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
- 8,610
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 8,610 news items on Iran, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
- FEBRUARY 26, 2004CanadaDEATH PENALTY
Iran has refused to send to Canada the body of a man
Iran has refused to send to Canada the body of a man
- FEBRUARY 25, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
The Tokyo District Court rejected a request for refugee...
The Tokyo District Court rejected a request for refugee status from a gay Iranian man who claimed that his homosexuality would be grounds for the death penalty if he was sent back to his homeland
- FEBRUARY 24, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Two armed robbers identified only as Mahmoud and Mehdi...
Two armed robbers identified only as Mahmoud and Mehdi were publicly hanged in the northern Caspian Sea port town of Gaz after being found guilty of multiple counts of armed robbery of jewellery stores
- FEBRUARY 24, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Mohammad Ali Firouzi, branded the "King of Terror"...
Mohammad Ali Firouzi, branded the "King of Terror" for his violent run of crime, was hanged at dawn in a prison in the south-western town of Marvdasht
- FEBRUARY 16, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
"On the 15th anniversary of Imam Khomeyni's historic...
"On the 15th anniversary of Imam Khomeyni's historic decree on Salman Rushdie (the author of the heretic book "The Satanic Verses"), the divine fatwa still holds and continues to be valid, and nothing has been able to undermine or mar its effect and influ
- FEBRUARY 14, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the Jomhouri Islami daily reported that in the past two weeks...
the Jomhouri Islami daily reported that in the past two weeks...
- FEBRUARY 13, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
two students of the University of Noshahr were sentenced to 100 lashes
two students of the University of Noshahr were sentenced to 100 lashes
- FEBRUARY 8, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
a man in Dezful was sentenced to having four fingers of his right hand amputated
a man in Dezful was sentenced to having four fingers of his right hand amputated
- FEBRUARY 7, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the judiciary issued a death for a person.
the judiciary issued a death for a person.
- FEBRUARY 5, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Tehran's penal judge sentenced a young man to execution
Tehran's penal judge sentenced a young man to execution
- FEBRUARY 5, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
following the arrest of two young men named Mostafa and Alireza in Sangan
following the arrest of two young men named Mostafa and Alireza in Sangan
- FEBRUARY 3, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Colonel Safania, Commander of the Anti-Vice Campaign
Colonel Safania, Commander of the Anti-Vice Campaign
- FEBRUARY 2, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Iranian prisoners, even on death row, can have their...
Iranian prisoners, even on death row, can have their sentences lightened if they learn the Koran, the Muslim holy book, by heart, the prison service chief Seyed Morteza Bakhtiari said
- FEBRUARY 1, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
a man was sentenced to punishment by retribution in the city of Bojnourd
a man was sentenced to punishment by retribution in the city of Bojnourd
- JANUARY 31, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
The death sentences for three youngsters were carried out
The death sentences for three youngsters were carried out
- JANUARY 31, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
one man was sentenced to flogging.
one man was sentenced to flogging.
- JANUARY 29, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
a young man was hanged in the yard of Qasr prison
a young man was hanged in the yard of Qasr prison
- JANUARY 28, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Hands Off Cain issued the following statement as Italian...
Hands Off Cain issued the following statement as Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini's official visit to Iran came to an end on January 27th
- JANUARY 27, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
An Iranian man, identified only as 25-year-old Khodamorad Kh
An Iranian man, identified only as 25-year-old Khodamorad Kh
- JANUARY 26, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Mohammad Mohammadzadeh, who was convicted of killing...
Mohammad Mohammadzadeh, who was convicted of killing a 65-year-old in 1999, when he was only 17 years of age, was hanged till death
- JANUARY 26, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
The Qods newspaper reported that an unnamed woman was...
The Qods newspaper reported that an unnamed woman was given 80 lashes and then hanged in prison after being convicted of luring young girls and women to work in a brothel in the northern city of Qazvin
- JANUARY 26, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
It was reported that Iran executed the famous and...
It was reported that Iran executed the famous and maverick Brigadier-General Mohamad-Mehdi Dozdoozani following a speedy trial
- JANUARY 26, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
last week a man was hanged in the yard of Raja'ii prison in Karaj after receiving 99 whips
last week a man was hanged in the yard of Raja'ii prison in Karaj after receiving 99 whips
- JANUARY 25, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran's judicial authorities were contemplating the...
Iran's judicial authorities were contemplating the abolishment of the death penalty for political prisoners, Iranian deputy judiciary chief Mohammad Javad Larijani said in statement, adding that the measure was to make the Iranian courts less politicised
- JANUARY 25, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
press reports quoted the deputy prosecutor in the western province of Ilam...
press reports quoted the deputy prosecutor in the western province of Ilam...
- JANUARY 22, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
The Swiss Federal Council and other European countries...
The Swiss Federal Council and other European countries should concede political asylum to the People's Mujahedin members living in Iraq, over whom hangs the threat of expulsion
- JANUARY 22, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the judge in Department 1157 of Tehran's criminal court issued the death sentence for a man
the judge in Department 1157 of Tehran's criminal court issued the death sentence for a man
- JANUARY 21, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the judge in Tehran's penal court sentenced a man
the judge in Tehran's penal court sentenced a man
- JANUARY 21, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the judiciary sentenced a man to public execution in Tehran
the judiciary sentenced a man to public execution in Tehran
- JANUARY 20, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Iranian dissident intellectual Hashem Aghajari, condemned...
Iranian dissident intellectual Hashem Aghajari, condemned to death for blasphemy after questioning the power of the clergy, was to have his case re-examined after February's parliamentary elections, a judiciary official said