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
JANUARY 15, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 12 HANGINGS IN SHIRAZ
According to the reports from Iran 12 prisoners were executed in the city of Shiraz (southern Iran).
JANUARY 11, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO MEN HANGED FOR RAPE
Two prisoners were executed in Tehran’s Evin prison, reported the Iranian state media. According
JANUARY 9, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTYIRAN: AMERICAN EX-MARINE AMIR MIRZA HEKMATI SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR SPYING
An American ex-Marine, who also holds Iranian citizenship, has been sentenced
JANUARY 8, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: AT LEAST 41 EXECUTIONS IN THE FIRST WEEK OF 2012
The new year also began with a series of mass executions in Iran.
- JANUARY 7, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
a man, who was not identified by name, was hanged in public in a village near Gachsaran
a man, who was not identified by name, was hanged in public in a village near Gachsaran
JANUARY 6, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYEU URGES IRAN TO HALT ALL EXECUTIONS
The European Union voiced concern over the large number of executions
- JANUARY 5, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
three prisoners were hanged publicly in the Azadi (Liberty) Square of Kermanshah
three prisoners were hanged publicly in the Azadi (Liberty) Square of Kermanshah
- JANUARY 5, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
one man was hanged in the prison of Varamin
one man was hanged in the prison of Varamin
- JANUARY 4, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
five prisoners were hanged in the prison of Zanjan for drug trafficking
five prisoners were hanged in the prison of Zanjan for drug trafficking
- JANUARY 4, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
one prisoner was hanged in the central prison of Semnan
one prisoner was hanged in the central prison of Semnan
- JANUARY 4, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
five narcotics traffickers were hanged in the Kerman and Bam prisons
five narcotics traffickers were hanged in the Kerman and Bam prisons
JANUARY 3, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 25 PRISONERS HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
At least 25 prisoners have been executed in Iran in the past two days, official and unofficial
- JANUARY 1, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
Offences punishable by death include:
Offences punishable by death include:
DECEMBER 29, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO YOUNG MEN HANGED PUBLICLY IN QAZVIN
Two young men were hanged publicly in Qazvin (west of Tehran) this morning.
- DECEMBER 26, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRANIAN WOMAN SENTENCED TO BE STONED TO DEATH MAY BE HANGED INSTEAD
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, the Iranian woman whose execution by stoning was suspended after an international outcry, may be hanged instead.
- DECEMBER 26, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: FIVE PRISONERS HANGED IN SEMNAN PROVINCE
Five prisoners were executed in the prison of Shahrud (Semnan province northern Iran
DECEMBER 24, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: NINE PRISONERS (AMONG THEM ONE WOMAN) EXECUTED
According to reliable sources from Iran nine prisoners were executed in two different prisons in Iran, early this morning.
- DECEMBER 20, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
GHANAIAN, AFRICANS EXECUTED IN IRANIAN PRISONS - AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
human rights advocacy group Amnesty International said at least one Ghanaian, Akwasi Aquwabe, was confirmed killed in Iran in 2010 in a mass execution at Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.
DECEMBER 20, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
One prisoner was hanged in the prison of Saveh (southwest of Tehran) early this morning.
DECEMBER 19, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FEMALE KURDISH PRISONER’S DEATH SENTENCE OVERTURNED
the Iranian Supreme Court commuted the death sentence of Zeinab Jalalian, a Kurdish prisoner of conscience, to life in prison.
DECEMBER 18, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: ONE MAN HANGED IN ILAM
One prisoner was hanged in the central prison of Ilam (western Iran) early this morning
DECEMBER 17, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE PRISONERS HANGED IN ARAK
Three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Arak (south of Tehran) early
DECEMBER 15, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: ‘KILLING SPREE’ OF DRUG EXECUTIONS
Amnesty International said in a report Iran has launched "a killing spree of staggering proportions
- DECEMBER 15, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: THREE MEN HANGED
three men have been hanged recently in Iran for drug trafficking, rape.
- DECEMBER 14, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
An unknown prisoner was hanged in "Aran-Bigdel" (Central Iranian province of Isfahan
An unknown prisoner was hanged in "Aran-Bigdel" (Central Iranian province of Isfahan
- DECEMBER 13, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
Two men were hanged publicly in the town of Rostam (Fars province, southern Iran), reported
Two men were hanged publicly in the town of Rostam (Fars province, southern Iran), reported
DECEMBER 13, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: HEROIN TRAFFICKER EXECUTED
A convicted drug trafficker was executed publicly early in the mornng in the Iranian city of Rasht
DECEMBER 11, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PUBLIC HANGING AND AMPUTATIONS
One man was hanged publicly and amputation verdicts of two prisoners were implemented
- DECEMBER 11, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN HANGED IN PUBLIC DESPITE CRITICAL CONDITION
The public execution for a prisoner was carried out on the dawn in the Danesh Square
- NOVEMBER 29, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
six drug traffickers -- one of them a woman - were hanged in Iran, Fars
six drug traffickers -- one of them a woman - were hanged in Iran, Fars