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
- OCTOBER 26, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRANIAN RIGHTS GROUP SAYS SECRET EXECUTIONS INCREASING
the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran (ICHRI) said the number of unannounced executions at the Vakilabad prison in the eastern Iranian city of Mashhad has increased. ICHRI said that there are more than 600 inmates on death row at Mashhad and
OCTOBER 26, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN HANGED FOR ‘IMMORAL ACTS’
One person was hanged in the city of Ahvaz, southwest of Iran, convicted of acts against
- OCTOBER 24, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
MINISTRY: EXECUTION OF IRANIAN CHURCH LEADER DELAYED
the execution of Rev Youcef Nadarkhani in Iran for apostasy was delayed. Nadarkhani, the leader of a church network in Rasht, was arrested on October 13, 2009, for objecting to forcing Christian school students to read the Quran.
OCTOBER 19, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: ETHNIC KURD SENTENCED TO DEATH ON ESPIONAGE CHARGES
a military court in Iran's northwestern Kordestan Province sentenced Abdollah Sarvari, an
- OCTOBER 18, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: A WEEK WITH AMPUTATION AND PUBLIC LASHINGS
Four men were lashed 75 times each in public in the northeastern Iranian town of Gonbad
- OCTOBER 16, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
two men were hanged in the Karoun prison of Ahvaz, southwest of Iran, in the
two men were hanged in the Karoun prison of Ahvaz, southwest of Iran, in the
- OCTOBER 16, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
a man was hanged in the Karoun prison of Ahvaz, southwest of Iran, in the
a man was hanged in the Karoun prison of Ahvaz, southwest of Iran, in the
- OCTOBER 11, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN DEFENDS EXECUTION OF DRUG TRAFFICKERS
Iran defended its executions of people for drug trafficking, ISNA news agency reported.
OCTOBER 11, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Iran hanged five people in the central city of Isfahan for drug trafficking, state television's
- OCTOBER 10, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: ONE WOMAN, THREE MEN HANGED ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY
One woman and three men were hanged in the prison of Zanjan, west of Iran, early this morning
OCTOBER 10, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
a young woman was sentenced to death by Judge Mohammad Soltan Hemmatyar of
- OCTOBER 8, 2010Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
IRAN, SAUDI ARABIA, SUDAN: END JUVENILE DEATH PENALTY
only three countries - Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan - are known to have executed an individual since the beginning of 2009 for a crime committed before age 18, Human Rights Watch said today.
OCTOBER 6, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 8 PEOPLE HANGED IN KERMAN
Eight people were hanged in the prison of Kerman, south east of Iran, reported the official
- OCTOBER 3, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
One woman was hanged in the prison of Shirvan (northeast of Iran) according to the
One woman was hanged in the prison of Shirvan (northeast of Iran) according to the
- OCTOBER 3, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
three men were hanged in the southern Khorasan province, Iran, during the month
three men were hanged in the southern Khorasan province, Iran, during the month
- OCTOBER 2, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
after being tried in the 11th Chamber of the Gilan Province’s Assize Court...
after being tried in the 11th Chamber of the Gilan Province’s Assize Court...
- SEPTEMBER 29, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: AMBASSADOR IN ITALY- ‘STONING WILL SOON BE ABOLISHED’
the Iranian ambassador in Italy said that the parliament in Tehran will shortly approve
- SEPTEMBER 29, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: FAMILIES OF KILLED DETAINEES CALL FOR PROSECUTION OF SENIOR OFFICIALS
The families of the three Iranian detainees who were killed under
SEPTEMBER 27, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: CONFUSION OVER STONING WOMAN
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani has received a death sentence for committing murder
- SEPTEMBER 22, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
a person was hanged in Aran-Bigdel (province of Isfahan, Central Iran) for drug trafficking
a person was hanged in Aran-Bigdel (province of Isfahan, Central Iran) for drug trafficking
- SEPTEMBER 22, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
a man was hanged in Kerman (southeast of Iran), the official website of the Iranian
a man was hanged in Kerman (southeast of Iran), the official website of the Iranian
- SEPTEMBER 20, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
Two men were hanged in the Karoun prison of Ahvaz, southwest of Iran this
Two men were hanged in the Karoun prison of Ahvaz, southwest of Iran this
- SEPTEMBER 20, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
a man was hanged in the Karoun prison of Ahvaz, southwest of Iran this morning
a man was hanged in the Karoun prison of Ahvaz, southwest of Iran this morning
SEPTEMBER 20, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE PEOPLE HANGED IN YAZD
Three people were hanged in the morning in the prison of Yazd, central Iran, reported the state run Iranian news agency ISNA.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: DEATH SENTENCE FOR A POLITICAL PRISONER REAFFIRMED
Iran's Supreme Court upheld a death sentence for political prisoner Mohammad Ali Haj-Aqai
- SEPTEMBER 16, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: LASHED, HANGED IN PRISON
One man was hanged in the Khoran prison of Varamin, Iran, reported the Iranian
SEPTEMBER 14, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
One person was hanged in the prison of Shirvan, northeastern Iran, in the morning, reported the official website of the Iranian judiciary in North Khorasan.
- SEPTEMBER 8, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: STONING SENTENCE ON HOLD, SAYS FOREIGN MINISTRY
Iran’s foreign ministry said the stoning death sentence given to a woman convicted of adultery and murder was now on hold.
- SEPTEMBER 5, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: FOUR SENTENCED TO DEATH IN NORTHWEST FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
four unidentified major importers of precursors of opiates were sentenced to death
- SEPTEMBER 4, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: WOMAN FACING DEATH BY STONING IS 'LASHED 99 MORE TIMES'
an Iranian widow sentenced to death by stoning for adultery has been lashed 99 times for ''spreading corruption and indecency'' after a newspaper published an alleged picture of her without a headscarf, her son said.