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
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
- NOVEMBER 29, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran hanged three convicted rapists, local media reported.
Iran hanged three convicted rapists, local media reported.
NOVEMBER 29, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: NINE HANGED FOR RAPE, DRUG TRAFFICKING
Iran hanged three convicted rapists and six drug traffickers -- one of them a woman -- in different cities, local media reported.
- NOVEMBER 24, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: ELEVEN PRISONERS EXECUTED IN THE PRISON OF SHIRAZ
Eleven prisoners were hanged in the prison of Shiraz (southern Iran) early in the morning
- NOVEMBER 24, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: ONE MAN HANGED IN THE PRISON OF QOM
One prisoner was hanged in the prison of Qom (south of Tehran) reported the state run
- NOVEMBER 21, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: UN RESOLUTION CONDEMNS RIGHTS ABUSES IN IRAN
the UN General Assembly's rights committee passed a resolution condemning human rights abuses in Iran. It condemned "torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including flogging and amputations" carried out by Iranian authorities.
- NOVEMBER 21, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
the Iranian High Court approved the death penalty imposed
the Iranian High Court approved the death penalty imposed
- NOVEMBER 20, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the official Iranian news agency IRNA, three unidentified prisoners
According to the official Iranian news agency IRNA, three unidentified prisoners
- NOVEMBER 20, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
The Iranian national broadcasting (IRIB) in the province of Bakhtiari reported that
The Iranian national broadcasting (IRIB) in the province of Bakhtiari reported that
NOVEMBER 20, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO MEN HANGED IN MASHAD
Two young men were hanged in the Vakilabad prison of Mashad, Iran, reported
NOVEMBER 20, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE PRISONERS EXECUTED
Five prisoners were hanged in two different prisons in Iran early in the morning.
- NOVEMBER 17, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
two prisoners were hanged in the prison of Qom
two prisoners were hanged in the prison of Qom
NOVEMBER 15, 2011PakistanDEATH PENALTYUNITED ARAB EMIRATES: 10 DRUG DEALERS GET DEATH IN KHOR FAKKAN
a criminal court in Khor Fakkan, UAE, sentenced 10 men to death after they were
NOVEMBER 14, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE PEOPLE EXECUTED IN PRISON
Five people have been hanged in two different Iranian prisons, reported the Iranian state media.
- NOVEMBER 12, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
Fars news agency reported that three prisoners were lashed 60 times and then hanged
Fars news agency reported that three prisoners were lashed 60 times and then hanged
NOVEMBER 12, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: CONVICTED RAPIST HANGED IN PUBLIC
Iran hanged in public a man convicted of various charges, including rape, abduction and threatening
- NOVEMBER 11, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the state run Iranian news agency Fars, two prisoners were hanged
According to the state run Iranian news agency Fars, two prisoners were hanged
- NOVEMBER 4, 2011MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: THREE IRANIANS SENTENCED TO DEATH
a Malaysian high court sentenced three Iranians to death by hanging after they were
- NOVEMBER 3, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: SCORNED SUITOR HANGED
one man, who was identified as Z. K., was hanged publicly in the town of Noor Abad