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
- 9,218
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 9,218 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
- AUGUST 7, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: SUSPENSION OF STONING A WELCOME STEP IF CARRIED OUT
Amnesty International welcomed the announcement by the spokesperson for Iran's judiciary that execution by stoning has been suspended, as a result of which several women have had their sentences commuted.
- AUGUST 5, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. TWO BALUCHI ACTIVISTS EXECUTED IN IRAN
Yaghub Mehrnahad, a 28 year old Baluchi journalist, human rights and cultural activist, has been hanged in a prison in Zahedan, Iran, Etemad Melli newspaper reported without saying when the execution took place.
- AUGUST 5, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN SUSPENDS DEATH BY STONING
Iran suspended the punishment of death by stoning, state media announced.
- AUGUST 3, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
THREE IRANIAN MEN, ONE WOMAN, TO BE EXECUTED FOR TERRORISM
- JULY 31, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. FIVE KURDS EXECUTED, INCLUDING A FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD BOY
Iran executed five Kurds, one of whom was a fifteen-year-old child, Kurdishaspect.com, an independent website based in the USA, reported.
- JULY 29, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED IN ISFAHAN
Iran hanged two prisoners, identified as Yaser K., 22, and Mahmoud, 33, in the prison yard in the central city of Isfahan.
- JULY 29, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
EU CONDEMNS EXECUTION OF 29 PEOPLE IN EVIN PRISON IN IRAN
the European Union condemned ‘in the strongest terms the 29 simultaneous executions which took place in Evin prison, Iran, on Sunday 27 July 2008.
- JULY 28, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
EBADI RIGHTS GROUP PROTESTS IRAN MASS EXECUTION
the rights group run by Nobel peace laureate Shirin Ebadi protested the hanging by Iran of 29 criminals in a mass execution and said it doubted the convicts were given a fair trial.
JULY 27, 2008IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. MASS EXECUTION IN THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC
Iran hanged 29 people at dawn after they had been convicted of murder, drug trafficking and other crimes, state run television reported.
JULY 27, 2008IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: HANDS OFF CAIN- GOVERNMENTS THAT VOTED FOR THE MORATORIUM SHOULD ACT
regarding the 29 executions in Iran, Sergio D’Elia, Hands Off Cain Secretary, stated: “The executions today in Iran further prove the danger posed by Ahmadinejad. Many acknowledge and attempt to prevent the future threats to peace and world security repre
- JULY 26, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
Nasser Hamidi and another unidentified man were hanged in Iran for murder
Nasser Hamidi and another unidentified man were hanged in Iran for murder
- JULY 24, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
EU SLAMS IRAN STONING
the EU rebuked Iran for the sentencing of nine people to death by stoning.
- JULY 23, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
a man, possible minor, identified only as "H. A...
a man, possible minor, identified only as "H. A...
- JULY 23, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
a man was hanged in the Adel Abad prison of Shiraz...
a man was hanged in the Adel Abad prison of Shiraz...
JULY 22, 2008IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: RIGHTS GROUP PROTESTS HANGING OF MINORS
three men were hanged in the central prison of Bushehr (south of Iran) the state run news agency Fars.
JULY 20, 2008IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: EIGHT WOMEN, ONE MAN TO BE STONED TO DEATH
at least eight women and one man have been sentenced to be stoned to death in Iran and may be executed at any time, the lawyers defending several of those sentenced said.
- JULY 19, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
three men were hanged in the prison of Oroumieh...
three men were hanged in the prison of Oroumieh (Northwestern Iran), according to the site "Human rights activists in Iran".
- JULY 18, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
EU. PRESIDENCY REBUKES IRAN OVER RECENT EXECUTIONS
the French Presidency of the European Union said it was "deeply concerned
- JULY 18, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
EU CONDEMNS IRAN ON DEATH PENALTY
the European Union criticised Iran for a spate of executions and plans to extend the scope of the death penalty, a day before it leads international talks on Tehran's disputed nuclear program.
- JULY 16, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRANIAN KURDISTAN: ACTIVISTS SENTENCED TO DEATH
the Iranian High Court announced the death sentences of a teacher and human rights activist, Farhad Kamangar, and two political activists, Farhad Vakili and Ali Heidarian, who are of Kurdish origins.
JULY 16, 2008IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. WOMAN TO BE HANGED AFTER 18 YEARS IN JAIL
an Iranian woman arrested at the age of 13 is due to be hanged after
- JULY 14, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
a prisoner identified as "Saeed Khelkeh" (27), was hanged in the Oroumieh prison...
a prisoner identified as "Saeed Khelkeh" (27), was hanged in the Oroumieh prison...
JULY 14, 2008IranDEATH PENALTYSIX CONVICTS EXECUTED IN PUBLIC IN IRAN
Six people were executed in public in the northeastern Iranian city of Sabzevar, state radio
- JULY 13, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran hanged two people convicted of murder...
Iran hanged two people convicted of murder...
- JULY 10, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran hanged four people convicted of murder...
Iran hanged four people convicted of murder...
- JULY 10, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
Ahmad Khalaj was executed in the prison of Sanandaj, Iran
Ahmad Khalaj was executed in the prison of Sanandaj, Iran
- JULY 8, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN URGED TO HALT EXECUTIONS OF JUVENILE CRIMINALS
Major human rights groups appealed to Iran to stop imposing the
- JULY 8, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
Amnesty International and over 20 international...
Amnesty International and over 20 international...
JULY 7, 2008IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. MULLAHS STATION FORCES IN PARKS TO FURTHER CRACKDOWN ON WOMEN
the Head of the "Agency to Promote Virtue and Forbid Vice" of the State Security Forces of
JULY 5, 2008IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN EXECUTES MAN FOR DRUG SMUGGLING IN SOUTHEASTERN PROVINCE
a man was put to death in south eastern Iran after being found guilty of drug