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
SEPTEMBER 12, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SIX HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
six people have been hanged recently in Iran for drug trafficking.
- SEPTEMBER 11, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
One prisoner was hanged in the prison of Meshgin shahr (in the northwest Iranian province of
One prisoner was hanged in the prison of Meshgin shahr (in the northwest Iranian province of
- SEPTEMBER 10, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
two Iranians were executed for the possession and sale of four kilograms of heroin
two Iranians were executed for the possession and sale of four kilograms of heroin
- SEPTEMBER 8, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
Three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Oroumieh (northwestern Iran) reported
Three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Oroumieh (northwestern Iran) reported
SEPTEMBER 6, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR PEOPLE HANGED IN KERMAN
Four people were hanged in the prison of Kerman, southeast of Iran, according to the state-run Iranian
SEPTEMBER 4, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN HANGS SIX CONVICTS IN PRISON
according to the reports from Iran, six people were hanged in the Karoun prison of Ahvaz (southwest of Iran) early in the morning.
AUGUST 28, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: DEATH SENTENCE FOR SCIENTIST’S KILLER
in Iran, Majid Jamali-Fashi was sentenced to death for murdering scientist Massoud Ali-Mohammadi in January 2010 on behalf of Israel to stop Iran developing nuclear technology, official news agency IRNA reported.
- AUGUST 8, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
another Japanese crane manufacturer, UNIC, announced
another Japanese crane manufacturer, UNIC, announced
- AUGUST 1, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: ACID VICTIM SPARES ATTACKER FROM SAME FATE
Iranian woman Ameneh Bahrami, who was blinded and disfigured by Majid Movahedi who threw acid into her face in 2004, pardonned him at the last minute.
- AUGUST 1, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN SENTENCED FOUR TO DEATH FOR RAPE
a court in Khomeini Shahr, in Iran's Isfahan province, sentenced four men to death for gang rape, ISNA reported. In late May, 14 men allegedly crashed a party in the city of Khomeini Shahr, locked all the men in a room, and raped the women attending the p
- JULY 30, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN HANGS MAN FOR CHILD MURDER: REPORT
Iran hanged a man, identified by the initials HS, for murdering an eight-year-old boy in Qom who was on his way from home to a nearby grocery shop, the Fars news agency reported. He was hanged in a prison in Qom in the presence of the victim's family.
- JULY 30, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN HANGS MAN 19 FOR RAPE
a 19-year-old unidentified man convicted of raping a 16-year-old boy was hanged in Iran's northeastern city of Mashhad, the Khorasan newspaper reported. He was executed in the city’s central prison, the report added.
- JULY 30, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN HANGS MAN ON DRUG-SMUGGLING CHARGES
a man, identified only by the initials H.D., was hanged in the southern Iranian town of Minab on charges of drug smuggling. The report in the "Kayhan" newspaper did not say whether the execution was carried out in public.
- JULY 26, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: BALUCHI PRISONER HANGED IN KERMAN
Mohammad Mandazahi, son of Dadkha, was hanged in Kerman’s central prison, Iran.
- JULY 21, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRANIAN VIDEO SHOWS PUBLIC EXECUTION
new video footage of a public hanging in Azadi Square in Kermanshah, Iran, highlights the brutalisation of both the condemned and those who watch executions, Amnesty International said.
- JULY 21, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRANIAN VIDEO SHOWS PUBLIC EXECUTION
new video footage of a public hanging in Azadi Square in Kermanshah, Iran, highlights the brutalisation of both the condemned and those who watch executions, Amnesty International said.
JULY 20, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR PEOPLE HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A total of four people charged with drug trafficking have been hanged in Rafsanjan and Jiroft prisons (both located in the Kerman province, southeastern Iran), according to a report by the Iranian state-run media news agency ISNA.
- JULY 19, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
MEMBER OF IRANIAN PARLIAMENT’S JUDICIAL COMMISSION EXPRESSES SUPPORT PUBLIC EXECUTIONS
in an interview with Fars News Agency, Nayereh Akhavan...
- JULY 19, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: THREE MEN HANGED FOR RAPE
Iran hanged three men convicted of rape in the northeastern city of Qoochan
- JULY 19, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: THREE YOUNG MEN HANGED IN PUBLIC
Three young men were hanged publicly in the Azadi (Freedom) Square of Kermanshah in
JULY 16, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: ANOTHER 30 HANGED AT VAKILABAD PRISON ON DRUG CHARGES
Iranian authorities have hanged another 30 prisoners at Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad on drug
JULY 13, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN HANGED IN BANDAR-ABBAS
One man was hanged in Bandar-Abbas prison (capital of the Hormozgan province, southern Iran) in the morning.
JULY 13, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN 'STONING WOMAN' ATTENDS MOTHER'S FUNERAL
A woman sentenced to death by stoning in Iran is in "perfect health" and has been allowed to
- JULY 12, 2011JapanDEATH PENALTY
COMPANY ENDS CONTRACTS WITH IRAN AFTER CRANES USED IN PUBLIC HANGINGS
A Japanese company said it has ended contracts with the Iranian government following a report that its cranes have been used for public executions.
JULY 11, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR PEOPLE HANGED IN QOM
Four people have been executed in Qom prison during the past two weeks.
JULY 7, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO MEN EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Two men were hanged in the prison of Orumiyeh (northwestern Iran) early this
JULY 4, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: YOUNG MAN HANGED IN MASHHAD
A young man was hanged in the central prison of Khorasan, Iran, reported the Iranian daily "Khorasan".
- JULY 3, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the group "Iranian Activists for Human Rights and Democracy", 7 people
According to the group "Iranian Activists for Human Rights and Democracy", 7 people
- JULY 3, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
According to reliable sources, 25 people in Ghezel Hesar prison (in Karaj, west
According to reliable sources, 25 people in Ghezel Hesar prison (in Karaj, west
JULY 3, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN 'ANNULS DEATH TERM' FOR CHRISTIAN PASTOR
Iran's supreme court has overturned a death sentence handed down to Yusef Nadarkhani