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
- 9,155
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 9,155 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 8, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
A prisoner was hanged in the prison of Sari (Northern Iran) reported the official website of
A prisoner was hanged in the prison of Sari (Northern Iran) reported the official website of
- JUNE 8, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
The iranian regime hanged three prisoners in the central prison of Bandar Abbas.
The iranian regime hanged three prisoners in the central prison of Bandar Abbas.
- JUNE 7, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
four people were collectively hanged in the Shahr-e-Kord Prison.
four people were collectively hanged in the Shahr-e-Kord Prison.
- JUNE 7, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
A man was executed in Tabriz (Northwestern Iran), according to the website Oyannews. According
A man was executed in Tabriz (Northwestern Iran), according to the website Oyannews. According
JUNE 2, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: ONE PRISONER HANGED IN BANDAR ABBAS
One prisoner was hanged in the prison of Bandar Abbas (Southern Iran) reported the official website of the Iranian Judiciary in Hormozgan Province.
- JUNE 1, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
A 49 years-old Iranian dissident, Gholamreza Khosravi Savajani, was hanged in the Rajaishahr prison of
A 49 years-old Iranian dissident, Gholamreza Khosravi Savajani, was hanged in the Rajaishahr prison of
JUNE 1, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: HANDS OFF CAIN CONDEMNS GHOLAMREZA KHOSRAVI’S EXECUTION
Hands Off Cain condemns the Gholamreza Khosravi’s execution carried out early in the morning by the Iranian regime.
MAY 28, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: WOMAN HANGED BY HER MOTHER-IN-LAW IN AMOL
a 28-year-old woman, who allegedly had killed her husband, was hanged by the man's mother in the prison of Amol, reported FARS News Agency.
- MAY 26, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: ONE PRISONER HANGED IN QAZVIN
One prisoner was hanged in the prison of Qazvin, reported the official website of the Iranian Judiciary
MAY 24, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAIN CONVICT IN BIGGEST BANKING FRAUD HANGED IN TEHRAN
Iran hanged the first of four men sentenced to death for a massive financial scam that tainted the government of former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Tehran’s Public Prosecutor’s Office said.
- MAY 21, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
two more people have escaped death by hanging, after they were pardoned by victims’ families. A murder
two more people have escaped death by hanging, after they were pardoned by victims’ families. A murder
MAY 21, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: VICTIMS’ FAMILIES MERCY SAVES MORE KILLERS FROM DEATH SENTENCE
two more people have escaped death by hanging, after they were pardoned by victims’ families. A murder
- MAY 20, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
A 40-year old prisoner was hanged in the prison of Mashhad, reported the newspaper
A 40-year old prisoner was hanged in the prison of Mashhad, reported the newspaper
MAY 19, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: AT LEAST FIVE PRISONERS HANGED
Five prisoners, charged with murder, were hanged in the Rajaishahr prison of Karaj early in the morning, according to reliable sources Iran Human Rights (IHR) has been in contact with.
MAY 19, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 14 PRISONERS EXECUTED
14 prisoners have been executed in Iran in recent days.
- MAY 18, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
Ten prisoners were hanged in the prison of Kerman (Southeastern Iran) early this morning, reported the
Ten prisoners were hanged in the prison of Kerman (Southeastern Iran) early this morning, reported the
- MAY 17, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
two prisoners were hanged on charge of drug trafficking in Zahedan Prison, reported the Human Rights
two prisoners were hanged on charge of drug trafficking in Zahedan Prison, reported the Human Rights
- MAY 17, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
Fars news agency reported about the execution of four prisoners in the prison of Qazvin (West of Tehran).
Fars news agency reported about the execution of four prisoners in the prison of Qazvin (West of Tehran).
MAY 16, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE PRISONERS HANGED IN URMIA AND SEMNAN
at least five prisoners have been hanged in Iran in recent days.
- MAY 15, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
One prisoner was hanged in the prison of Semnan (northern Iran) early this morning reported
One prisoner was hanged in the prison of Semnan (northern Iran) early this morning reported
- MAY 13, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
According to unofficial sources four prisoners were hanged in the prison of Urmia (West Azerbaijan,
According to unofficial sources four prisoners were hanged in the prison of Urmia (West Azerbaijan,
- MAY 12, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
A group of 9 prisoners were hanged in a prison of Ahvaz. The victims, who had been all accused of drug
A group of 9 prisoners were hanged in a prison of Ahvaz. The victims, who had been all accused of drug
MAY 12, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWENTY PEOPLE HANGED IN KARAJ AND AHVAZ
the Iranian regime has executed twenty people in Karaj and Ahvaz in recent days, reported the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).
- MAY 10, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
May 10, 2014: Two prisoners were hanged in central prison of Zahedan, Iran.
May 10, 2014: Two prisoners were hanged in central prison of Zahedan, Iran.
- MAY 10, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
A woman was hanged in Rajai Shahr Prison of Karaj, Iran.
A woman was hanged in Rajai Shahr Prison of Karaj, Iran.
- MAY 10, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 3 PRISONERS INCLUDING A WOMAN HANGED IN 2 PRISONS
A woman has been hanged in Rajai Shahr Prison of Karaj. According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), the woman is identified as Behjat and was charged with murdering her husband with accomplicity of a man with the name of Mohamm
- MAY 9, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
A group of 11 prisoners including a woman were hanged in Ghezel Hesar prison of Karaj.
A group of 11 prisoners including a woman were hanged in Ghezel Hesar prison of Karaj.
- MAY 8, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
Three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Qom (south of Tehran) early this morning, reported the official
Three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Qom (south of Tehran) early this morning, reported the official
- MAY 8, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
The official Iranian news agency IRNA also reported about a public execution in Saveh (
The official Iranian news agency IRNA also reported about a public execution in Saveh (
- MAY 8, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
Two prisoners were hanged in the prison of Bandar Abbas according to unofficial reports. According
Two prisoners were hanged in the prison of Bandar Abbas according to unofficial reports. According