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
NOVEMBER 18, 2005IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. THREE MEN CONVICTED OF RAPE HANGED
three Iranian men convicted of raping and kidnapping a male in his late teens were hanged in the western Iranian city of Kermanshah.
NOVEMBER 14, 2005IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. MAN HANGED FOR RUNNING PORN RING
a man was publicly hanged in the town of Qazvin, west of the Iranian capital Tehran.
NOVEMBER 13, 2005IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. TWO YOUNG HOMOSEXUALS HANGED
two young men were hanged in a public square in the northern city of Gorgan after being found guilty of lavat, or homosexual relationship, the daily Kayhan reported.
NOVEMBER 13, 2005IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING
Iran’s State Supreme Court upheld a death sentence against a woman who had been accused of murdering her abusive husband, the state-run Fars news agency reported.
- NOVEMBER 10, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. CONVICTED MURDERER HANGED IN IRAN
an Iranian man convicted of murder was hanged in a prison in the central city of Isfahan.
- NOVEMBER 10, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. EXECUTION SPARKS RAMPAGE OF REVENGE
the execution of a convicted killer in western Iran sparked a revenge shooting spree by his family against relatives of the murder victim.
NOVEMBER 8, 2005IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. YOUNG MAN PUBLICLY HANGED IN NORTH OF COUNTRY
a young man was publicly hanged in the northern Iranian town of Sari, a semi-official daily reported.
NOVEMBER 6, 2005IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. TWO PEOPLE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR ‘ILLEGAL SEXUAL RELATIONS’
a young married woman and her lover were sentenced to death by a Tehran judge for having ‘illegal sexual relations’, the daily ‘Etemad’ reported.
- NOVEMBER 2, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
a 52-year-old Iranian was sentenced to death
a 52-year-old Iranian was sentenced to death
NOVEMBER 2, 2005IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. HANDS OFF CAIN JOINS EMBASSY DEMONSTRATION AND DENOUNCES FAILURE OF EUROPEAN POLICY
Hands Off Cain adheres to the candle light vigil, promoted by the Italian daily Il Foglio, to be held on November 3 in front of the Iranian embassy in Rome and also denounces Europe’s policy of ‘constructive dialogue’ with the Mullah’s regime.
- OCTOBER 30, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
according to the ”Iranian Human Rights Activist Groups in EU and North America...
according to the ”Iranian Human Rights Activist Groups in EU and North America...
- OCTOBER 24, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
Offences punishable by death include:
Offences punishable by death include:
- OCTOBER 23, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
Etemaad daily reported that three men were sentenced to death in Iran.
Etemaad daily reported that three men were sentenced to death in Iran.
- OCTOBER 19, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
a Tehran penal court sentenced, a young man
a Tehran penal court sentenced, a young man
OCTOBER 17, 2005IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. WOMAN SENTENCED TO EXECUTION
an Iranian woman was sentenced to execution in the Iranian capital Tehran.
OCTOBER 15, 2005IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH BY STONING
it was reported that an Iranian woman found guilty of having an extra-marital affair with an Afghan and being an accomplice in the murder of her husband was sentenced to death by stoning.
- OCTOBER 12, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. IRAN FINALISES GENOCIDE, OTHER CHARGES AGAINST SADDAM
Iran's judiciary said it had finalised charges of genocide and using chemical weapons it hoped would be leveled against former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
- OCTOBER 12, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
EUROPEAN UNION. EU SAYS IRAN HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD DETERIORATING
the European Union severely criticised Iran's human rights record, saying its performance on the death penalty, freedom of expression and religious liberty had deteriorated.
- OCTOBER 9, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. THREE SENTENCED TO DEATH
the state-run daily Iran wrote "The Judiciary in Shahriar sentenced to death a 17-year-old, named Hamid."
- OCTOBER 5, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
UNITED NATIONS. CANADA TO BLAST 'POOR' IRAN HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD AT UN
Canada planned to dress down Iran by presenting a resolution at the United Nations to address Tehran's "poor regard for human rights," officials announced.
- OCTOBER 3, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. SENTENCED TO THREE HANGINGS
it was reported by Iranian press that a 26 year old man was condemned to “three hangings”.
- OCTOBER 3, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. SENTENCED TO DEATH AT 17, EXECUTION DUE SOON
a boy sentenced to death at 17 years of age will be executed, reported the Iranian daily Etemad.
- OCTOBER 2, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. IRANIAN WOMAN TO DIE FOR MURDER OF FOOTBALLER'S WIFE
Iran's supreme court upheld a death sentence against Khadijeh Shahla Jahed, a jealous woman who murdered the wife of a former national football hero.
- OCTOBER 1, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
the head of Isfahan’s Criminal Justice Complex said that the death sentence for Hamidreza
the head of Isfahan’s Criminal Justice Complex said that the death sentence for Hamidreza
- SEPTEMBER 30, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
according to the ”Iranian Human Rights Activist Groups in EU and North America...
according to the ”Iranian Human Rights Activist Groups in EU and North America...
- SEPTEMBER 25, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. CONVICTED DRUG TRAFFICKER HANGED
an Iranian man convicted of drug trafficking was hanged in the northern city of Sari, in Iran’s Mazandaran province, the Kayhan daily reported.
- SEPTEMBER 25, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. YOUNG MAN HANGED FOR RAPE
a young man was publicly hanged at a riverside in the Iranian town of Kashan, south of the capital, the country’s state-run news agency reported.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2005IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. FORCED TO FLEE COUNTRY, HE RISKED THE DEATH PENALTY FOR BEING GAY
the Persian Gay & Lesbian Organization has released photos and details of a 22 year old man it says was given 100 lashes for being gay.
- SEPTEMBER 17, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
an Iranian man was hanged in public in the volatile town of Ahwaz
an Iranian man was hanged in public in the volatile town of Ahwaz
- SEPTEMBER 16, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. YOUTH HANGED IN CENTRAL IRAN PRISON
a young Iranian man was hanged in a penitentiary centre in the city of Yazd, central Iran.