Iran executes over 1,000 people within nine months, 404 since the war with Israel began
At least 1,002 prisoners were executed in Iran during the first nine months of 2025, with 100 days still remaining in the year. The figures, compiled by the Statistics and Documentation Center of Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, show that 404 of these executions took place after the start of the Israel–Iran war on 13 June 2025.
Hengaw’s data reveal a 40 percent rise in executions since the start of that conflict, marking the highest surge in two decades. Never before have executions surpassed 1,000 in such a short period.
Among those put to death were 29 women and 973 men, as well as one juvenile offender. Eight people were executed on charges of espionage for Israel. So far this year, authorities have also carried out the death sentences of at least 33 political or ideological detainees, 148 Kurdish prisoners, 130 Lors, 114 Baloch, 106 Turks and 65 Afghan nationals.
Sixty-three executions were conducted in secret, denying prisoners a final meeting with their families. Only 53 cases — about five percent — were reported by state-controlled media. Public hangings have also increased, with at least seven carried out in Esfarayen, Delfan, Miandoab, Bukan, Damghan, Beyram and Kordkuy.
Executions by charge
Nearly half of those executed, 495 prisoners (49.5 percent), were convicted of drug-related crimes. Other charges were:
Political charges: 16
Religious or ideological offenses: 17
Intentional murder: 441
Rape: 25
Armed robbery: 9
Executions by ethnic and national group
Almost 500 prisoners from ethnic and national minorities — Kurds, Baloch, Lors and Turks — have been executed in 2025. Hengaw’s breakdown shows:
Kurds: 148 (15%)
Lors: 130 (13%)
Baloch: 114 (11.5%)
Turks: 106 (10.5%)
Gilaks: 43 (4%)
Arabs: 29 (3%)
Turkmens: 9 (1%)
Tats: 2 (0.5%)
Afghan nationals: 65 (6.5%)
Persians: 262 (26%)
Ethnicity under review: 94 (9%)
Executions by province
Prisons in Alborz Province recorded the highest number of executions, with 196 people put to death — 19.5 percent of all cases. Other provinces include:
Isfahan: 79
Fars: 78
Razavi Khorasan: 77
Lorestan: 50
East Azerbaijan: 46
Sistan and Baluchistan: 45
Khuzestan: 42
Hamadan: 38
Kermanshah (Kermashan): 36
Qom: 32
Golestan: 27
Zanjan: 27
Yazd: 25
Hormozgan: 24
South Khorasan: 23
Gilan: 22
Qazvin: 22
Kerman: 20
West Azerbaijan (Urmia): 20
Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad: 18
Semnan: 17
Mazandaran: 16
Bushehr: 10
Kurdistan (Sanandaj /Sine): 9
Ilam: 8
Ardabil: 3
North Khorasan: 2
Tehran: 1
Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari: 1
Following the suppression of protests during the Woman, Life, Freedom (Jin, Jiyan, Azadi) movement and amid limited international attention due to crises such as the wars in Israel and Gaza, the Islamic Republic of Iran has intensified its use of the death penalty. Since the beginning of the Israel–Iran war, an average of four people have been executed every day, with 40 percent of this year’s total recorded in the past 100 days.
Hengaw Organization for Human Rights warns of an unprecedented escalation in executions and the expansion of Iran’s machinery of death. Hengaw urges Iranian and international civil society to condemn these killings unequivocally and to develop effective strategies to curb the use of capital punishment in Iran.
