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
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MARCH 25, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - At Least 43 Arrested in Various Cities
MARCH 25, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 17-year-old Bahareh Golchin held incommunicado
MARCH 25, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hrana Report on 26th day of war
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MARCH 24, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Zahra Hojjat arrested after opposing use of rehabilitation center as human shield
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MARCH 23, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hrana Report on 24th day of war
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University student
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MARCH 22, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hrana Report on 23rd day of war
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MARCH 21, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Melika Azizi could be executed shortly
18-year-old girl arrested in January during protests
MARCH 21, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hrana Report on 22nd day of war
More Than 50% of the Strikes Target Tehran
MARCH 20, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hengaw Report on 21st day of war
5,900 killed, including 595 civilians
MARCH 20, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hrana Report on 21st day of war
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MARCH 19, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hrana Report on 20th day of war
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The failure of appeasement
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Global community must act to prevent crimes in darkness
MARCH 19, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 3 Protesters Hanged in Qom on March 19
Saleh Mohammadi, Mehdi Ghasemi, and Saeed Davoudi