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
- OCTOBER 23, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the sentences for execution of two male youngsters were issued
the sentences for execution of two male youngsters were issued
- OCTOBER 19, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
The head of Iran's conservative judiciary, Ayatollah...
The head of Iran's conservative judiciary, Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahrudi, quashed a stoning sentence for a woman convicted of adultery and an amputation sentence for a thief
- OCTOBER 19, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
five people were hanged in Sari and Qazvin.
five people were hanged in Sari and Qazvin.
- OCTOBER 19, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran's Supreme Court upheld the execution of a man
Iran's Supreme Court upheld the execution of a man
- OCTOBER 18, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Hamid Pourmand was a Protestant minister of the Assemblies...
Hamid Pourmand was a Protestant minister of the Assemblies of God Church
- OCTOBER 17, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
According to Iranian and foreign press, Zhila Izadi,...
According to Iranian and foreign press, Zhila Izadi, 13, from the northwestern city of Marivan, Iran, has been condemned to death after being impregnated by her 15-year-old brother
- OCTOBER 17, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the Supreme Court has approved and upheld the execution sentence of 3 teenage boys
the Supreme Court has approved and upheld the execution sentence of 3 teenage boys
- OCTOBER 14, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Two men convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering...
Two men convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering a six-year-old boy were publicly hanged in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz
- OCTOBER 14, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
One prisoner was hanged in Lahijan (northern Iran)...
One prisoner was hanged in Lahijan (northern Iran) National Council of Resistance of Iran reported
- OCTOBER 14, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
an Iranian man convicted of a series of robberies has had four
an Iranian man convicted of a series of robberies has had four
- OCTOBER 13, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Fatemeh H
Fatemeh H
- OCTOBER 13, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Two Iranian men convicted of murder were hanged in...
Two Iranian men convicted of murder were hanged in a Tehran prison
- OCTOBER 13, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
An Iranian judge sentenced a man to death for killing...
An Iranian judge sentenced a man to death for killing 17 children, most of them young boys he raped first, and three adults
- OCTOBER 13, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Five prisoners were hanged in Tehran, Rasht (northern...
Five prisoners were hanged in Tehran, Rasht (northern Iran) and Shiraz (southern Iran) National Council of Resistance of Iran reported
- OCTOBER 13, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
two people on death row in Evin Prison were sent to the gallows
two people on death row in Evin Prison were sent to the gallows
- OCTOBER 12, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
An Iranian national was sentenced to death in the UAE...
An Iranian national was sentenced to death in the UAE after being convicted of smuggling 20
- OCTOBER 12, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
death sentences have been issued for two people
death sentences have been issued for two people
- OCTOBER 11, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Ms. Sarvnaz Chitsaz, chair of the Women's Committee...
Ms. Sarvnaz Chitsaz, chair of the Women's Committee of the NCRI urged all international human rights and women's rights bodies to act immediately to prevent the execution of Fatemeh Haqiqatjou who is going to be hanged in the coming days. Fatemeh was sent
- OCTOBER 10, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
An Iranian man convicted of murdering a family of four...
An Iranian man convicted of murdering a family of four was hanged publicly in the northeastern city of Mashhad
- OCTOBER 10, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
An Iranian man convicted of armed robbery was publicly...
An Iranian man convicted of armed robbery was publicly hanged in the southern city of Ahwaz
- OCTOBER 10, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
an Iranian man named Mohammad D. was hanged in public
an Iranian man named Mohammad D. was hanged in public
- OCTOBER 6, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
An Iranian woman was sentenced to death for murdering...
An Iranian woman was sentenced to death for murdering and chopping up her drug addict husband who allegedly tried to rape her daughter
- OCTOBER 6, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Four prisoners were hanged in Tonekabon (northern Iran)...
Four prisoners were hanged in Tonekabon (northern Iran) National Council of Resistance of Iran reported
- OCTOBER 6, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the Supreme Court upheld the death sentences of two young men
the Supreme Court upheld the death sentences of two young men
- OCTOBER 6, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran's female soccer fans will be forced to
Iran's female soccer fans will be forced to
- OCTOBER 5, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Four Iranian men convicted of belonging to an organised...
Four Iranian men convicted of belonging to an organised crime gang were hanged in the northern province of Mazandaran
- OCTOBER 4, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
An Iranian man convicted of armed robbery, banditry...
An Iranian man convicted of armed robbery, banditry and drug trafficking was hanged in public in the central city of Isfahan, the local judiciary said
- OCTOBER 4, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
State-owned newspapers reported that two prisoners...
State-owned newspapers reported that two prisoners were hanged in the southern city of Jiroft
- OCTOBER 4, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Mehrzad Vajeb-Olhoghough was hanged in a public square...
Mehrzad Vajeb-Olhoghough was hanged in a public square in Isfahan, in front of his wife and his child
- OCTOBER 3, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
A man found guilty of raping a young girl was hanged...
A man found guilty of raping a young girl was hanged in Iran in the northern province of Mazandaran