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
JULY 2, 2008IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN HANGS THREE FOR MURDER
Iran hanged three men convicted of murder in Tehran's Evin prison, the state run news agency ISCAnews reported.
JULY 2, 2008IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN MULLS DEATH PENALTY FOR INTERNET CRIMES
Iran's parliament is set to debate a draft bill which could see the death penalty used for those deemed to promote corruption, prostitution and apostasy on the Internet, reports said.
- JULY 1, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
a youth in Iran is appealing a death sentence...
a youth in Iran is appealing a death sentence...
- JULY 1, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN HANGS TEENAGE MURDERER
Iran hanged a 19-year-old youth in prison in the central city of Isfahan after
- JUNE 30, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRANIAN MAN TO BE STONED TO DEATH DESPITE MORATORIUM
Naghi Ahmadi was sentenced to death by stoning in Iran in June, in the northern city of Sari, after he visited a married woman's home in the night while her husband was away working in another city, the Sarmayeh newspaper reported.
JUNE 30, 2008IranDEATH PENALTYDEATH SENTENCE FOR IRANIAN CHARGED WITH ESPIONAGE FOR ISRAEL
an Iranian charged with espionage for Israel was sentenced to dea
- JUNE 23, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
a young man who allegedly committed a...
a young man who allegedly committed a...
JUNE 23, 2008IranDEATH PENALTYUK. IRANIAN OPPOSITION GROUP REMOVED FROM TERROR LIST
British lawmakers formally removed an Iranian opposition group from t
- JUNE 22, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
Davoud Abdollahi, convicted of spying and sentenced to death by a revolutionary court...
Davoud Abdollahi, convicted of spying and sentenced to death by a revolutionary court...
- JUNE 19, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran hanged a man for murder in a prison in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, a press report said.
Iran hanged a man for murder in a prison in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, a press report said.
JUNE 17, 2008IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. RIGHTS GROUP PUBLISHES LIST OF CHILDREN ON DEATH ROW
Iran has sentenced 177 people under the age of 18 to death over the past decade
JUNE 16, 2008IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN HANGS MAN IN CHABAHAR
Younes Rahmandust was hanged in a prison in the port city of Chabahar, in south eastern
JUNE 16, 2008IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN HANGS MAN IN ZAHEDAN
Iran hanged a man convicted of a string of offences including membership of a rebel group and being
- JUNE 13, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
the European Union strongly condemns...
the European Union strongly condemns...
- JUNE 12, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
four man, identified only as Sadeq, Alireza, Hamid and Ismail...
four man, identified only as Sadeq, Alireza, Hamid and Ismail, were hanged in Mashad’s Central Prison, Iran, the Iranian provincial daily newspaper Khorasan reported. The four were convicted of rape. According to this report, a young woman, who had escape
- JUNE 11, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
Amnesty International launched an attack against...
Amnesty International launched an attack against...
JUNE 11, 2008IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN HANGS EIGHT CONVICTS
Iran hanged eight men for murder or rape, the Fars news agency reported. The five murderers and three rapists were hanged in Tehran's notorious Evin prison.
- JUNE 10, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
the top United Nations human rights...
the top United Nations human rights...
JUNE 10, 2008IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. KURDISH BOY EXECUTED
A Kurdish boy, believed to be 16 or 17 years old at the time of execution
JUNE 9, 2008IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. MAN HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Iran hanged a man convicted of drug trafficking in the northeastern province of North
- MAY 31, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. QUR'AN CRITIC TO BE EXECUTED WITHIN DAYS
the Mullahs' regime in Iran is set to execute scholar on the history of Iran and Islam, Dr
- MAY 28, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: EXECUTIONS ON THE RISE AMID TIGHTER SECURITY
tighter security measures led to a sharp rise in executions in Iran, according to the international rights group Amnesty International.
- MAY 28, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
a man was hanged in the prison of Bojnord...
a man was hanged in the prison of Bojnord...
- MAY 27, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN HANGS MAN FOR RAPE
Iran hanged a man convicted of rape in the central city of Qom, the governmental newspaper Iran reported.
- MAY 27, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN CONFIRMS DEATH SENTENCE FOR KURDISH TEACHER
Iran confirmed the death sentence of a Kurdish teacher for membership in a "terrorist" group and possession of explosives, the judiciary spokesman confirmed.
MAY 27, 2008IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN HANGS A MAN FOR MURDER IN FAMILY FEUDS
Iran hanged a man for murder, the Fars news agency reported.
MAY 27, 2008IranDEATH PENALTYEU DEEPLY CONCERNED BY IMMINENT EXECUTIONS IN IRAN
the EU is deeply concerned by the news of the imminent execution of Behnoud Shoj
- MAY 25, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
a man was hanged in the northern city of Ardebil...
a man was hanged in the northern city of Ardebil...
- MAY 20, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. MAN TO BE HANGED FOR MURDER COMMITTED AT 17
Iranian judiciary chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi approved the death
MAY 20, 2008IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. AFGHAN NATIONAL HANGED FOR MURDER
Iran hanged an Afghan national convicted of murdering a woman in a prison in the central city
