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
- APRIL 2, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
URGENT APPEAL TO SAVE SHERKO MOARAFI FROM EXECUTION IN IRAN
Kurdish activist Sherko Moarafi is in danger of being executed in Iran for “enmity against God” for his alleged membership in a proscribed Kurdish organisation.
MARCH 30, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 650 PEOPLE EXECUTED IN 2010 - BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE REPORT
According to "The 2010 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report" on human rights, the number of executions in Iran increases to over 650 in 2010.
- MARCH 29, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
KUWAIT CONDEMNS THREE TO DEATH IN IRAN SPY RING
two Iranians and a Kuwaiti national, all serving in Kuwait's army, were sentenced to
- MARCH 24, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS BODY APPROVES INVESTIGATOR ON IRAN
The U.N. Human Rights Council established a special investigator on Iran, a
- MARCH 16, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN TO EXPEDITE EXECUTION SENTENCES
Radio Zamaneh reported the head of Iran’s Supreme Court had announced
MARCH 16, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN HANGED IN BEHBEHAN
One man was hanged in the southwestern Iranian town of Behbehan, reported
- MARCH 14, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
UN CONCERNED WITH IRAN HUMAN RIGHTS
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced concern over increased violations of human rights in Iran. In a report to the Human Rights Council, Ban mentioned executions of drug traffickers, stonings, floggings and amputations.
MARCH 14, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE PEOPLE HANGED IN EVIN PRISON
Iran secretly hanged five people in Evin prison according to Hrana news agency.
- MARCH 13, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: POLITICAL PRISONER TO BE EXECUTED
in Iran, political prisoner Behrouz Abdi faces the imminent threat of execution.
- MARCH 5, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
CHRISTIAN PASTOR, AWAITING DEATH SENTENCE, HELD AMONG MURDERERS AND DRUG PEDDLERS IN IRAN
Youcef Nadarkhani, sentenced to death in Iran for apostasy is being held in Lakan prison in Gilan province in northern Iran, in the main part of the prison with drug dealers and murderers, Jason DeMars of www.presenettruthmn.com said.
MARCH 5, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE AFGHAN NATIONALS HANGED FOR RAPE
Iran hanged three Afghan nationals in a prison in Tehran after they were found guilty of raping an Afghan
- MARCH 3, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO HANGED IN OROUMIEH
Iran executed two people in Oroumieh Prison as part of its attempts to terrorize the population
MARCH 2, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN HANGED IN ISFAHAN
One man was hanged in the prison of Khomeini Shahr, Iran, early this morning
- MARCH 2, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: AT LEAST 10 HANGED IN MASHHAD
the Iranian regime hanged at least 10 people in the northeastern city of Mashhad
MARCH 1, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TEN PEOPLE HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Ten people were hanged in Iran for drug trafficking.
- FEBRUARY 28, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
YEMEN: DEATH SENTENCE FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
in Sana'a, Yemen, Judge Mohamed al-Hakimi of the Specialised Criminal Division sentenced Iranian national Mumtaz Sultan Amiri to death for bringing drugs into the country.
FEBRUARY 28, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 10 KURDISH POLITICAL PRISONERS EXECUTED
10 Kurds were hanged in the central prison in Umrye, Iran, for being members of Kurdish political
- FEBRUARY 20, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: THREE MEN HANGED IN PUBLIC
According to reports from Iran, three men were hanged in public in the town of Salmas, northwest of Iran.
FEBRUARY 20, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PEOPLE HANGED IN ISFAHAN
Two men were hanged in the prison of Isfahan, central Iran, early this morning.
- FEBRUARY 18, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: FOUR PEOPLE HANGED IN KERMAN
Four men were hanged in the prison of Kerman, south east of Iran.
- FEBRUARY 15, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: EXECUTIONS REQUESTED
in Zahedan, Iran, the prosecutor in Sistan-va-Balouchestan, Ebrahim Hamidi...
FEBRUARY 15, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PEOPLE HANGED IN KURDISTAN
Two people were hanged in the prison of Sanandaj, the capital of the Iranian Kurdistan
- FEBRUARY 14, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO MEN HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Two men were hanged in the prison of Sari, north of Iran. According to the official
FEBRUARY 13, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO MEN HANGED IN PUBLIC
Two men were hanged in the town of Khoramabad, in the west Iranian province of
- FEBRUARY 11, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: IRANIAN TO HANG FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Iranian carpet seller Hossein Nsiri Zahed, 50, was sentenced to hang by Justice Ghazali
- FEBRUARY 10, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN HUMAN RIGHTS: AT LEAST 546 PEOPLE EXECUTED IN IRAN IN 2010
Iran Human Rights (IHR) presented its annual report on the death penalty in 2010 in a press
- FEBRUARY 7, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 10 HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
According to reports from reliable sources in Iran, ten people were hanged in Vakilabad prison of Mashhad, northeast of Iran.
- FEBRUARY 6, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN EXECUTES 2 IN TORTURE DEATHS
A pro-government web site says Iran has executed two prison officials convicted of
- FEBRUARY 6, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN EXTENDS ENFORCEMENT OF ISLAMIC PENAL CODE, INCLUDING STONING
Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad extended for another year enforcement of the Islamic Penal
- FEBRUARY 5, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
an Iranian court in Fars province sentenced a teenage boy Ashkan
an Iranian court in Fars province sentenced a teenage boy Ashkan Miri to death by hanging