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
- 8,611
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 8,611 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 20, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
A man identified as Rasoul (age not given), convicted of keeping drugs, was hanged in
A man identified as Rasoul (age not given), convicted of keeping drugs, was hanged in
- MAY 20, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
An Afghan man (age not mentioned) was hanged in the prison of Shiraz, Etemad
An Afghan man (age not mentioned) was hanged in the prison of Shiraz, Etemad
- MAY 20, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
A 20 years young man convicted of a murder in August 2006 was hanged in the
A 20 years young man convicted of a murder in August 2006 was hanged in the
MAY 20, 2009ItalyDEATH PENALTYIRAN: ZAMPARUTTI- CANCELLING VISIT IS THE MINIMUM FRATTINI COULD DO
"Cancelling his visit to Iran is the minimum that Frattini could and should do,” Elisabetta Zamparutti, Radical Deputy and Hands Off Cain director, said.
- MAY 19, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
Iranian authorities hanged a man convicted of drug trafficking. The man, identified as
Iranian authorities hanged a man convicted of drug trafficking. The man, identified as
- MAY 16, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
Five men were hanged in the Adelabad prison of Shiraz, reported the Iranian daily
Five men were hanged in the Adelabad prison of Shiraz, reported the Iranian daily
- MAY 16, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
two men were hanged for drug trafficking in Isfahan, Iran, reported
two men were hanged for drug trafficking in Isfahan, Iran, reported
- MAY 16, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
Iranian authorities hanged a man convicted of murder. Mahmoud, 25, was hanged in
Iranian authorities hanged a man convicted of murder. Mahmoud, 25, was hanged in
- MAY 13, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran has hanged a convicted murderer in a prison in the northern city of Qazvin, the
Iran has hanged a convicted murderer in a prison in the northern city of Qazvin, the
MAY 13, 2009IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PAIR HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Authorities in Iran hanged two people convicted of drug trafficking in the northern city of Qazvin, the government newspaper Iran reported.
- MAY 12, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
two prisoners identified as Mohsen Sadeghi, 35, and Reza Choupani, 40
two prisoners identified as Mohsen Sadeghi, 35, and Reza Choupani, 40
- MAY 11, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
a man identified as Hossein was hanged in Isfahan, Iran, for murder.
a man identified as Hossein was hanged in Isfahan, Iran, for murder.
- MAY 11, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
two men, identified as "Mohammad Mehdi" and "Reza Gholi" and convicted
two men, identified as "Mohammad Mehdi" and "Reza Gholi" and convicted
- MAY 11, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN MAY EXECUTE AS MANY AS 600 EACH YEAR: LAWYER
Iran may be hanging up to 600 criminals a year as its use of the death penalty intensifies, a lawyer acting for many of the country’s death row prisoners said.
- MAY 11, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN HANGED FOR MURDER
Iran hanged a man convicted of murder in an execution carried out in a prison in the
- MAY 10, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN MOVES TO REDUCE NUMBER OF EXECUTIONS
Iran wants to reduce the number of "unnecessary executions" it carries out, a spokesman for the Islamic republic's judiciary said.
- MAY 8, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Two men were hanged in the Iranian city of Shiraz, reported the state run Iranian news
- MAY 7, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: FIVE PEOPLE HANGED IN KERMAN
Five people were hanged in the prison of Kerman, south-eastern part of Iran, reported
- MAY 6, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
One woman and three men were hanged in Tehran’s Evin prison early this morning,
One woman and three men were hanged in Tehran’s Evin prison early this morning,
- MAY 6, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN STAYS EXECUTION OF TWO MINORS: LAWYER
Iran ordered a stay of execution for two young convicts sentenced to death for crimes committed when they were under the age of 18, their lawyer said.
- MAY 5, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN STONED TO DEATH FOR ADULTERY
iranian judiciary spokesman, Ali Reza Jamshidi, in response to a question regarding a man who had been stoned to death for adultery recently in Rasht (northern Iran) said, “Stoning was carried out during the Iranian month of Esfand,” which ended on March
- MAY 5, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
a man identified as Abdolbaret Nurzehi was executed for murder in a prison in Khash,
a man identified as Abdolbaret Nurzehi was executed for murder in a prison in Khash,
- MAY 4, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
a prisoner was executed in the Ardabil Jail, Iran.
- MAY 3, 2009ItalyDEATH PENALTY
DELARA DARABI: D’ELIA- MULLAH’S BRUTALITY TOLERATED BY EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS
following the execution of Delara Darabi in Iran, Hands Off Cain secretary Sergio
- MAY 2, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
EU PRESIDENCY STATEMENT ON THE EXECUTION OF DELARA DARABI
“The Presidency of the European Union strongly condemns the execution of Miss
- MAY 2, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
Eight people were hanged in the prison of Taibad (eastern Iranian province of
Eight people were hanged in the prison of Taibad (eastern Iranian province of
- MAY 1, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: WOMAN EXECUTED FOR MURDER COMMITTED AS A MINOR
Iran hanged a young woman who was convicted of murder when she was a minor, drawing condemnation from international human rights groups who have sought to end capital punishment for juvenile offenders.
- APRIL 30, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN HANGS MAN FOR SERIAL RAPES
Iran hanged a man convicted of rape in a prison in the central city of Isfahan, the state-
- APRIL 28, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran has hanged a drug trafficker in a prison in the southwestern city of Ahvaz, Karoon
Iran has hanged a drug trafficker in a prison in the southwestern city of Ahvaz, Karoon
- APRIL 28, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN ELITES: NO CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR -18S
a group of Iranian Islamic clerics, legal experts and social activists urged a ban on the death sentence for those under 18 years of age.