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
- 8,610
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 8,610 news items on Iran, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
- FEBRUARY 17, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
A Tehran court passed two death sentences on Fath Ali...
A Tehran court passed two death sentences on Fath Ali Moradi, and another death sentence on another man
- FEBRUARY 17, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
A convicted murderer was publicly hanged in the northern...
A convicted murderer was publicly hanged in the northern city of Qazvin, the daily Iran reported
- FEBRUARY 16, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
An Iranian court in Kerman sentenced two men, 23 and...
An Iranian court in Kerman sentenced two men, 23 and 24-years-old, to death
- FEBRUARY 14, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
The death sentence issued by Iran's late revolutionary...
The death sentence issued by Iran's late revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini against the British author Salman Rushdie, who was accused of blaspheming Islam is irrevocable, the Islamic Revolution Martyr Foundation said
- FEBRUARY 14, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
Hassan Nedai was hanged in public in Takestan, Iran
Hassan Nedai was hanged in public in Takestan, Iran
- FEBRUARY 13, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
A court in the northwestern Iranian province of Khorasan...
A court in the northwestern Iranian province of Khorasan handed out 11 death sentences to Saeed Hanaii
- FEBRUARY 13, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
Hojjat ol-Eslam Gharavian, a lecturer at Qom seminary...
Hojjat ol-Eslam Gharavian, a lecturer at Qom seminary and a hard-line cleric said Imam Khomeyni's fatwa on Salman Rushdie still stands and every single Muslim may carry out the verdict
- FEBRUARY 12, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
Iraj Rashvan was executed in Takestan, Iran
Iraj Rashvan was executed in Takestan, Iran
- FEBRUARY 9, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
A Tehran court condemned a man to death
A Tehran court condemned a man to death
- FEBRUARY 6, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
Two men were condemned to death Shahriar, Iran
Two men were condemned to death Shahriar, Iran
- FEBRUARY 3, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
An Iranian court sentenced three men - Keyvan Razaghi,...
An Iranian court sentenced three men - Keyvan Razaghi, Kamran Razaghi and Hamdalah Z
- FEBRUARY 2, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
A man was hanged in public in Abar Kouh, Iran
A man was hanged in public in Abar Kouh, Iran
- FEBRUARY 2, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
A woman identified only by her first name, Sima, was...
A woman identified only by her first name, Sima, was condemned to death by stoning in Iran
- FEBRUARY 2, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
A Tehran court sentenced Mohammed Reza to death
A Tehran court sentenced Mohammed Reza to death
- JANUARY 31, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi said in a written...
Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi said in a written fatwa or religious ruling that "In certain circumstances, death by stoning can be replaced by other methods of punishment," opening the way for women lawmakers who have campaigned against the practic
- JANUARY 30, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
A convicted murderer was hanged in public in the town...
A convicted murderer was hanged in public in the town of Abarkouh, in central Iran
- JANUARY 28, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
Karim Tougly was hanged in prison in Mahabad, Iran
Karim Tougly was hanged in prison in Mahabad, Iran
- JANUARY 27, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
Four men were hanged in prison in Ahvaz, Iran, the...
Four men were hanged in prison in Ahvaz, Iran, the Farsi language newspaper Keyhan reported
- JANUARY 23, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
Eight Iranians were hanged, four of them for rape and...
Eight Iranians were hanged, four of them for rape and the others for the murder and armed robbery of motorist
- JANUARY 23, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
A court in the ancient central Iranian city of Isfahan...
A court in the ancient central Iranian city of Isfahan sentenced Rasool Chatrali to public hanging, the Farsi language newspaper Jame Jam reported
- JANUARY 22, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
Hasan Alizadeh was hanged in public in Sabzevar, Iran
Hasan Alizadeh was hanged in public in Sabzevar, Iran
- JANUARY 21, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
Mohammad Poursalehi was hanged in public in Khorramshahr,...
Mohammad Poursalehi was hanged in public in Khorramshahr, Iran
- JANUARY 20, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
An Iranian court in Poldokhtar sentenced Ali Safar...
An Iranian court in Poldokhtar sentenced Ali Safar pour Rajab to death
- JANUARY 19, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
An indicted murderer escaped death with the noose on...
An indicted murderer escaped death with the noose on his neck in Iran's northern city of Lahijan in the Gilan Province after being pardoned by the victim's family, the Persian daily Iran said
- JANUARY 19, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
Hamid Karafi was hanged in public in Karaj, near Tehran,...
Hamid Karafi was hanged in public in Karaj, near Tehran, the Farsi language newspaper Ettelaat reported
- JANUARY 17, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
A man was sentenced to death in Ghom, Iran, the Farsi...
A man was sentenced to death in Ghom, Iran, the Farsi language newspaper Keyhan reported
- JANUARY 16, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
A murderer, convicted of killing his son and wife,...
A murderer, convicted of killing his son and wife, was publicly hanged in the northwestern city of Nir, in Iran's Ardabil Province
- JANUARY 16, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
A 25-year-old man was executed in Ghazvin, Iran
A 25-year-old man was executed in Ghazvin, Iran
- JANUARY 14, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran executed four men, one of them in public
Iran executed four men, one of them in public
- JANUARY 14, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
A man was sentenced to death in Ghom, Iran
A man was sentenced to death in Ghom, Iran