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
MARCH 19, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: IRANIAN WOMAN GETS DEATH FOR TRAFFICKING IN 1.76KG OF SYABU
An Iranian woman was sent to the gallows by the High Court in Malaysia for
- MARCH 13, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
Three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Qazvin (Ghazvin), west of Tehran.
Three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Qazvin (Ghazvin), west of Tehran.
- MARCH 13, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
Two prisoners were hanged in public in the city of Mashhad (northeastern Iran).
Two prisoners were hanged in public in the city of Mashhad (northeastern Iran).
- MARCH 13, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: FIVE PRISONERS HANGED FOR RAPE, DRUG TRAFFICKING
Five prisoners were hanged in Iran, in two different cities.
MARCH 12, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYUN: IRAN EXECUTED 670 PEOPLE IN 2011
March 12, 2012: Iran executed some 670 people last year, most of them for drug crimes that do not merit capital punishment under international law and more than 20 for offences against Islam, a United Nations investigator said.
- MARCH 10, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
three prisoners were executed in the Central Prison of Shahr-e-Kord, in Iran. According to the Assistant
three prisoners were executed in the Central Prison of Shahr-e-Kord, in Iran. According to the Assistant
- MARCH 10, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
eight prisoners were hanged in Zahedan prison, Human Rights and Democracy Activists
eight prisoners were hanged in Zahedan prison, Human Rights and Democracy Activists
- MARCH 6, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
in Iran, two convicted of murder were hanged in public in two
in Iran, two convicted of murder were hanged in public in two
MARCH 6, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: IRANIAN TO HANG FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
In Malaysia An Iranian was sentenced to death by the Shah Alam High Court to
MARCH 5, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SUPREME COURT ORDERS RETRIAL OF EX-MARINE SENTENCED TO DEATH
An Iranian semiofficial news agency reports that the country's Supreme Court has ordered the retrial of an ex-Marine who was sentenced to death for working for the CIA.
MARCH 4, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: ANNUAL REPORT ON THE DEATH PENALTY IN 2011
Iran Human Rights (IHR) presented its annual report on the death penalty in 2011 in Iran.
FEBRUARY 27, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN PUTS OFF EXECUTION OF CHRISTIAN PASTOR
Iran has put off the execution of Christian Pastor Yousof Nadarkhani -- probably in
FEBRUARY 19, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO MEN HANGED IN MAZANDARAN
The Mazandaran Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor said that two rapists were executed
- FEBRUARY 14, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN HANGED FOR ARMED ROBBERY
One prisoner was hanged in the prison of Zanjan, reported the state run
FEBRUARY 12, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN SCRAPS STONING, CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR MINORS
Iranian news agencies reported that Iran's Guardian Council, a powerful body of clerics
FEBRUARY 8, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR PRISONERS EXECUTED IN QOM
Four prisoners have been executed in the prison of Qom in the past few days, reported
- FEBRUARY 6, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: DEATH SENTENCE UPHELD FOR MEN ‘LINKED TO UK SPY’
Iran's Supreme Court upheld the death sentence for two men convicted of killing three
- FEBRUARY 2, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAJOR CURRENCY SPECULATORS COULD FACE DEATH PENALTY
The chief of Iran's judiciary warned that major currency speculators could face the
JANUARY 31, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN HANGED PUBLICLY FOR MURDER
In Iran, one man was hanged publicly in the courtyard of the Karaj police department early in the morning.
- JANUARY 30, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
One prisoner was hanged in the prison Zanjan (western Iran) early
- JANUARY 29, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Two prisoners were hanged in the prison of Semnan, north of Iran.
- JANUARY 28, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. ONE PRISONER HANGED
one prisoner was hanged in the prison of Ilam, western Iran.
- JANUARY 28, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
two prisoners were secretly hanged in the Lakan Prison in Rasht...
two prisoners were secretly hanged in the Lakan Prison in Rasht...
- JANUARY 28, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: GUARDIAN COUNCIL APPROVES NEW PENAL LEGISLATION
The Guardian Council has approved the Islamic Penal Code legislation, announcing
JANUARY 22, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYHUMAN RIGHTS WATCH: SHARP INCREASE IN DEATH PENALTY IN IRAN
There was a sharp increase in the use of the death penalty in Iran in 2011, and many more were
JANUARY 19, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN HANGED PUBLICLY IN KERMAN
One man was hanged publicly in the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman early in the morning.
JANUARY 16, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: KURDISH ACTIVISTS SENTENCED TO DEATH
two Kurdish activists were sentenced to death by the Iranian courts for ‘waging enmity
JANUARY 16, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: DEATH SENTENCE UPHELD TO IRANIAN WEB DESIGNER
Iran's Supreme Court upheld the death sentence to a 35-year-old Iranian website designer
- JANUARY 15, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the state run Iranian news agency Fars, five prisoners were hanged
According to the state run Iranian news agency Fars, five prisoners were hanged
- JANUARY 15, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
seven prisoners were hanged in the Adelabad prison of Shiraz, Iran, according to the
seven prisoners were hanged in the Adelabad prison of Shiraz, Iran, according to the