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
JULY 3, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 32 PEOPLE HANGED
According to the group Iran Human Rights, 32 people were hanged in Iran.
JUNE 30, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: DEATH SENTENCE FOR APOSTASY REPORTEDLY UPHELD FOR PASTOR NADARKHANI
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reported that the death sentence handed down in 2010
- JUNE 28, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 'TWENTY-SIX ALLEGED DRUG TRAFFICKERS HANGED'
the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran (ICHRI) said local sources in Mashad told the ICHRI that 26 more alleged drug traffickers were hanged at Vakilabad Prison on June 15, 2011.
- JUNE 27, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: JUDICIARY CHIEF INSISTS ON USE OF PUBLIC HANGINGS
the head of Iran's judiciary, Ayatollah Larijani, announced that "hoodlums and
- JUNE 25, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
140 PEOPLE EXECUTED IN SOUTHERN KHORASAN PROVINCE
the Iranian regime executed 140 people it accused of drug smuggling in the province of South Khorasan over the past year, according to the province’s judiciary.
- JUNE 20, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: THREE MEN HANGED IN PUBLIC
Three people were hanged in public in Iran, in the southeastern town of Zabol, early this morning
JUNE 20, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE MEN EXECUTED
Three men have been hanged in Iran in recent days.
- JUNE 19, 2011AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
Two men were hanged in the central Iranian city of Isfahan, reported the Iranian daily newspaper
Two men were hanged in the central Iranian city of Isfahan, reported the Iranian daily newspaper
- JUNE 18, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
One man was hanged in Shahr-e Kord prison (western Iran). According to the
One man was hanged in Shahr-e Kord prison (western Iran). According to the
- JUNE 14, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN HANGED IN PUBLIC
Iran hanged in public a man convicted of raping and killing an eight-year-old girl in
- JUNE 12, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO BROTHERS HANGED
Iran hanged two brothers convicted of kidnapping and murder in a prison of the
JUNE 9, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO MEN HANGED IN PUBLIC
Two men were hanged in public in Neyshabur (northeastern Iran) early this morning.
- JUNE 8, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: CONVICTED SERIAL RAPIST HANGED
Iran hanged a man convicted of serial rape in a prison in the southern city of Kerman
JUNE 6, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SUPREME COURT QUASHES DEATH SENTENCE IN 'PORN' CASE
Iran’s Supreme Court has quashed the death sentence for Saeed Malekpour, a web programmer
- JUNE 1, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
two men were hanged in Tehran’s Evin prison, Jam-e-Jam online (belonging
two men were hanged in Tehran’s Evin prison, Jam-e-Jam online (belonging
- JUNE 1, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the official site of the Iranian judiciary in Kerman (southeastern Iran) four people were hanged
According to the official site of the Iranian judiciary in Kerman (southeastern Iran) four people were hanged
JUNE 1, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SIX MEN HANGED
six men were hanged in Iran.
MAY 31, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 300 ON DEATH ROW FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
Iran has 300 convicted drug smugglers on death row, Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi said in comments published today, adding that, to his regret, few of them were major traffickers.
MAY 29, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO CHILD RAPISTS HANGED IN PUBLIC
Iran hung two men who were previously convicted of raping young children, state-run
MAY 28, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THE MAN WHO CARRIED OUT THE EXECUTION WAS 23 YEARS OLD - AUTHORITIES
Ebrat News, a site close to the Iranian authorities revealed more details about
- MAY 26, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
a man, Mehdi Faraji (37), convicted of murdering five middle-aged women who boarded his
a man, Mehdi Faraji (37), convicted of murdering five middle-aged women who boarded his
- MAY 26, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
Two men, Masoud Dehqan and Mehdi Alipour, were hanged in public in Shiraz
Two men, Masoud Dehqan and Mehdi Alipour, were hanged in public in Shiraz
- MAY 26, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
two men, Hamid Ranjbar and Hamid Reza Baqeri, were hanged in public in Iran after they were
two men, Hamid Ranjbar and Hamid Reza Baqeri, were hanged in public in Iran after they were
MAY 26, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SIX PEOPLE EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Six people were hanged in Yasouj and Sari, Iran.
MAY 26, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE MEN HANGED IN PUBLIC
Iran hanged in public five men convicted of murder, rape, armed robbery and kidnapping, the official IRNA news agency reported.
MAY 25, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SUPREME COURT GIVES GO-AHEAD FOR REVENGE OF WOMAN DISFIGURED WITH ACID
the Iranian Supreme Court gave the go-ahead for the punishment of Majid Mohavedi
MAY 25, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN CONTINUES SECRET MASS EXECUTIONS IN VAKIL ABAD PRISON IN MASHHAD
close to 70 prisoners were executed in the Vakil Abad Prison in Mashhad, Iran, despite the
MAY 23, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
One man was hanged in Behbehan, southwest of Iran, early in the morning May, reported
MAY 22, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE PEOPLE HANGED
Three people were hanged in Oroumieh prison in northwestern Iran early
- MAY 19, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran hanged Taqi Nouri Aloyjeh in Isfahan after he was arrested while carrying 27 kilograms
Iran hanged Taqi Nouri Aloyjeh in Isfahan after he was arrested while carrying 27 kilograms