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
- 9,149
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 9,149 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
MAY 9, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR PEOPLE HANGED IN SEMNAN PROVINCE
Four prisoners were hanged in Semnan Province (northern Iran) early this morning reported the Iranian state media.
MAY 8, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 11 PRISONERS HANGED IN KARAJ
The Iranian regime hanged 11 prisoners in Ghezel Hessar prison in the city of Karaj.
MAY 7, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE PEOPLE EXECUTED IN ISFAHAN
Three people were hanged in the central prison of Isfahan city, Iran.
MAY 6, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE PRISONERS HANGED PUBLICLY AT THE LIBERTY SQUARE OF KERMANSHAH
Three prisoners were hanged in the "Liberty Square" of Kermanshah (western Iran) today. According to the state run Iranian news agency ISNA, the prisoners were all convicted of murder.
MAY 2, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR PRISONERS HANGED IN ARAK
Four prisoners were hanged in the prison of Arak (central Iran), reported the Iranian state
- APRIL 29, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: SIX PEOPLE EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
six people have been executed recently in Iran for drug trafficking.
- APRIL 28, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
Two men were hanged in a prison in the city of Varamin in central Iran. The prisoners
Two men were hanged in a prison in the city of Varamin in central Iran. The prisoners
- APRIL 26, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
The Iranian regime hanged 4 prisoners in the Central Prison
The Iranian regime hanged 4 prisoners in the Central Prison
APRIL 26, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: EIGHT PRISONERS EXECUTED
At least eight people have been hanged in Iran in the last days.
- APRIL 24, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the unofficial Kurdish news agency Kurdpa one prisoner identified
According to the unofficial Kurdish news agency Kurdpa one prisoner identified
- APRIL 24, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
According to Khorasannews three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Bam (southeastern
According to Khorasannews three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Bam (southeastern
- APRIL 24, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the Iranian state broadcasting two prisoners were executed in the
According to the Iranian state broadcasting two prisoners were executed in the
- APRIL 22, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
Two women were hanged in the Dizelabad prison of Kermanshah
Two women were hanged in the Dizelabad prison of Kermanshah
APRIL 22, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR PRISONERS EXECUTED
Iran hanged four prisoners in two different cities. Two young Afghan citizens were executed
APRIL 20, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: NINE PRISONERS HANGED INCLUDING TWO AFGHANS
The Iranian regime henchmen have hanged nine prisoners in prisons in southeastern city of
- APRIL 17, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
According to reliable sources that Iran Human Rights (IHR) has been in contact with, two
According to reliable sources that Iran Human Rights (IHR) has been in contact with, two
- APRIL 17, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the Iranian state media one prisoner was hanged in the prison of Zarand
According to the Iranian state media one prisoner was hanged in the prison of Zarand
- APRIL 17, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the Iranian state broadcasting two prisoners were hanged in the
According to the Iranian state broadcasting two prisoners were hanged in the
APRIL 17, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE PRISONERS HANGED IN THREE DIFFERENT PRISONS
Five prisoners were hanged in three different Iranian prisons today.
APRIL 16, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: NINE EXECUTED FOR ARMED ROBBERY, MURDER
Iran executed nine people convicted of armed robberies, murder and abduction in the southern province of Fars, the authorities said.
APRIL 10, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN BANDAR ABBAS
Iranian regime's henchmen hanged a man in the morning in central prison of southern city
APRIL 9, 2013DenmarkDEATH PENALTYDENMARK STOPS AID TO IRAN’S FIGHT AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING
The Danish government has decided to cut its aids to Iran’s anti-drug program, say Danish
APRIL 4, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: NUMBER OF EXECUTIONS IN 2012 AMONG THE HIGHEST IN MORE THAN 15 YEARS
According to the fifth annual report of Iran Human Rights (IHR) on the death penalty in Iran, in 2012 the Islamic Republic carried out at least 580 executions, a number among the highest in more than 15 years.
MARCH 29, 2013MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: IRANIAN SISTERS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Two Iranian sisters were sentenced to death by the High Court in Malaysia for trafficking
MARCH 26, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: COURT SENTENCES 6 MEN TO DEATH FOR RAPE
Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency says a local court in southwestern Iran has sentenced
- MARCH 12, 2013AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
Radio Free Europe reported that an Iranian citizen Mohammad Mohammadi
Radio Free Europe reported that an Iranian citizen Mohammad Mohammadi
MARCH 4, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR AFGHAN PRISONERS HANGED
Iran hanged four Afghan prisoners on Monday in Vakil Abad Prison in northeastern
MARCH 2, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED PUBLICLY
Two prisoners were hanged publicly in the Torkmanchai area of Mianeh (northwestern
- FEBRUARY 28, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
The official website of the Iranian judiciary in Semnan reported that one prisoner
The official website of the Iranian judiciary in Semnan reported that one prisoner
- FEBRUARY 28, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the official Iranian news agency IRNA four prisoners were hanged publicly
According to the official Iranian news agency IRNA four prisoners were hanged publicly