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
- 9,142
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 9,142 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
- JANUARY 26, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
a seventeen-year-old boy was sentenced to execution
a seventeen-year-old boy was sentenced to execution
- JANUARY 26, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
Afsaneh Norouzi, an Iranian woman accused of killing an intelligence officer...
Afsaneh Norouzi, an Iranian woman accused of killing an intelligence officer...
- JANUARY 20, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
three convicted murderers were hanged in Tehran
three convicted murderers were hanged in Tehran
- JANUARY 19, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
it was reported by Amnesty International that Ali...
it was reported by Amnesty International that Ali...
- JANUARY 19, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
an Iranian man was hanged in Tehran, charged with murder.
an Iranian man was hanged in Tehran, charged with murder.
- JANUARY 19, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
a man, identified only as Mamad ( Mohamad) Sayah, was executed
a man, identified only as Mamad ( Mohamad) Sayah, was executed in the city of Mashhad, Iran
- JANUARY 18, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
an Iranian man convicted of murdering seven people was hanged publicly
an Iranian man convicted of murdering seven people was hanged publicly
- JANUARY 18, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
Shahram and Farhang Pourmansuri, who were 17 and 18-years-old respectively when...
Shahram and Farhang Pourmansuri, who were 17 and 18-years-old respectively when...
- JANUARY 18, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran's Supreme Court gave the green light for a man convicted of kidnapping and murdering
Iran's Supreme Court gave the green light for a man convicted of kidnapping and murdering
- JANUARY 16, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
at least 30 juveniles were on death row in Tehran and Rajai-Shahr...
at least 30 juveniles were on death row in Tehran and Rajai-Shahr...
- JANUARY 15, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
the European Parliament almost unanimously adopted...
the European Parliament almost unanimously adopted (104 in favour, 2 against and 5 abstentions) a resolution denouncing capital punishment in Iran
- JANUARY 12, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
Afsaneh Nowrouzi, a 34 year old woman who spent seven years on death row in Iran
Afsaneh Nowrouzi, a 34 year old woman who spent seven years on death row in Iran
- JANUARY 11, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran issued a fierce denial that it was executing criminals under the age of 18
Iran issued a fierce denial that it was executing criminals under the age of 18
- JANUARY 10, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
a young man who stands accused of murdering a colleague at work in October 2001...
a young man who stands accused of murdering a colleague at work in October 2001 will be publicly hanged within the next month
- JANUARY 5, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
a 32-year-old man was hanged in public
a 32-year-old man was hanged in public
- JANUARY 4, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
an Iranian who beheaded his two sons after they witnessed him murder a woman was...
an Iranian who beheaded his two sons after they witnessed him murder a woman was...
- JANUARY 1, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
upon the order of the Public Court of Mashad, Mohammad Reza Marouf was sentenced to execution
upon the order of the Public Court of Mashad, Mohammad Reza Marouf was sentenced to execution
- JANUARY 1, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
In January 2005, at a weekly briefing for journalists to which some...
In January 2005, at a weekly briefing for journalists to which some...
- DECEMBER 28, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Hamshahri daily has reported the execution of a 21-year-old man by the name of Iman
Hamshahri daily has reported the execution of a 21-year-old man by the name of Iman
- DECEMBER 28, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
a teenager [only identified as Mohammad T.] who is currently...
a teenager [only identified as Mohammad T.] who is currently...
- DECEMBER 28, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
an 18-year-old by the name Mehdi has been sentenced to death by the Supreme Court
an 18-year-old by the name Mehdi has been sentenced to death by the Supreme Court
- DECEMBER 23, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Iranian authorities temporarily stayed the execution by stoning of a woman
Iranian authorities temporarily stayed the execution by stoning of a woman
- DECEMBER 22, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Iranian officials confirmed that a court had sentenced Leyla Mafi death
Iranian officials confirmed that a court had sentenced Leyla Mafi death
- DECEMBER 21, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the UN General Assembly on criticised the human rights situation in Iran
the UN General Assembly on criticised the human rights situation in Iran
- DECEMBER 21, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - "Sadly, between 300 and 400 executions take place in Iran every year," says Abdolkarim Lahiji
"Unfortunately, every year there are some 300 to 400 executions in Iran," said Abdolkarim Lahiji
- DECEMBER 18, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. WOMAN FACES NOOSE OR STONING
an Iranian official says he is waiting for orders on whether to stone or hang a woman convicted of adultery
- DECEMBER 18, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
a young man by the name of Reza F. (28) was sentenced to death
a young man by the name of Reza F. (28) was sentenced to death
- DECEMBER 16, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
a man by the name of K.K. was sentenced to have
a man by the name of K.K. was sentenced to have
- DECEMBER 13, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
a 19-year-old Iranian girl with a mental age of eight...
a 19-year-old Iranian girl with a mental age of eight...
- DECEMBER 13, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
a 26-year-old Iranian man, convicted of murdering a woman, was hanged
a 26-year-old Iranian man, convicted of murdering a woman, was hanged