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
FEBRUARY 19, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO MEN HANGED IN MAZANDARAN
The Mazandaran Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor said that two rapists were executed
- FEBRUARY 14, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN HANGED FOR ARMED ROBBERY
One prisoner was hanged in the prison of Zanjan, reported the state run
- FEBRUARY 12, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN SCRAPS STONING, CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR MINORS
Iranian news agencies reported that Iran's Guardian Council, a powerful body of clerics
FEBRUARY 8, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR PRISONERS EXECUTED IN QOM
Four prisoners have been executed in the prison of Qom in the past few days, reported
FEBRUARY 6, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: DEATH SENTENCE UPHELD FOR MEN ‘LINKED TO UK SPY’
Iran's Supreme Court upheld the death sentence for two men convicted of killing three
- FEBRUARY 2, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAJOR CURRENCY SPECULATORS COULD FACE DEATH PENALTY
The chief of Iran's judiciary warned that major currency speculators could face the
JANUARY 31, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN HANGED PUBLICLY FOR MURDER
In Iran, one man was hanged publicly in the courtyard of the Karaj police department early in the morning.
- JANUARY 30, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
One prisoner was hanged in the prison Zanjan (western Iran) early
- JANUARY 29, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Two prisoners were hanged in the prison of Semnan, north of Iran.
- JANUARY 28, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. ONE PRISONER HANGED
one prisoner was hanged in the prison of Ilam, western Iran.
- JANUARY 28, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
two prisoners were secretly hanged in the Lakan Prison in Rasht...
two prisoners were secretly hanged in the Lakan Prison in Rasht...
- JANUARY 28, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: GUARDIAN COUNCIL APPROVES NEW PENAL LEGISLATION
The Guardian Council has approved the Islamic Penal Code legislation, announcing
JANUARY 22, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYHUMAN RIGHTS WATCH: SHARP INCREASE IN DEATH PENALTY IN IRAN
There was a sharp increase in the use of the death penalty in Iran in 2011, and many more were
JANUARY 19, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN HANGED PUBLICLY IN KERMAN
One man was hanged publicly in the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman early in the morning.
JANUARY 16, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: KURDISH ACTIVISTS SENTENCED TO DEATH
two Kurdish activists were sentenced to death by the Iranian courts for ‘waging enmity
JANUARY 16, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: DEATH SENTENCE UPHELD TO IRANIAN WEB DESIGNER
Iran's Supreme Court upheld the death sentence to a 35-year-old Iranian website designer
- JANUARY 15, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the state run Iranian news agency Fars, five prisoners were hanged
According to the state run Iranian news agency Fars, five prisoners were hanged
- JANUARY 15, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
seven prisoners were hanged in the Adelabad prison of Shiraz, Iran, according to the
seven prisoners were hanged in the Adelabad prison of Shiraz, Iran, according to the
- JANUARY 11, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO MEN HANGED FOR RAPE
Two prisoners were executed in Tehran’s Evin prison, reported the Iranian state media. According
JANUARY 9, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: AMERICAN EX-MARINE AMIR MIRZA HEKMATI SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR SPYING
An American ex-Marine, who also holds Iranian citizenship, has been sentenced
- JANUARY 7, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
a man, who was not identified by name, was hanged in public in a village near Gachsaran
a man, who was not identified by name, was hanged in public in a village near Gachsaran
- JANUARY 6, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
EU URGES IRAN TO HALT ALL EXECUTIONS
The European Union voiced concern over the large number of executions
- JANUARY 5, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
three prisoners were hanged publicly in the Azadi (Liberty) Square of Kermanshah
three prisoners were hanged publicly in the Azadi (Liberty) Square of Kermanshah
- JANUARY 5, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
one man was hanged in the prison of Varamin
one man was hanged in the prison of Varamin
- JANUARY 4, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
five prisoners were hanged in the prison of Zanjan for drug trafficking
five prisoners were hanged in the prison of Zanjan for drug trafficking
- JANUARY 4, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
one prisoner was hanged in the central prison of Semnan
one prisoner was hanged in the central prison of Semnan
- JANUARY 4, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
five narcotics traffickers were hanged in the Kerman and Bam prisons
five narcotics traffickers were hanged in the Kerman and Bam prisons
JANUARY 3, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 25 PRISONERS HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
At least 25 prisoners have been executed in Iran in the past two days, official and unofficial
- JANUARY 1, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
Offences punishable by death include:
Offences punishable by death include:
DECEMBER 29, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO YOUNG MEN HANGED PUBLICLY IN QAZVIN
Two young men were hanged publicly in Qazvin (west of Tehran) this morning.