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
- MARCH 4, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Hojatol Islam Taqwa sentenced a man to execution
Hojatol Islam Taqwa sentenced a man to execution
- MARCH 3, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
An Iranian man identified as Kamal Jabarpour, was hanged...
An Iranian man identified as Kamal Jabarpour, was hanged publicly in a square in the north-western Iranian town of Morand after being found guilty of murder and armed robbery, the Qods newspaper reported
- MARCH 3, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Some 318 members of the 630-seat Italian lower house...
Some 318 members of the 630-seat Italian lower house of parliament, a majority including leftists and conservatives, supported a petition by the Mujahedeen Khalq, an Iranian opposition group, that thousands of their fighters not be extradited from Iraq to
- MARCH 3, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Ardeshir Afshinzadeh, a 25 year old film editor who had been transferred
Ardeshir Afshinzadeh, a 25 year old film editor who had been transferred
- MARCH 3, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the head of the first branch of Baneh's public court, Judge Hosseinpour issued...
the head of the first branch of Baneh's public court, Judge Hosseinpour issued...
- FEBRUARY 28, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the body of Ismail Yousefi, an Iranian asylum seeker...
the body of Ismail Yousefi, an Iranian asylum seeker who had been deported to Iran from Norway
- FEBRUARY 27, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Kobra Rahmanpour, 22, will be executed on February 28, 2004.
Kobra Rahmanpour, 22, will be executed on February 28, 2004.
- FEBRUARY 26, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
A 65-year-old Iranian was hanged at Tehran's Qasr prison...
A 65-year-old Iranian was hanged at Tehran's Qasr prison for raping an 11-month-old infant, the daily Etemad said
- FEBRUARY 26, 2004CanadaDEATH PENALTY
Iran has refused to send to Canada the body of a man
Iran has refused to send to Canada the body of a man
- FEBRUARY 25, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
The Tokyo District Court rejected a request for refugee...
The Tokyo District Court rejected a request for refugee status from a gay Iranian man who claimed that his homosexuality would be grounds for the death penalty if he was sent back to his homeland
- FEBRUARY 24, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Two armed robbers identified only as Mahmoud and Mehdi...
Two armed robbers identified only as Mahmoud and Mehdi were publicly hanged in the northern Caspian Sea port town of Gaz after being found guilty of multiple counts of armed robbery of jewellery stores
- FEBRUARY 24, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Mohammad Ali Firouzi, branded the "King of Terror"...
Mohammad Ali Firouzi, branded the "King of Terror" for his violent run of crime, was hanged at dawn in a prison in the south-western town of Marvdasht
- FEBRUARY 16, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
"On the 15th anniversary of Imam Khomeyni's historic...
"On the 15th anniversary of Imam Khomeyni's historic decree on Salman Rushdie (the author of the heretic book "The Satanic Verses"), the divine fatwa still holds and continues to be valid, and nothing has been able to undermine or mar its effect and influ
- FEBRUARY 14, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the Jomhouri Islami daily reported that in the past two weeks...
the Jomhouri Islami daily reported that in the past two weeks...
- FEBRUARY 13, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
two students of the University of Noshahr were sentenced to 100 lashes
two students of the University of Noshahr were sentenced to 100 lashes
- FEBRUARY 8, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
a man in Dezful was sentenced to having four fingers of his right hand amputated
a man in Dezful was sentenced to having four fingers of his right hand amputated
- FEBRUARY 7, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
the judiciary issued a death for a person.
the judiciary issued a death for a person.
- FEBRUARY 5, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Tehran's penal judge sentenced a young man to execution
Tehran's penal judge sentenced a young man to execution
- FEBRUARY 5, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
following the arrest of two young men named Mostafa and Alireza in Sangan
following the arrest of two young men named Mostafa and Alireza in Sangan
- FEBRUARY 3, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Colonel Safania, Commander of the Anti-Vice Campaign
Colonel Safania, Commander of the Anti-Vice Campaign
- FEBRUARY 2, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Iranian prisoners, even on death row, can have their...
Iranian prisoners, even on death row, can have their sentences lightened if they learn the Koran, the Muslim holy book, by heart, the prison service chief Seyed Morteza Bakhtiari said
- FEBRUARY 1, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
a man was sentenced to punishment by retribution in the city of Bojnourd
a man was sentenced to punishment by retribution in the city of Bojnourd
- JANUARY 31, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
The death sentences for three youngsters were carried out
The death sentences for three youngsters were carried out
- JANUARY 31, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
one man was sentenced to flogging.
one man was sentenced to flogging.
- JANUARY 29, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
a young man was hanged in the yard of Qasr prison
a young man was hanged in the yard of Qasr prison
- JANUARY 28, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Hands Off Cain issued the following statement as Italian...
Hands Off Cain issued the following statement as Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini's official visit to Iran came to an end on January 27th
- JANUARY 27, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
An Iranian man, identified only as 25-year-old Khodamorad Kh
An Iranian man, identified only as 25-year-old Khodamorad Kh
- JANUARY 26, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
Mohammad Mohammadzadeh, who was convicted of killing...
Mohammad Mohammadzadeh, who was convicted of killing a 65-year-old in 1999, when he was only 17 years of age, was hanged till death
- JANUARY 26, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
The Qods newspaper reported that an unnamed woman was...
The Qods newspaper reported that an unnamed woman was given 80 lashes and then hanged in prison after being convicted of luring young girls and women to work in a brothel in the northern city of Qazvin
- JANUARY 26, 2004IranDEATH PENALTY
It was reported that Iran executed the famous and...
It was reported that Iran executed the famous and maverick Brigadier-General Mohamad-Mehdi Dozdoozani following a speedy trial