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
JUNE 7, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE PRISONERS HANGED PUBLICLY IN SHIRAZ
Five prisoners were hanged publicly in the city of Shiraz (southern Iran), reported the Iranian state media.
JUNE 3, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 3 AFGHAN PRISONERS HANGED OVER DRUGS SMUGGLE CHARGES
According to local authorities in western afghan Nimroz province the dead bodies of three Afghans
- MAY 31, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
two prisoners sentenced to death were executed in Gachsaran and Yasug prisons
two prisoners sentenced to death were executed in Gachsaran and Yasug prisons
MAY 31, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: AT LEAST 9 PRISONERS EXECUTED ONE DAY AFTER EU EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE ALARMING NUMBER OF THE EXECUTIONS
At least nine prisoners were executed in two different prisons in Iran, reported unofficial reports from Iran.
- MAY 30, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
the Persian-language Tabnak news website reported that...
the Persian-language Tabnak news website reported that...
- MAY 28, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED PUBLICLY
two men have been hanged publicly in Iran recently.
- MAY 25, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
A young man was hanged publicly outside Lar prison (southern Iran) in the
A young man was hanged publicly outside Lar prison (southern Iran) in the
- MAY 24, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
In Iran, one prisoner identified as Amirhossein Hosseini was publicly executed in a city square in
In Iran, one prisoner identified as Amirhossein Hosseini was publicly executed in a city square in
MAY 23, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SEVEN PRISONERS HANGED
Seven prisoners have been hanged in Iran recently.
- MAY 22, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
three prisoners were executed in Shiraz (southern Iran). According to the official site
three prisoners were executed in Shiraz (southern Iran). According to the official site
MAY 21, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 14 HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Iran hanged 14 people in Tehran after they were convicted of drug trafficking, a statement from the Tehran prosecutor’s office said.
- MAY 20, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
according to the official web site of the Iranian judiciary in Mazandaran, one prisoner
according to the official web site of the Iranian judiciary in Mazandaran, one prisoner
- MAY 20, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
according to the Kurdish news agency Kurdpa, a Kurdish prisoner, identified by the
according to the Kurdish news agency Kurdpa, a Kurdish prisoner, identified by the
- MAY 20, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
two prisoners identified as S. R. and V. A. were hanged in Sanandaj prison, the
two prisoners identified as S. R. and V. A. were hanged in Sanandaj prison, the
MAY 17, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 26 PRISONERS HANGED IN TWO DAYS
According to the official and unofficial reports 26 prisoners were executed in three different Iranian prisons in two days.
MAY 17, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO HANGED FOR RAPE
Two prisoners were publicly hanged in Isfahan (central Iran) early in the morning.
- MAY 16, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
One prisoner was hanged in Zanjan (west of Tehran) early in the morning.
MAY 15, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN HANGED FOR KILLING NUCLEAR SCIENTIST
Iran's state TV says authorities have hanged a man who was sentenced to death for the 2010 killing of a nuclear physicist.
MAY 12, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR MEN DUE TO BE HANGED FOR SODOMY
Iran court has sentenced four men to death by hanging for sodomy.
MAY 8, 2012United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTYUAE: TWO GET DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
In UAE, one Emirati and an Iranian were sentenced to capital punishment by the Dibba
- MAY 7, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN HANGED IN PRISON
According to the state run Iranian news agency Fars, a man convicted of sexually
MAY 7, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: NINE 'GLASS' DRUG TRAFFICKERS HANGED
Iran hanged nine men in a prison in Tehran after they were convicted of trafficking "glass", or methamphetamine, a statement from the Tehran prosecution office said.
- MAY 6, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: DEATH SENTENCE UPHELD
Tehran Prosecutor General Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi announced that the death sentence
- MAY 5, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
the Iranian judiciary has handed death sentences to two Kurdish
the Iranian judiciary has handed death sentences to two Kurdish
APRIL 30, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE FOR GHOLAMREZA KHOSRAVI
Iran’s Supreme Court has approved a death sentence for Gholamreza Khosravi Savadjani, a
APRIL 30, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR PRISONERS EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Four prisoners were hanged in the prison of Shahrud, Iran, early in the morning.
- APRIL 26, 2012AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
Afghanistan and Iran have agreed to a prisoner exchange...
Afghanistan and Iran have agreed to a prisoner exchange...
- APRIL 25, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the official website of the Iranian judiciary in Semnan Province five prisoners,
According to the official website of the Iranian judiciary in Semnan Province five prisoners,
- APRIL 25, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
Eight prisoners, among them one Afghan citizen, were hanged in Karaj (west of Tehran
Eight prisoners, among them one Afghan citizen, were hanged in Karaj (west of Tehran
- APRIL 25, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 13 PRISONERS EXECUTED
Five prisoners were executed in the prison of Shahrud (northern Iran), reported the offcial Iranian sources.