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
- DECEMBER 5, 2007IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN HANGS FIVE FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
five people were hanged in southern Iran for drug trafficking and possession of arms...
DECEMBER 5, 2007IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. YOUNG MAN EXECUTED
the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) learned that
- DECEMBER 2, 2007IranDEATH PENALTY
three men were hanged in public on Motahhari square of the city of Qom...
three men were hanged in public on Motahhari square of the city of Qom...
- DECEMBER 2, 2007IranDEATH PENALTY
a man was hanged in the central prison of Zahedan...
a man was hanged in the central prison of Zahedan...
DECEMBER 2, 2007IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. GAY YOUTH SENTENCED TO DEATH
a gay Iranian youth was sentenced to death for the crime of "lavat" (literally, sodomy), for having sex at 1
- NOVEMBER 26, 2007IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN HANGS MAN FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
an Iranian man convicted of drug trafficking was hanged in a prison in the central city of Isfahan...
- NOVEMBER 24, 2007IranDEATH PENALTY
TWO EXECUTED FOR DRUG SMUGGLINF IN IRAN'S SISTAN-BALUCHESTAN
according to the announcement of the provincial judiciary department...
- NOVEMBER 22, 2007IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran hanged in public a prisoner named Amin...
Iran hanged in public a prisoner named Amin...
- NOVEMBER 21, 2007IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN MUST IMMEDIATELY ABOLISH CHILD EXECUTION – IRANIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST
despite the UN convention on human rights, Iran continues to execute children under 18. “Iran must immediately abolish child execution,” Mina Ahadi, an Iranian human rights activist...
NOVEMBER 21, 2007IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. MAN PUBLICLY HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Iran hanged a man convicted of drug trafficking in a square in the clerical capital
- NOVEMBER 20, 2007IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. FIVE HANGED ON DRUGS CHARGES
Iran hanged five men for drug trafficking, local media reported, the latest in a g
- NOVEMBER 20, 2007IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN PUBLICLY HANGS MAN FOR MURDER
the Iranian daily Kayhan reported that a man identified only as A.A., 29...
NOVEMBER 19, 2007IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE ON 15 YEAR OLD AFGHAN
the death sentence of a boy accused of killing an eight year old child was upheld
- NOVEMBER 15, 2007IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN MAN HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING IN SISTAN-BALUCHESTAN
the judiciary of Sistan-Baluchestan in Iran announced that a drugs trafficker was hanged in Zahedan Prison.
- NOVEMBER 15, 2007IranDEATH PENALTY
THREE HANGED FOR CHILD MURDER- IRANIAN PAPER
three men were hanged for the murder of children from Zamanabad village in the Malayer region in Iran.
- NOVEMBER 15, 2007IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN EXECUTES TWO FOR KILLING AND ARMED ROBBERY
Iran hanged two men charged with killing and armed robbery, media reports said.
NOVEMBER 14, 2007IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. EXECUTION HALTED BY CHIEF JUSTICE
the impending death sentence of Makvan Mouloodzadeh, a 21 year old Iranian citizen found guilty of
- NOVEMBER 11, 2007IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN HANGS MAN FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Iran hanged a convicted drug trafficker in the southeastern city of Zahedan...
- NOVEMBER 10, 2007IranDEATH PENALTY
MAN HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING IN SOUTHERN IRAN
the Prosecutor-General's Office of Hormozgan announced that D. N., 25 year old resident of Kahnuj, was chased by armed personnel for carrying 475 kg opium in a Xantia car.
NOVEMBER 9, 2007IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS KURDISH JOURNALIST'S DEATH SENTENCE
Iran's Supreme Court confirmed the death sentence handed to Kurdish journalist
- NOVEMBER 7, 2007IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN PUBLICLY HANGS MAN FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Iran publicly hanged Sabour Feyz, an Iranian national, for heroin trafficking.
NOVEMBER 7, 2007IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. TWO AFGHANS PUBLICLY HANGED FOR RAPING DUTCH WOMAN
Iran publicly hanged two Afghans for the rape of a Dutch woman, state news
- NOVEMBER 4, 2007IranDEATH PENALTY
Kiyan has been sentenced to death, in Iran...
Kiyan has been sentenced to death, in Iran...
- NOVEMBER 4, 2007IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran has hanged four men convicted of drug trafficking in the southern Hormozgan province...
Iran has hanged four men convicted of drug trafficking in the southern Hormozgan province...
- NOVEMBER 3, 2007IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN HANGS MAN IN PUBLIC FOR MURDER
Iran hanged a convicted murderer in public in the southern province of Kerman...
- NOVEMBER 3, 2007IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: DEATH SENTENCE IN JUVENILE CASE
Iranian authorities should immediately prevent the execution of Makwan Mouloudzadeh...
- NOVEMBER 3, 2007IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran hanged a man, press reports said. Asghar Gh., 27...
Iran hanged a man, press reports said. Asghar Gh., 27...
- NOVEMBER 1, 2007IranDEATH PENALTY
SOGHRA NAJAFPOUR, SENTENCED TO DEATH AT 13, FACES RISK OF EXECUTION
a woman sentenced to death as a 13 year old faces the risk of execution...
- OCTOBER 30, 2007IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN PUBLICLY HANGS TWO MEN FOR SEX CRIMES
Iran publicly hanged two men for sex crimes...
OCTOBER 30, 2007IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. TWO EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Iran hanged two men convicted of drug trafficking in the southeastern province of
