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
- NOVEMBER 5, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN'S NEW PENAL CODE UNFAIR TO WOMEN: NOBEL LAUREATE
Nobel peace laureate Shrin Ebadi criticised Iran's new Islamic penal code, saying it remains unfair to women and uses an "incorrect" interpretation of Islam.
- NOVEMBER 5, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: EU PRESIDENCY CONDEMNS THE EXECUTION OF MONIORS
in a new statement issued by the EU Presidency, France, the bloc condemned the execution of minors by the mullahs' regime in Iran on October 31.
- OCTOBER 31, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
according to Amnesty International, Soheila Ghadiri's death sentence has been quashed in October.
according to Amnesty International, Soheila Ghadiri's death sentence has been quashed in October.
OCTOBER 29, 2008IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: JUVENILE HANGED FOR MURDER
the judicial branch of Isfahan province in Iran announced it had carried out that morning the death sentence of Gholamreza H., an Afghan national convicted of murder.
- OCTOBER 29, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: A PRISONER HANGED IN ISFAHAN
a prisoner identified as Gholamreza Saeedi was hanged in the Dastgerd prison in the central province of
- OCTOBER 28, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
Soghra Najafpour, who spent 17 years on death row in Iran, has disappeared and human rights activists are concerned for her safety
Soghra Najafpour, who spent 17 years on death row in Iran, has disappeared and human rights activists are concerned for her safety
- OCTOBER 27, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN HANGS TWO FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Iran hanged two men convicted of drug trafficking, the Fars news agency reported. The executions took
- OCTOBER 27, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
one man was hanged in the central prison of Mashad...
one man was hanged in the central prison of Mashad...
- OCTOBER 23, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
Zamarud Mir, Watan Yar, Samir Mirza and an unidentified...
Zamarud Mir, Watan Yar, Samir Mirza and an unidentified...
OCTOBER 23, 2008IranDEATH PENALTYDEATH PENALTY. HANDS OFF CAIN- IRAN SECOND IN GLOBAL EXECUTIONS
the Hands Off Cain association awarded a sad title to Iran today. As in 2007, Iran comes second in the number of global death sentences carried out and is joined by China and Saudi Arabia on the podium of the three highest users of capital punishment.
- OCTOBER 22, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
Zohreh Kabiri Niat and her sister Azar had their death sentences...
Zohreh Kabiri Niat and her sister Azar had their death sentences...
- OCTOBER 21, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. A MAN HANGED IN PUBLIC IN NORTHERN PROVINCE OF GILAN
a young man identified as Qanbar Kelari was hanged in public outside Nashtaroud prison in the northern province of Gilan.
- OCTOBER 20, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed concern over the rights of women and minorities in Iran
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed concern over the rights of women and minorities in Iran
- OCTOBER 20, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN HANGS FOUR FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Iran hanged four men convicted of drug trafficking in a prison in the southeastern city of Zahedan, state
OCTOBER 18, 2008IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN BANS EXECUTION OF MINORS FOR DRUG-RELATED CRIMES
A new Iranian judicial directive bans the execution of juvenile offenders for drug crimes but keeps capital
- OCTOBER 16, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN JUDICIARY HEAD SAYS CAPITAL PUNISHMENT DOESN'T STOP CRIME
in a visit to Ardebil Province the head of the Iranian judiciary reviewed the legal and judicial problems of the people in this province.
- OCTOBER 16, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: ANNOUNCEMENT OF END OF CHILD EXECUTIONS A WELCOME STEP
Amnesty International calls on the Head of Iran’s Judiciary to apply with immediate effect today’s
- OCTOBER 15, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. MAN HANGED FOR MURDER
Iran hanged a man convicted of murder in a prison in the western town of Doroud in Lorestan province,
- OCTOBER 13, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN HANGS MAN FOR MURDER
Iran hanged a man convicted of murder in a prison in the central city of Isfahan...
- OCTOBER 13, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN HANGS THREE FOR DRUG DEALING IN SOUTHEAST PROVINCE
the public relations unit of the Sistan-Baluchestan Province judiciary department in Iran announced that according to a verdict issued by the Zahedan Islamic Revolution Court...
- OCTOBER 6, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. MAN HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A convicted drug trafficker was hanged in prison in the northern Iranian city of Hamedan, Etemad
- OCTOBER 3, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. A MAN HANGED IN HAMADAN
the state run news agency ISCA news reported that the Iranian regime has hanged a man identified only by his first name as Nosrat A., 43, in the western city of Hamadan
- SEPTEMBER 30, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. APPEAL FOR SUSPENSION OF EXECUTIONS IN REFORMIST NEWSPAPER
the reformist Iranian newspaper Kargozaran published a public appeal asking the chief magistrate to suspend the execution of six Kurdish activists.
- SEPTEMBER 30, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. APPEAL FOR SUSPENSION OF EXECUTIONS IN REFORMIST NEWSPAPER
the reformist Iranian newspaper Kargozaran published a public appeal asking the chief magistrate to suspend the execution of six Kurdish activists.
- SEPTEMBER 29, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. 21 YEAR OLD MAN HANGED IN KERMANSHAH PRISON
a 21 year old man identified as Homayon Shabestari was hanged in the western Iranian city of Kermanshah.
- SEPTEMBER 25, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
Mahmood Matin and Arash Basirat, sentenced for apostasy...
Mahmood Matin and Arash Basirat, sentenced for apostasy...
- SEPTEMBER 23, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. ANOTHER JUVENILE ON DEATH ROW
in Iran, a young man identified as Mahyear was sentenced to death for a crime he allegedly committed when 17, the state-run daily Kargozaran reported
- SEPTEMBER 23, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. DEATH PENALTY FOR MAN ACCUSED OF HOMOSEXUALITY
Nemat Safavi, arrested almost three years ago at the age of 16, was condemned to death by a court in Ardebil, in the northwest Iranian Azerbaijan region.
- SEPTEMBER 17, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRANIAN ACTIVISTS FIGHT CHILD EXECUTIONS
Iranian rights groups and lawyers stepped up a campaign against the execution of juvenile offenders hoping to save about 120 people convicted as minors who are now on death row...
SEPTEMBER 14, 2008IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PAPERS ORDERED TO CENSOR EXECUTION NEWS
the mullahs' Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance (MCIG) in Iran warned newspaper editors to censor reports about escalating number of executions, in particular that of the minors in the country.