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
- 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
- AUGUST 21, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
an Iranian unnamed man was hanged in public
an Iranian unnamed man was hanged in public
- AUGUST 20, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran has hanged three drug smugglers in a public square...
Iran has hanged three drug smugglers in a public square in the southern province of Kerman, Iran, the Jomhuri-ye Eslami newspaper reported on Saturday
- AUGUST 19, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the death sentence of a man was issued in Tehran
the death sentence of a man was issued in Tehran
- AUGUST 15, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
The Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance...
The Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran said that the clerical regime's henchmen executed a 16-year-old girl in the town of Neka, northern Iran
- AUGUST 15, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
agents of the State Security Forces in Qazvin arrested 41 men
agents of the State Security Forces in Qazvin arrested 41 men
- AUGUST 15, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Mahmoud Hashemi-Shahroudi, head of the Judiciary confirmed the sentence
Mahmoud Hashemi-Shahroudi, head of the Judiciary confirmed the sentence
- AUGUST 12, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
An Iranian convicted of murdering his father-in-law...
An Iranian convicted of murdering his father-in-law has been hanged in Tehran's main Evin prison, a newspaper reported
- AUGUST 11, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
a young boy named Maham was sentenced to death
a young boy named Maham was sentenced to death
- AUGUST 10, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
An Iranian man convicted of murder has been hanged...
An Iranian man convicted of murder has been hanged publicly in Shabankareh, a town in the southern Gulf province of Bushehr, the government daily Iran reported
- AUGUST 9, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
a woman and two men were sentenced to death
a woman and two men were sentenced to death
- AUGUST 8, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the judiciary in the western Iranian province of Hamedan has ordered
the judiciary in the western Iranian province of Hamedan has ordered
- AUGUST 8, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
death sentences were issued for a man and a woman
death sentences were issued for a man and a woman
- AUGUST 7, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the head of the Information Center
the head of the Information Center