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
- APRIL 2, 2026IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Hengaw Report on 34th day of war
At least 7,300 killed in first 34 days of war, including 890 civilians
APRIL 2, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Narges Mohammadi Denied Adequate Medical Care After Heart Attack
APRIL 2, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Teenage Protester Amirhossein Hatami Hanged on April 2
84 Days After Arrest
APRIL 2, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hrana Report on 34th day of war
From the Strike on Bridge B-1 to the Pasteur Institute
APRIL 2, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN Mandana Sotoudeh and Behzad Basiri Arrested
A Baha’i Couple
APRIL 1, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Nasrin Sotoudeh was arrested
APRIL 1, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hrana Report on 33rd day of war
From the Former U.S. Embassy to the Russian Orthodox Church
APRIL 1, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Death Sentence of Mansour Jamali Upheld
Political prisoner belonging to the MEK
APRIL 1, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - At least 188 Citizens Arrested in Connection with the War
MARCH 31, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Since 26 February, Iranian exile NGOs have ceased to receive information regarding executions
With the exception of five executions reported by Iranian state media
MARCH 31, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Half of attacks on Kurdistan Region carried out by Iran
MARCH 31, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Political Prisoners Pouya Ghobadi and Babak Alipour Hanged
For “rebellion through membership in the Mujahedin-e Khalq.”
MARCH 31, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hrana Report on 32nd day of war
Strikes Focused on Central Regions of the Country
- MARCH 31, 2026IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - At Least 67 Citizens Arrested in Connection with the War
MARCH 30, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mahsa Sotoudeh arrested for unknown reasons
A Baha’i adherent
MARCH 30, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Executions of Political Prisoners Ali Akbar Daneshvarkar and Mohammad Taghavi Sangdehi
Accused of involvement in the January Protests and being members of the People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran
- MARCH 30, 2026IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Report on the Arrest of 857 Citizens for War-Related Reasons
MARCH 30, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hrana Report on 31st day of war
Humanitarian Concerns Amid Hundreds of Strikes
MARCH 29, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hrana Report on 30th day of war
70 Percent of Strikes Concentrated on Tehran
MARCH 29, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Alireza Jafari, aged 11, was killed ‘on duty’ at a checkpoint by a drone
MARCH 29, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Five Kurds arrested for alleged use of Starlink
Kourosh Zahrabi, Bakhtiar Tavousi, Mohammad Sharifi, Afshin Najmi and Kianoush Adelpour
MARCH 28, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hengaw Report on 28th day of war
6,900 killed, including 720 civilians
MARCH 28, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hrana Report on 29th day of war
Strikes on Hundreds of Targets in Residential Areas
MARCH 27, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hrana Report on 28th day of war
Strikes on Industrial Units and Infrastructure
- MARCH 27, 2026IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Report on the arrest of 16 people
- MARCH 27, 2026IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Report on the Arrest of 113 Citizens
- MARCH 27, 2026IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Report on the arrest of dozens of citizens
MARCH 27, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Kianoush Adelpour arrested
For possessing a Starlink device
MARCH 27, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Recruitment of children as young as 12 during war
- MARCH 26, 2026IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Hrana Report on 27th day of war
Renewed Escalation in Strikes