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
- MAY 18, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
a man, identified as Hossein Gholi, was sentenced to death in Tehran
a man, identified as Hossein Gholi, was sentenced to death in Tehran
MAY 11, 2005IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. THREE CONVICTED MURDERERS PUBLICLY HANGED
it was reported that three Iranian men convicted of raping and murdering a young boy were publicly hanged in Susangerd, a town in the southwestern Iranian province of Khuzestan.
MAY 10, 2005IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. CONVICTED MURDERER HANGED
an Iranian man convicted of murder has been hanged in prison in the Caspian Sea town of Noshahr, the Jomhuri Eslami newspaper reported.
- MAY 7, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
Abdolrabi, 41, was sentenced to death in Iran
Abdolrabi, 41, was sentenced to death in Iran
- MAY 7, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
the Head of the Judiciary ordered the local judiciary in Mashhad not to proceed...
the Head of the Judiciary ordered the local judiciary in Mashhad not to proceed with the Abbas Hosseini’s execution, and referred his case to the judiciary in Tehran for review.
- MAY 4, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
according to a statement issued by the Komele Organization,
according to a statement issued by the Komele Organization,
MAY 4, 2005IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. FIVE CONVICTED MURDERERS HANGED
five men convicted of murder or armed robbery were hanged in Iran, one of them publicly in the southwestern city of Ahvaz and four others in a prison in the capital, officials said.
MAY 4, 2005IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. PROMISES GIVEN TO EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TO HALT THE EXECUTION OF MINORS
Iran gave written assurances to the European Parliament that it would cease executing people found guilty of crimes committed before their eighteenth birthday.
- MAY 3, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
a man, Bakshesh Mohamad, was executed in Theran
a man, Bakshesh Mohamad, was executed in Theran
MAY 2, 2005IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. MAN HANGED IN PRISON
a man accused of murdering a taxi driver was hanged in Karoon Prison in the southern Iranian city of Ahwaz, according to the state-run news agency.
- APRIL 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...
APRIL 30, 2005IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. GAY BLACKMAILER HANGED
Hadi Safdari, an Iranian convicted of blackmailing his gay partners with videotapes of their sex acts, was hanged. Safdari was executed in Bojnourd in the eastern province of South Khorasan, the Qods newspaper said citing the local judiciary.
- APRIL 28, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
a 50 year old melon seller was sentenced to death by Brach 74 of the punitive court
a 50 year old melon seller was sentenced to death by Brach 74 of the punitive court
- APRIL 27, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
a 22 year old man, identified by his first name Ismail, was given a death sentence
a 22 year old man, identified by his first name Ismail, was given a death sentence
- APRIL 27, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
Mohsen Khoshdel, a 33 year old man was sentenced to death
Mohsen Khoshdel, a 33 year old man was sentenced to death
APRIL 20, 2005IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. HANGED FOR MURDER
an Iranian convicted of murdering a soldier during an armed robbery has been hanged in Saravan, in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan, Jam-e-Jam daily reported.
- APRIL 16, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. MAN HANGED IN PUBLIC FOR RAPE, MINOR REPRIEVED
Mousa Ali Mohammadik, an Iranian convicted of raping and abducting more than 40 schoolgirls, was hanged in public but his accomplice teenage son was reprieved.
- APRIL 15, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. TEENAGER FACING EXECUTION FOR CRIME COMMITTED AS MINOR
a teenager was sentenced to death for a crime he was alleged to have committed when he was 17 years old, according to the Ettemad daily.
APRIL 14, 2005IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. MAN PUBLICLY HANGED FOR ROBBING BANK
Iran publicly hanged Ghobad Siah-Mansour, a serial bank robber who killed a policeman during a clash with security forces.
- APRIL 13, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
a man, known as Raoof, was executed in Alivaz, Iran.
a man, known as Raoof, was executed in Alivaz, Iran.
- APRIL 11, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
Kerman’s court Judge Amiri Tabar had sentenced two young men to death
Kerman’s court Judge Amiri Tabar had sentenced two young men to death
- APRIL 11, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. TWO MEN HANGED FOR MURDER
two Iranian men were hanged in prison in Yasooj, southwestern Iran, for murdering three people in a fight.
APRIL 9, 2005IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. POLITICAL PRISONER FACING IMMINENT EXECUTION
Iran’s Supreme Court upheld the death sentence against Hojjat Zamani, a longtime political prisoner in Iran, making his execution imminent. Zamani, 29 years old, had been imprisoned in the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran since the year 2000 for being a m
APRIL 7, 2005IranDEATH PENALTYan Iranian Christian is facing the death penalty in an Islamic court, according to the human rights group Christian Solidarity Worldwide.
an Iranian Christian is facing the death penalty in an Islamic court, according to the human rights group Christian Solidarity Worldwide.
- APRIL 6, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
Sohrab Mohammad and Ahmad B. were publicy hanged in Iran for murder.
Sohrab Mohammad and Ahmad B. were publicy hanged in Iran for murder.
- APRIL 5, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
a man, Rezayi Hasan, 37, was executed in Saveh, Iran.
a man, Rezayi Hasan, 37, was executed in Saveh, Iran.
- MARCH 31, 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...
- MARCH 16, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. MAN CONVICTED OF KILLING CHILDREN WHIPPED THEN EXECUTED IN PUBLIC
Mohammed Bijeh, a man convicted of raping and murdering 16 boys was lashed 100 times, and then hanged in front of a large, angry Iranian crowd who pelted him with stones and scuffled with police.
- MARCH 14, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
Bahram Oroumand and Saed Hussien, two youths, were sentenced to death
Bahram Oroumand and Saed Hussien, two youths, were sentenced to death
- MARCH 14, 2005IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. TWO MEN HANGED PUBLICLY FOR RAPE AND ARMED ROBBERY
two Iranians were hanged in public in Bandar-Abbas in southern Iran after they were found guilty of rape and armed robbery.