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
- 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
- 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.