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
NOVEMBER 2, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 23 INMATES REPORTEDLY EXECUTED IN OCTOBER
23 prisoners were executed in Mashhad, the capital of Iran's northeastern
NOVEMBER 2, 2010ItalyDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 'HANDS OFF CAIN', EU INTERVENES AGAINST SAKINEH HANGING
'Sakineh's fate depends on how strongly the European Union decides to mobilise itself against the death penalty and the Iranian government, and apply the necessary pressure to stop her from being hung. It would truly be a mockery if Sakineh, after being s
- OCTOBER 31, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN SENTENCES THREE TO DEATH IN SOUTHERN PROVINCE
a Shiraz court in Iran's Fars Province sentenced three unidentified Roushanfekr members to death for "waging war against God", the Human Rights House of Iran (Rahana) website reported.
OCTOBER 31, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE SENTENCED TO DEATH IN SOUTHERN PROVINCE
a court in the Iranian city of Shiraz, capital of the southern Fars Province, has
OCTOBER 27, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE PEOPLE HANGED IN TEHRAN IN THE PAST FEW DAYS
Five people have been hanged in Tehran during the past few days.
- OCTOBER 26, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRANIAN RIGHTS GROUP SAYS SECRET EXECUTIONS INCREASING
the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran (ICHRI) said the number of unannounced executions at the Vakilabad prison in the eastern Iranian city of Mashhad has increased. ICHRI said that there are more than 600 inmates on death row at Mashhad and
- OCTOBER 26, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN HANGED FOR ‘IMMORAL ACTS’
One person was hanged in the city of Ahvaz, southwest of Iran, convicted of acts against
- OCTOBER 24, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
MINISTRY: EXECUTION OF IRANIAN CHURCH LEADER DELAYED
the execution of Rev Youcef Nadarkhani in Iran for apostasy was delayed. Nadarkhani, the leader of a church network in Rasht, was arrested on October 13, 2009, for objecting to forcing Christian school students to read the Quran.
OCTOBER 19, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: ETHNIC KURD SENTENCED TO DEATH ON ESPIONAGE CHARGES
a military court in Iran's northwestern Kordestan Province sentenced Abdollah Sarvari, an
OCTOBER 18, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: A WEEK WITH AMPUTATION AND PUBLIC LASHINGS
Four men were lashed 75 times each in public in the northeastern Iranian town of Gonbad
- OCTOBER 16, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
two men were hanged in the Karoun prison of Ahvaz, southwest of Iran, in the
two men were hanged in the Karoun prison of Ahvaz, southwest of Iran, in the
- OCTOBER 16, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
a man was hanged in the Karoun prison of Ahvaz, southwest of Iran, in the
a man was hanged in the Karoun prison of Ahvaz, southwest of Iran, in the
OCTOBER 16, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE PEOPLE HANGED IN AHVAZ
Three men were hanged in the Karoun prison of Ahvaz, southwest of Iran, in the morning
OCTOBER 11, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Iran hanged five people in the central city of Isfahan for drug trafficking, state television's
OCTOBER 11, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN DEFENDS EXECUTION OF DRUG TRAFFICKERS
Iran defended its executions of people for drug trafficking, ISNA news agency reported.
OCTOBER 10, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
a young woman was sentenced to death by Judge Mohammad Soltan Hemmatyar of
OCTOBER 10, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: ONE WOMAN, THREE MEN HANGED ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY
One woman and three men were hanged in the prison of Zanjan, west of Iran, early this morning
- OCTOBER 8, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN, SAUDI ARABIA, SUDAN: END JUVENILE DEATH PENALTY
only three countries - Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan - are known to have executed an individual since the beginning of 2009 for a crime committed before age 18, Human Rights Watch said today.
OCTOBER 6, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 8 PEOPLE HANGED IN KERMAN
Eight people were hanged in the prison of Kerman, south east of Iran, reported the official
- OCTOBER 3, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
One woman was hanged in the prison of Shirvan (northeast of Iran) according to the
One woman was hanged in the prison of Shirvan (northeast of Iran) according to the
- OCTOBER 3, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
three men were hanged in the southern Khorasan province, Iran, during the month
three men were hanged in the southern Khorasan province, Iran, during the month
- OCTOBER 3, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: THREE MEN, WOMAN HANGED
three men and a woman were hanged recently in Iran, iranian media reported.
- OCTOBER 2, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
after being tried in the 11th Chamber of the Gilan Province’s Assize Court...
after being tried in the 11th Chamber of the Gilan Province’s Assize Court...
- SEPTEMBER 29, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: AMBASSADOR IN ITALY- ‘STONING WILL SOON BE ABOLISHED’
the Iranian ambassador in Italy said that the parliament in Tehran will shortly approve
SEPTEMBER 29, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FAMILIES OF KILLED DETAINEES CALL FOR PROSECUTION OF SENIOR OFFICIALS
The families of the three Iranian detainees who were killed under
- SEPTEMBER 27, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: CONFUSION OVER STONING WOMAN
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani has received a death sentence for committing murder
SEPTEMBER 25, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: JUVENILE OFFENDER EXECUTED
According to the reports from Iran a minor offender identified as Mohammad was hanged on July 10th 2010 in the Marvdasht prison of Shiraz.
- SEPTEMBER 22, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
a person was hanged in Aran-Bigdel (province of Isfahan, Central Iran) for drug trafficking
a person was hanged in Aran-Bigdel (province of Isfahan, Central Iran) for drug trafficking
- SEPTEMBER 22, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
a man was hanged in Kerman (southeast of Iran), the official website of the Iranian
a man was hanged in Kerman (southeast of Iran), the official website of the Iranian
- SEPTEMBER 22, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO PEOPLE HANGED IN KERMAN AND ISFAHAN
Two people were hanged in Kerman (southeast of Iran) and Aran-Bigdel (province