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
- MAY 2, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
SCHEDULED IRANIAN EXECUTION DELAYED
Iran stayed the hanging of Kurdish political activist Sherko Moarefi for a possible judicial review.
- MAY 1, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN TO FREE HUNDREDS OF AFGHAN PRISONERS
hundreds of Afghan citizens languishing in Iranian jails would be released in the near future...
APRIL 30, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN HANGED IN CENTRAL PROVINCE OF MARKAZI
One man was hanged in public in the Markazi (central)
- APRIL 29, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
One man was hanged in public in the southwest Iranian town of Mahshahr, reported the
One man was hanged in public in the southwest Iranian town of Mahshahr, reported the
- APRIL 29, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
the EU's foreign affairs chief, Catherine Ashton...
the EU's foreign affairs chief, Catherine Ashton...
APRIL 22, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: ONE PERSON EXECUTED
One man was hanged in the prison of kermanshah west of Iran, reported the official Iranian
APRIL 21, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR PEOPLE HANGED IN PUBLIC ON A BEACH IN BANDAR ABBAS
Four people were hanged in public in the city of Bandar Abbas, south of Iran, this morning.
- APRIL 19, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRANIAN HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER RELEASED AFTER SERVING HIS SENTENCE
jailed Iranian lawyer Mohammad Oliayifard was released after serving his one-year sentence.
APRIL 16, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR MEN HANGED IN FARS PROVINCE
Iran hanged three inmates all convicted of killing two policemen, armed robbery and kidnapping and a fourth person convicted of serial killings.
APRIL 13, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PEOPLE HANGED IN ARAK
Two people were hanged in the prison of Arak, in central Iran.
- APRIL 9, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN HANGED IN AHWAZ
One man was hanged in the southwest Iranian city of Ahwaz, reported the state run Iranian news agency Fars.
APRIL 7, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE PEOPLE HANGED IN ORUMIYEH
3 people were hanged in the central prison of Orumiyeh, Iran.
- APRIL 2, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
URGENT APPEAL TO SAVE SHERKO MOARAFI FROM EXECUTION IN IRAN
Kurdish activist Sherko Moarafi is in danger of being executed in Iran for “enmity against God” for his alleged membership in a proscribed Kurdish organisation.
MARCH 30, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 650 PEOPLE EXECUTED IN 2010 - BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE REPORT
According to "The 2010 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report" on human rights, the number of executions in Iran increases to over 650 in 2010.
MARCH 29, 2011KuwaitDEATH PENALTYKUWAIT CONDEMNS THREE TO DEATH IN IRAN SPY RING
two Iranians and a Kuwaiti national, all serving in Kuwait's army, were sentenced to
MARCH 24, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYU.N. HUMAN RIGHTS BODY APPROVES INVESTIGATOR ON IRAN
The U.N. Human Rights Council established a special investigator on Iran, a
- MARCH 16, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN HANGED IN BEHBEHAN
One man was hanged in the southwestern Iranian town of Behbehan, reported
MARCH 16, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN TO EXPEDITE EXECUTION SENTENCES
Radio Zamaneh reported the head of Iran’s Supreme Court had announced
- MARCH 14, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
UN CONCERNED WITH IRAN HUMAN RIGHTS
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced concern over increased violations of human rights in Iran. In a report to the Human Rights Council, Ban mentioned executions of drug traffickers, stonings, floggings and amputations.
- MARCH 14, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: FIVE PEOPLE HANGED IN EVIN PRISON
Iran secretly hanged five people in Evin prison according to Hrana news agency.
- MARCH 13, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: POLITICAL PRISONER TO BE EXECUTED
in Iran, political prisoner Behrouz Abdi faces the imminent threat of execution.
- MARCH 5, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
CHRISTIAN PASTOR, AWAITING DEATH SENTENCE, HELD AMONG MURDERERS AND DRUG PEDDLERS IN IRAN
Youcef Nadarkhani, sentenced to death in Iran for apostasy is being held in Lakan prison in Gilan province in northern Iran, in the main part of the prison with drug dealers and murderers, Jason DeMars of www.presenettruthmn.com said.
MARCH 5, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE AFGHAN NATIONALS HANGED FOR RAPE
Iran hanged three Afghan nationals in a prison in Tehran after they were found guilty of raping an Afghan
- MARCH 3, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO HANGED IN OROUMIEH
Iran executed two people in Oroumieh Prison as part of its attempts to terrorize the population
MARCH 2, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN HANGED IN ISFAHAN
One man was hanged in the prison of Khomeini Shahr, Iran, early this morning
- MARCH 2, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: AT LEAST 10 HANGED IN MASHHAD
the Iranian regime hanged at least 10 people in the northeastern city of Mashhad
MARCH 1, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TEN PEOPLE HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Ten people were hanged in Iran for drug trafficking.
- FEBRUARY 28, 2011YemenDEATH PENALTY
YEMEN: DEATH SENTENCE FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
in Sana'a, Yemen, Judge Mohamed al-Hakimi of the Specialised Criminal Division sentenced Iranian national Mumtaz Sultan Amiri to death for bringing drugs into the country.
FEBRUARY 28, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 10 KURDISH POLITICAL PRISONERS EXECUTED
10 Kurds were hanged in the central prison in Umrye, Iran, for being members of Kurdish political
- FEBRUARY 20, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO PEOPLE HANGED IN ISFAHAN
Two men were hanged in the prison of Isfahan, central Iran, early this morning.