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
- JULY 27, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran's Supreme Court revoked a death sentence against...
Iran's Supreme Court revoked a death sentence against Afsaneh Norouzi, a woman who killed an intelligence officer she says tried to rape her, her lawyer said
- JULY 26, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
An Iranian man convicted of murdering a university...
An Iranian man convicted of murdering a university student was hanged publicly near Tehran, drawing loud cheers from a crowd of some 1,000 people who turned out to watch the execution
- JULY 26, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
a woman and two men were flogged in public in Shahin Dezh
a woman and two men were flogged in public in Shahin Dezh
- JULY 25, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
An Iranian man identified as Musa Noori, convicted...
An Iranian man identified as Musa Noori, convicted of murdering a pilgrim in August 2003, was been hanged in Dehloran in the western Iranian province of Ilam, the Jomhuri Islami newspaper reported
- JULY 25, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the judicial system in Karaj issued the death sentence of a young man
the judicial system in Karaj issued the death sentence of a young man
- JULY 24, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Iranian dissident Hashem Aghajari, sentenced to five...
Iranian dissident Hashem Aghajari, sentenced to five years in jail for insulting Islam, complained that a portion of his sentence was almost as bad as the death sentence initially imposed on him
- JULY 21, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. SIX PEOPLE HANGED, REPORTS
Arshad-ollah and Mohammad Ali were put to death on July 10
- JULY 20, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Iranian dissident Hashem Aghajari, sentenced to death...
Iranian dissident Hashem Aghajari, sentenced to death in 2002 for blasphemy, was been handed a five-year jail term following his re-trial
- JULY 20, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
reports from Mashad says the anti-vice patrols
reports from Mashad says the anti-vice patrols
- JULY 19, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the Iranian state-controlled media reported that three prisoners were hanged.
the Iranian state-controlled media reported that three prisoners were hanged.
- JULY 17, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
a man was sentenced to death in Tehran
a man was sentenced to death in Tehran
- JULY 14, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
a prisoner was hanged at Khazar Square in the city of Sari, northern Iran.
a prisoner was hanged at Khazar Square in the city of Sari, northern Iran.
- JULY 13, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
It was reported that Mahmud Kazeminia, convicted of...
It was reported that Mahmud Kazeminia, convicted of killing a man of 17 with the intention of stealing his motorcycle, was brought down from the gallows after he confessed to another murder before his sentence of hanging was carried out in Dezful, Iran
- JULY 13, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
in Tehran, a 23-year-old named Erfan was sentenced to death
in Tehran, a 23-year-old named Erfan was sentenced to death
- JULY 12, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
iranian security forces have stepped up what appears
iranian security forces have stepped up what appears
- JULY 12, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the Department of Public Places of Isfahan's State Security Forces announced that
the Department of Public Places of Isfahan's State Security Forces announced that
- JULY 12, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the death sentence of a man named Ali Deldari was issued
the death sentence of a man named Ali Deldari was issued
- JULY 11, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran's supreme court quashed the sentences against...
Iran's supreme court quashed the sentences against four policeman who faced death by stoning for belonging to a gang that kidnapped and raped girls
- JULY 10, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Two Iranians convicted of murder were hanged in Fuman,...
Two Iranians convicted of murder were hanged in Fuman, in the northern province of Gilan
- JULY 7, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
With anger mounting that Saddam Hussein had not been...
With anger mounting that Saddam Hussein had not been charged over his invasion of and use of chemical weapons against Iran, Iranian MPs called for the ousted Iraqi dictator to stand before an international court
- JULY 6, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
a man in Tehran was sentenced to death.
a man in Tehran was sentenced to death.
- JULY 3, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
The retrial of Iranian dissident Hashem Aghajari opened...
The retrial of Iranian dissident Hashem Aghajari opened in Tehran, with the hardline judiciary allowing a public hearing and all charges that could lead to the death penalty dropped
- JUNE 30, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Three Iraqi Kurds convicted over a spate of armed robberies,...
Three Iraqi Kurds convicted over a spate of armed robberies, extortion and rape were hanged publicly in the northern Iranian city of Qazvin, Qods newspaper reported
- JUNE 29, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
a woman, Diba Zomorodian, a microbiology student, was hanged in Qazvin
a woman, Diba Zomorodian, a microbiology student, was hanged in Qazvin
- JUNE 28, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran's hard-line judiciary dropped all charges against...
Iran's hard-line judiciary dropped all charges against dissident academic Hashem Aghajari that could lead to the death penalty, finally backing down in an affair that has sparked widespread protests
- JUNE 28, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
a man was sentenced to death
a man was sentenced to death
- JUNE 27, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
a young man 17 years old named Mojtaba was sentenced to death
a young man 17 years old named Mojtaba was sentenced to death
- JUNE 27, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
a young man 22 years old named Aziz was sentenced to death
a young man 22 years old named Aziz was sentenced to death
- JUNE 26, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
It was reported that prominent Iranian dissident Hasham...
It was reported that prominent Iranian dissident Hasham Aghajari might be released from prison on bail while awaiting the latest review of his death sentence for apostasy, recently quashed by the Supreme Court, the tribunal's chief justice said
- JUNE 26, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
following a quarrel between two men, the head of Ahwaz prisons
following a quarrel between two men, the head of Ahwaz prisons