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
- 9,141
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 9,141 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 1, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
State Security Forces (SSF) in the town of Bukan
State Security Forces (SSF) in the town of Bukan
- SEPTEMBER 29, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
An Iranian man convicted of kidnapping and raping several...
An Iranian man convicted of kidnapping and raping several young girls was hanged, Iranian newspapers reported
- SEPTEMBER 29, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
An Iranian man convicted of armed robbery was hanged...
An Iranian man convicted of armed robbery was hanged in public in the southwestern Iranian city of Ahwaz, the Jomhuri Eslami newspaper reported
- SEPTEMBER 28, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
an Iranian man named Mohammad was hanged in public on charges of murder
an Iranian man named Mohammad was hanged in public on charges of murder
- SEPTEMBER 28, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran has banned soccer players from sporting ponytails
Iran has banned soccer players from sporting ponytails
- SEPTEMBER 27, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Two Afghans convicted of six murders were executed...
Two Afghans convicted of six murders were executed by hanging in a prison in the northern Iranian city of Saveh
- SEPTEMBER 23, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
An Iranian man convicted of armed robbery was hanged...
An Iranian man convicted of armed robbery was hanged in public in the southwestern Iranian city of Ahwaz, the official news agency IRNA reported
- SEPTEMBER 22, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
An Iranian convicted of murdering his wife and two...
An Iranian convicted of murdering his wife and two daughters has been hanged in a prison in the northern city of Qazvin
- SEPTEMBER 22, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
An Afghan convicted of kidnapping identified as Obaidullah...
An Afghan convicted of kidnapping identified as Obaidullah Noorzehi was hanged in public in Iran's southeastern city of Zahedan
- SEPTEMBER 20, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence for a man
the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence for a man
- SEPTEMBER 19, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
An Iranian man convicted of murdering two men and a...
An Iranian man convicted of murdering two men and a woman was hanged publicly in the southern town of Minnab in Hormozgan province, the Kayhan newspaper reported
- SEPTEMBER 17, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the head of the public relations office of prisons
the head of the public relations office of prisons
- SEPTEMBER 16, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
An Iranian man convicted of murdering two men was hanged...
An Iranian man convicted of murdering two men was hanged in the western town of Dezful, the government newspaper Iran reported
- SEPTEMBER 16, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
two people were sentenced to execution in public
two people were sentenced to execution in public
- SEPTEMBER 10, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Feyz Mohammad, a 16-year-old Afghan national, was reportedly...
Feyz Mohammad, a 16-year-old Afghan national, was reportedly sentenced to death by a juvenile court in Karaz, Iran
- SEPTEMBER 9, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi said...
Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi said...
- SEPTEMBER 8, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
An Iranian man convicted of murder was hanged in Tehran,...
An Iranian man convicted of murder was hanged in Tehran, the government daily Iran reported
- SEPTEMBER 7, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Three key elements of "an international drug smuggling...
Three key elements of "an international drug smuggling network known as Nicosia" were hanged at dawn, the Tehran revolutionary court said
- SEPTEMBER 7, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
three people were hanged in Gohardasht Prison
three people were hanged in Gohardasht Prison
- SEPTEMBER 4, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the judiciary issued the death sentence for a man named Ahmad M. in Abadan.
the judiciary issued the death sentence for a man named Ahmad M. in Abadan.
- SEPTEMBER 4, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
a man in Tehran named Mohammad Reza Vakili was sentenced to death
a man in Tehran named Mohammad Reza Vakili was sentenced to death
- SEPTEMBER 3, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
three people in Mashad were sentenced to death
three people in Mashad were sentenced to death
- AUGUST 29, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
a man was executed in Rajaii Shahr Prison in Karaj
a man was executed in Rajaii Shahr Prison in Karaj
- AUGUST 27, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
An Iranian man convicted of murdering his wife has...
An Iranian man convicted of murdering his wife has been hanged in public in a square in the central city of Arak, Hamvatan Salam paper newspaper reported
- AUGUST 25, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
An Iranian man convicted of raping a number of women...
An Iranian man convicted of raping a number of women and girls has been hanged publicly near Tehran, drawing cheers from some 1,500 spectators, a judiciary official told AFP
- AUGUST 25, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
a man was hanged in public this morning in Hessarak.
a man was hanged in public this morning in Hessarak.
- AUGUST 25, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
agents of the State Security Force attacked a party
agents of the State Security Force attacked a party
- AUGUST 23, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the Judicial system in Tehran sentenced two men to execution
the Judicial system in Tehran sentenced two men to execution
- AUGUST 22, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran Daily reported the execution of a man
Iran Daily reported the execution of a man
- AUGUST 22, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the Judicial System issued the death sentence of a man
the Judicial System issued the death sentence of a man