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
FEBRUARY 12, 2009IranDEATH PENALTYUNITED KINGDOM: RADICALS- REFUGEE STATUS OF IRANIAN LESBIAN RECOGNISED
English authorities recognised the political refugee status of Iranian lesbian Pegah Emambakhsh, the Radical Association Certi Diritti said.
- FEBRUARY 9, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN STILL SUFFERING HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES, SAYS AMNESTY
Amnesty International reports arbitrary arrests, torture and extensive use of death penalty in Iran 30 years after Islamic revolution.
FEBRUARY 5, 2009IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE HANGED FOR MURDER
three Iranians convicted of killing a businessman were hanged in the western city of Kermanshah, a newspaper reported.
- FEBRUARY 4, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
the execution of Bahman Saliman in Iran, scheduled for February 5th...
the execution of Bahman Saliman in Iran, scheduled for February 5th...
FEBRUARY 4, 2009IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: LAWYERS URGE AN END TO EXECUTION OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS
a group of 150 Iranian lawyers addressed a letter to the country's judiciary chief, Ayatollah Mahmoud
- FEBRUARY 1, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
One man was hanged in the prison of Bojnord (in the Iranian province of Northern Khorasan), reported the
JANUARY 29, 2009IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: WOMAN HANGED FOR MURDER
an Iranian woman was hanged in the prison of Rafsanjan (south-eastern Iranian province
JANUARY 28, 2009IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO HANGED IN THE PRISON OF ISFAHAN
Two men were hanged in the prison of Isfahan (central Iran) early this morning, reported
JANUARY 28, 2009BulgariaDEATH PENALTYEXECUTION AWAITS BULGARIAN DRIVER IN IRAN
A Bulgarian truck driver who had been missing for four months has be
JANUARY 28, 2009IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN HANGS THREE FOR MURDER
three Iranians convicted of murder have been hanged recently in the south of the country, local newspapers
JANUARY 27, 2009IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR HANGED IN MASHAD
Four young men were hanged in the prison of Mashad (northeastern I
JANUARY 27, 2009IranDEATH PENALTYEU STRONGLY CONDEMNS MASS EXECUTION IN IRAN
the European Union strongly protested the execution of 22 ind
JANUARY 26, 2009ItalyDEATH PENALTYEU, IRAN: D'ELIA AND ZAMPARUTTI (HANDS OFF CAIN), VICTORY OF RIGHTS AGAINST THE REAL POLITIK
"It is a victory for the rule of law in Europe and a defeat for the Mullah's regime, that for too long has successfully exerted its political strength and blackmail, and to which Europe has too often submitted," Sergio D'Elia and Elisabetta Zamparutti, Se
JANUARY 25, 2009IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SIX CONVICTED OF DRUG TRAFFICKING, RAPE HANGED
Iran has hanged six men convicted of drug trafficking and other crimes in a prison in the
- JANUARY 21, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
ten men were hanged in Tehran’s Evin prison early this morning, Iranian state run news agency
ten men were hanged in Tehran’s Evin prison early this morning, Iranian state run news agency
- JANUARY 21, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
Molla Gol Hassan, a 21 years old Afghan citizen...
Molla Gol Hassan, a 21 years old Afghan citizen...
JANUARY 21, 2009IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
three men were hanged in the prison of Yazd, central Iran, early this m
JANUARY 21, 2009IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 19 PEOPLE EXECUTED IN TWO DAYS
According to the Iranian media 19 people were hanged in Iran in the last two days.
- JANUARY 20, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
One man was hanged in the prison of Yazd, Iran, reported the
One man was hanged in the prison of Yazd, Iran, reported the
- JANUARY 20, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
Two men identified as "A.S." and "A.B." were hanged in the prison of Yazd,
Two men identified as "A.S." and "A.B." were hanged in the prison of Yazd,
- JANUARY 20, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
a drug smuggler, identified only as Gholam was hanged...
a drug smuggler, identified only as Gholam was hanged in the city of Kardj, Iran, the government-run daily newspaper Iran reported.
- JANUARY 20, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
Three unidentified men were hanged in the prison of Yazd, Iran, news agency
Three unidentified men were hanged in the prison of Yazd, Iran, news agency
- JANUARY 20, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
IRANIAN WOMAN TO BE WHIPPED NOT STONED FOR ADULTERY: REPORT
Iran's judiciary chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahrudi has commuted a sentence of stoning to death handed down to a woman convicted of adultery to 100 lashes.
- JANUARY 20, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
Two men were hanged in the prison of Isfahan, central Iran, early this morning
Two men were hanged in the prison of Isfahan, central Iran, early this morning
- JANUARY 20, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
IRANIAN KURDISTAN: WOMAN CONDEMNED TO DEATH
Kurdish political prisoner Ms. Zaynab Jalalian aged 27, was condemned to death by Kermanshah Revolutionary Court in Iranian Kurdistan
JANUARY 13, 2009IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN JUDICIARY CONFIRMS MEN STONED TO DEATH FOR ADULTERY
Iran's judiciary confirmed that two men were stoned to death for adultery in the northeastern city of
- JANUARY 13, 2009United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
EUROPEAN UNION URGES IRAN TO ELIMINATE DEATH PENALTY THROUGH STONE BEATING
"The EU seriously condemns new facts of death penalty through stone beating in Iran," the EU declaration
- JANUARY 3, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN HANGS BAHA'I MAN FOR RAPING DAUGHTER - REPORT
a follower of the Baha'i faith was executed after his daughter complained he had raped her, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported.
- JANUARY 1, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
Offences punishable by death include:
Offences punishable by death include:
- DECEMBER 30, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
a man was hanged in Iran for murder. No further details are available.
a man was hanged in Iran for murder. No further details are available.