestan Province (southeastern Iran), two prisoners identified as Mohammad Mohammad-Hassani Lotak and Saeed Baluch Shahbakhsh were hanged in Zahedan prison (in the capital of the Baluchest
JUNE 7, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE PRISONERS HANGED PUBLICLY IN SHIRAZ
Five prisoners were hanged publicly in the city of Shiraz (southern Iran), reported the Iranian state media.
- JUNE 3, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 3 AFGHAN PRISONERS HANGED OVER DRUGS SMUGGLE CHARGES
According to local authorities in western afghan Nimroz province the dead bodies of three Afghans
- MAY 31, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
two prisoners sentenced to death were executed in Gachsaran and Yasug prisons
two prisoners sentenced to death were executed in Gachsaran and Yasug prisons
MAY 31, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: AT LEAST 9 PRISONERS EXECUTED ONE DAY AFTER EU EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE ALARMING NUMBER OF THE EXECUTIONS
At least nine prisoners were executed in two different prisons in Iran, reported unofficial reports from Iran.
- MAY 30, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
the Persian-language Tabnak news website reported that...
the Persian-language Tabnak news website reported that...
- MAY 25, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
A young man was hanged publicly outside Lar prison (southern Iran) in the
A young man was hanged publicly outside Lar prison (southern Iran) in the
- MAY 24, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
In Iran, one prisoner identified as Amirhossein Hosseini was publicly executed in a city square in
In Iran, one prisoner identified as Amirhossein Hosseini was publicly executed in a city square in
- MAY 22, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
three prisoners were executed in Shiraz (southern Iran). According to the official site
three prisoners were executed in Shiraz (southern Iran). According to the official site
- MAY 21, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 14 HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Iran hanged 14 people in Tehran after they were convicted of drug trafficking, a statement from the Tehran prosecutor’s office said.
- MAY 20, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
according to the official web site of the Iranian judiciary in Mazandaran, one prisoner
according to the official web site of the Iranian judiciary in Mazandaran, one prisoner
- MAY 20, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
according to the Kurdish news agency Kurdpa, a Kurdish prisoner, identified by the
according to the Kurdish news agency Kurdpa, a Kurdish prisoner, identified by the
- MAY 20, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
two prisoners identified as S. R. and V. A. were hanged in Sanandaj prison, the
two prisoners identified as S. R. and V. A. were hanged in Sanandaj prison, the
MAY 17, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 26 PRISONERS HANGED IN TWO DAYS
According to the official and unofficial reports 26 prisoners were executed in three different Iranian prisons in two days.
- MAY 17, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO HANGED FOR RAPE
Two prisoners were publicly hanged in Isfahan (central Iran) early in the morning.
- MAY 16, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
One prisoner was hanged in Zanjan (west of Tehran) early in the morning.
MAY 15, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN HANGED FOR KILLING NUCLEAR SCIENTIST
Iran's state TV says authorities have hanged a man who was sentenced to death for the 2010 killing of a nuclear physicist.
MAY 12, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR MEN DUE TO BE HANGED FOR SODOMY
Iran court has sentenced four men to death by hanging for sodomy.
- MAY 8, 2012United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UAE: TWO GET DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
In UAE, one Emirati and an Iranian were sentenced to capital punishment by the Dibba