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
- 9,221
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 9,221 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
DECEMBER 27, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SIX PEOPLE HANGED FOR RAPE, DRUG TRAFFICKING
Six prisoners were hanged in Iran today, in two cases.
DECEMBER 25, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN MAZANDARAN PROVINCE
One prisoner was hanged in the prison of Sari (northern Iran) reported the state run Iranian news agency ISNA from Mazandaran Province.
DECEMBER 19, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SEVEN PEOPLE HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING, RAPE
Seven convicted people were hanged in Iran's Esfahan prison, Kayhan newspaper reported.
DECEMBER 17, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
One prisoner was hanged in Kashan (central Iran) today, reported the Iranian state media.
DECEMBER 13, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: TWO IRANIAN DRUG TRAFFICKERS GETS DEATH SENTENCE
Two Iranian men were sentenced to death by the High Court in the State of Selangor
DECEMBER 10, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
One prisoner was hanged in the prison of Semnan (northern Iran) early this morning.
DECEMBER 9, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYAFGHANISTAN: ANGRY PROTESTERS ATTACK IRANIAN CONSULATE IN HERAT OVER EXECUTION OF AFGHANS IN IRAN
In Afghanistan, hundreds of angry protesters attacked the Iranian consulate in western Herat
DECEMBER 8, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE PRISONERS HANGED IN ZAHEDAN
In Iran, three prisoners convicted of drug-related charges were hanged in the prison of Zahedan early in the morning, the news agency IRNA reported.
DECEMBER 3, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: ONE WOMAN AND THREE MEN HANGED IN KERMANSHAH (ONE HANGED PUBLICLY)
four prisoners, including one woman, were hanged in Kermanshah (Western Iran).
DECEMBER 2, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: COMPUTER PROGRAMMER'S DEATH SENTENCE SUSPENDED
Iran has suspended the death sentence for a computer programmer convicted on charges of running a pornographic website after he "repented for his actions," his lawyer was quoted as saying.
NOVEMBER 27, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYUNITED NATIONS: COMMITTEE CRITICIZES IRAN'S USE OF TORTURE, DEATH PENALTY AND TARGETING OF RIGHTS DEFENDERS
A U.N. committee has expressed deep concern at Iran's continuing use of torture, the
- NOVEMBER 16, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
according to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency
according to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency
NOVEMBER 16, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO HANGED PUBLICLY FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
According to the official website of the Iranian judiciary in Fars Province two prisoners identified as "A. M." convicted of carrying 85 kilograms of opium and 10 kilograms of concentrated heroin, and "S. S." convicted of carrying 2800 grams of concentrat
- NOVEMBER 14, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: THREE HANGED PUBLICLY IN ARAK
Three prisoners were hanged publicly in Arak (central Iran) this morning, reported the Iranian
- NOVEMBER 14, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN EXECUTED FOR MURDER
Iranian state broadcasting reported that a man identified as "Fereydon
- NOVEMBER 13, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
the news agency IRNA reported the hanging of a prisoner in Zanjan prison.
the news agency IRNA reported the hanging of a prisoner in Zanjan prison.
- NOVEMBER 13, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
according to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency
according to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency
- NOVEMBER 13, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
the official website of the Iranian judiciary in the province of Fars
the official website of the Iranian judiciary in the province of Fars
NOVEMBER 13, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 45 PRISONERS HANGED IN ONE DAY
Iran hanged 45 prisoners, bringing the total number of executions this year in that country
NOVEMBER 13, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: AMPUTATION AND FLOGGING CARRIED OUT
Amputation verdicts of two prisoners convicted of theft were carried out publicly
- NOVEMBER 12, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
according to the official website of the Iranian judiciary in Ardebil
according to the official website of the Iranian judiciary in Ardebil
- NOVEMBER 11, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: ONE PRISONER HANGED IN ISFAHAN
One prisoner was hanged in the Isfahan central prison early this morning, reported the
NOVEMBER 9, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: EIGHT PEOPLE EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Eight people have been hanged in Iran in the last days for drug trafficking.
- NOVEMBER 8, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
Seven prisoners were hanged in Shiraz, Iran, five of them in public, Fars reported.
Seven prisoners were hanged in Shiraz, Iran, five of them in public, Fars reported.
- NOVEMBER 7, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the official website of the Iranian judiciary in the province of Khorrasan
According to the official website of the Iranian judiciary in the province of Khorrasan
NOVEMBER 7, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Iranian state media reported a total of five people were executed in Shiraz and Zarand (Kerman Province) early this morning.
NOVEMBER 7, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 35 HANGED IN COLLECTIVE EXECUTION IN MASHHAD
Iran sent 35 prisoners to the gallows in a collective execution carried out in the northwestern
- NOVEMBER 7, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN HANGS 10 CONVICTED DRUG TRAFFICKERS
Iran executed 10 drug traffickers in a prison in Tehran, a statement on the website of the prosecutor's
NOVEMBER 2, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR WOMEN STONED TO DEATH
According to a report published by the Melli-Mazhabi website, four women have been stoned to death during the past days in Iran. Security agents from the Iranian Judiciary reportedly transferred the bodies of the four women to the Tehran forensic medici
OCTOBER 29, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO KURDISH POLITICAL PRISONERS RECEIVE DEATH SENTENCES
The Supreme Court in Iran confirmed the death sentence of two prisoners.