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 16, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
chances that Hamid Pourmand—a Protestant convert from Islam—will be sentenced to death
chances that Hamid Pourmand—a Protestant convert from Islam—will be sentenced to death
- NOVEMBER 16, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran's hardline judiciary sentenced a 16-year-old boy to death
Iran's hardline judiciary sentenced a 16-year-old boy to death
- NOVEMBER 12, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Kaveh Habibi-Nejad, a 14-year-old schoolboy from Sanandaj died
Kaveh Habibi-Nejad, a 14-year-old schoolboy from Sanandaj died
- NOVEMBER 12, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Eshrat Shayeq, Majlis deputy from Tabriz, said one of the...
Eshrat Shayeq, Majlis deputy from Tabriz, said one of the...
- NOVEMBER 10, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Iranian officials in the town of Babol (northern Iran) paraded a young man
Iranian officials in the town of Babol (northern Iran) paraded a young man
- NOVEMBER 8, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
A man identified as Mousa, 40 and his son Rasul, 17,...
A man identified as Mousa, 40 and his son Rasul, 17, have been sentenced to death by hanging for rape, to be carried out publicly
- NOVEMBER 7, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the Iranian state media reported that a female law student was sentenced to death
the Iranian state media reported that a female law student was sentenced to death
- NOVEMBER 3, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the Iranian state media reported that a 24-year-old woman, named Tayyebeh, was sentenced to death
the Iranian state media reported that a 24-year-old woman, named Tayyebeh, was sentenced to death
- OCTOBER 28, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
The European Parliament expressed alarm at the deterioration...
The European Parliament expressed alarm at the deterioration in the area of human rights in Iran, in particular those relating to press freedom and the death penalty
- OCTOBER 26, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
agents of Iran’s State Security Forces (SSF) raided a house-party
agents of Iran’s State Security Forces (SSF) raided a house-party
- OCTOBER 26, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
a student by the name of Soroush Farhadian was sentenced to one year prison
a student by the name of Soroush Farhadian was sentenced to one year prison
- OCTOBER 26, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
an Iranian court sentenced a young man by the name of Mehdi to death
an Iranian court sentenced a young man by the name of Mehdi to death
- OCTOBER 25, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
at least 150 people have been arrested over the past two days
at least 150 people have been arrested over the past two days
- OCTOBER 24, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the sentence for a 25-year-old man has been upheld.
the sentence for a 25-year-old man has been upheld.
- OCTOBER 23, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the case of Hatam Gorgi's death sentence has been referred
the case of Hatam Gorgi's death sentence has been referred
- OCTOBER 23, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
two men by the names of Jalil N. and Ali N. were sentenced
two men by the names of Jalil N. and Ali N. were sentenced
- 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