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
- 9,142
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 9,142 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
- 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
- JUNE 22, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the judicial system of the Islamic regime issued death sentences for three people
the judicial system of the Islamic regime issued death sentences for three people
- JUNE 21, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran angrily rejected European Union criticism of its...
Iran angrily rejected European Union criticism of its human rights record and said the 25-nation bloc had much to learn from the Islamic Republic about respecting rights
- JUNE 21, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
a prisoner in the city of Tabriz was sentenced to public execution
a prisoner in the city of Tabriz was sentenced to public execution
- JUNE 20, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
The European Union gave Iran a tough rebuke over the...
The European Union gave Iran a tough rebuke over the Islamic republic's human rights record, saying it was "gravely concerned" at widespread abuses despite several rounds of talks with Tehran
- JUNE 20, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
four people in Qazvin will be hanged on charges of armed robbery
four people in Qazvin will be hanged on charges of armed robbery
- JUNE 17, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Khadijeh Shahla Jahed, the mistress of an Iranian football...
Khadijeh Shahla Jahed, the mistress of an Iranian football star, was sentenced to death for murdering the wife of her lover
- JUNE 16, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Senior Iranian judiciary officials said they paid little...
Senior Iranian judiciary officials said they paid little attention to European opinions on human rights, undermining European Union efforts to encourage reform in the Islamic state
- JUNE 16, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
State Security agents attacked a party in North Tehran
State Security agents attacked a party in North Tehran
- JUNE 13, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
The European Union and Iran were to hold a fourth round...
The European Union and Iran were to hold a fourth round of talks on human rights, as EU diplomats admitted their efforts to engage the Islamic republic had so far failed to stem widespread abuses
- JUNE 13, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
The case against prominent Iranian dissident Hasham...
The case against prominent Iranian dissident Hasham Aghajari, whose death sentence for blasphemy was quashed by the Islamic republic's supreme court, was handed over to a Tehran court for a "full reexamination", press reports said
- JUNE 13, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
The European Union and Iran were to hold a fourth round...
The European Union and Iran were to hold a fourth round of talks on human rights, as EU diplomats admitted their efforts to engage the Islamic republic had so far failed to stem widespread abuses
- JUNE 13, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
The case against prominent Iranian dissident Hasham...
The case against prominent Iranian dissident Hasham Aghajari, whose death sentence for blasphemy was quashed by the Islamic republic's supreme court, was handed over to a Tehran court for a "full reexamination", press reports said
- JUNE 13, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
six youth were flogged in public in Fardis district in Karaj.
six youth were flogged in public in Fardis district in Karaj.
- JUNE 12, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Following the fourth session of the EU/Iran human rights...
Following the fourth session of the EU/Iran human rights dialogue in Tehran, the Federation Internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme (FIDH) sent a note to member states confirming that the prospects of reform in Iran were less than positive, partic
- JUNE 12, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
a man whose death sentence had been upheld by the Supreme Court was hanged
a man whose death sentence had been upheld by the Supreme Court was hanged
- JUNE 11, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
a woman, Monireh Ghasempour, was hanged in public in Tehran
a woman, Monireh Ghasempour, was hanged in public in Tehran
- JUNE 7, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Three Iranians convicted of rape, kidnapping and extortion...
Three Iranians convicted of rape, kidnapping and extortion were hanged publicly in the western city of Khoramabad, the conservative Jaam-e Jam newspaper reported
- JUNE 7, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran had stepped up its suppression of political opposition...
Iran had stepped up its suppression of political opposition with an intense campaign of torture and arbitrary arrests, the New York-based Human Rights Watch said in a report released
- JUNE 7, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
five members of the Islamic Society of the University of Ferdowsi
five members of the Islamic Society of the University of Ferdowsi
- JUNE 6, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
For the second time the Supreme Court voided the hanging...
For the second time the Supreme Court voided the hanging sentences issued to six members of the Basij, a militant Islamic group of the Iranian regime, thought to be responsible for the murder of five people they had accused of committing "immoral" acts
- JUNE 6, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
twenty-four men as well as 14 women who had participated in a night party in Mashad were arrested
twenty-four men as well as 14 women who had participated in a night party in Mashad were arrested
- JUNE 1, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Mohammad Reza Foulad Amoli, head of Mazandaran's judiciary...
Mohammad Reza Foulad Amoli, head of Mazandaran's judiciary...
- MAY 31, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran's Supreme Court decided to quash a death sentence...
Iran's Supreme Court decided to quash a death sentence on dissident intellectual Hashem Aghajari and would announce the decision shortly, the Iranian student news agency ISNA reported
- MAY 30, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
agents arrested 32 men and women at a birthday party.
agents arrested 32 men and women at a birthday party.
- MAY 30, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
according to the decree issued by...
according to the decree issued by...
- MAY 29, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
The Iranian judiciary had started to take steps to...
The Iranian judiciary had started to take steps to quash the death sentence re-imposed on dissident intellectual Hashem Aghajari, following orders from Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the official IRNA news agency reported
- MAY 26, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the hand of a man in Andimeshk was cut off in public
the hand of a man in Andimeshk was cut off in public
- MAY 23, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the flogging verdict for two young men who were sentenced to 75 whips
the flogging verdict for two young men who were sentenced to 75 whips
- MAY 22, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
a man in Ahwaz was sentenced to five times execution
a man in Ahwaz was sentenced to five times execution