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
JANUARY 8, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR HANGED IN ISFAHAN FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Four men were hanged in the prison of central Iranian city of Isfahan, early today
- JANUARY 7, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO MEN HANGED IN BOROUJERD
Two men were hanged in Boroujerd, west of Iran, early this morning.
JANUARY 5, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: CONVICTED MURDERER HANGED IN PUBLIC
Iran hanged in public a man convicted of committing a sensational daylight murder in a Tehran neighbourhood in October, state news agency IRNA reported.
- JANUARY 5, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A convicted drug trafficker, identified only by his initials A.A., was executed
- JANUARY 3, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
one man was hanged in the prison of Zahedan, Iran, early in the morning
one man was hanged in the prison of Zahedan, Iran, early in the morning
- JANUARY 3, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
According to several Iranian news agencies seven people were hanged in the prison
According to several Iranian news agencies seven people were hanged in the prison
- JANUARY 2, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: DUTCH IRANIAN WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH IN IRAN
Dutch-Iranian woman Zahra Bahrami was found guilty of drug smuggling and sentenced to death by a court in Tehran, Iran, her daughter confirmed. She is reported to have been arrested after taking part in anti-government demonstrations.
- JANUARY 1, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
Offences punishable by death include:
Offences punishable by death include:
- JANUARY 1, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: EIGHT PEOPLE HANGED IN QOM
Eight people were hanged in the prison of Qom, south of Tehran, state run news
JANUARY 1, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR MEN HANGED IN BALUCHESTAN
four men were hanged in Zahedan prison in Sistan-Baluchestan.
DECEMBER 28, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO POLITICAL PRISONERS HANGED
According to the reports from Iran two political prisoners were hanged
- DECEMBER 26, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN PASSES DEATH SENTENCE ON 'ISRAELI SPY'
Iran sentenced an unidentified man to death for syping for Israel, the semiofficial Mehr
- DECEMBER 25, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: SEVEN PEOPLE HANGED
According to the news from Iran, seven prisoners were hanged in three different Iranian towns early on the Christmas day.
- DECEMBER 20, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 11 MEN HANGED IN ZAHEDAN
eleven men were hanged in the south-eastern Iranian city of Zahedan (capital of Baluchestan
- DECEMBER 20, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: WOMAN HANGED FOR MURDERS
According to the Iranian daily Asr-e-Iran, a young woman identified as Mahin Ghadiri
- DECEMBER 4, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN ORDERS EXECUTION FOR MAKING PORN SITE
Iran sentenced Saeed Malekpour, 35, an emigre who returned from Canada, to death for running a pornographic Web site there.
DECEMBER 4, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR MEN HANGED IN ISFAHAN
Four people were hanged in the prison of Isfahan, central Iran, early this morning.
DECEMBER 1, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: WOMAN HANGED FOR MURDERING LOVE RIVAL
Iran hanged a woman convicted of murdering a love rival, her lawyer told the official IRNA
- NOVEMBER 27, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: ONE MAN HANGED IN ISFAHAN
One man was hanged in the prison of Isfahan, central Iran, according to the reports
NOVEMBER 23, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN HANGED IN THE CENTRAL TOWN OF KASHAN
One man was hanged in the central Iranian town of Kashan, reported the Iranian
NOVEMBER 22, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: HIGH COURT SENTENCES IRANIAN MAN TO DEATH FOR TRAFFICKING DRUGS
A Malaysian court sentenced an Iranian man to death by hanging for trafficking
- NOVEMBER 16, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN SETS EXECUTION DATE FOR WOMAN
Iran set a date for the execution of female prisoner Shahla Jahed, the Human
- NOVEMBER 13, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
MAN HANGED IN SOUTHWEST OF IRAN
One man was hanged in the prison of Ahvaz, southwest of Iran.
NOVEMBER 9, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE PEOPLE HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
According to the reports from Iran five prisoners were hanged in the prison of Gonbad
- NOVEMBER 5, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN HANGED FOR RAPE
One man was hanged in the central Iranian city of Isfahan, reported the state run Iranian
- NOVEMBER 2, 2010ItalyDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 'HANDS OFF CAIN', EU INTERVENES AGAINST SAKINEH HANGING
'Sakineh's fate depends on how strongly the European Union decides to mobilise itself against the death penalty and the Iranian government, and apply the necessary pressure to stop her from being hung. It would truly be a mockery if Sakineh, after being s
- NOVEMBER 2, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 23 INMATES REPORTEDLY EXECUTED IN OCTOBER
23 prisoners were executed in Mashhad, the capital of Iran's northeastern
- OCTOBER 31, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: THREE SENTENCED TO DEATH IN SOUTHERN PROVINCE
a court in the Iranian city of Shiraz, capital of the southern Fars Province, has
- OCTOBER 31, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN SENTENCES THREE TO DEATH IN SOUTHERN PROVINCE
a Shiraz court in Iran's Fars Province sentenced three unidentified Roushanfekr members to death for "waging war against God", the Human Rights House of Iran (Rahana) website reported.
OCTOBER 27, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE PEOPLE HANGED IN TEHRAN IN THE PAST FEW DAYS
Five people have been hanged in Tehran during the past few days.