At least 160 prisoners executed in Iran in the first quarter of 2026

Hengaw – Tuesday, March 31, 2026

At least 160 prisoners were executed in Iranian prisons during the first three months of 2026, according to data recorded by the Statistics and Documentation Center of Hengaw Organization for Human Rights. Hengaw has verified the identities of all 160 executed prisoners.

This figure represents a decrease of 73 executions compared to the first three months of 2025, a decline of approximately 31 percent. During January, February, and March 2025, at least 233 prisoners were executed in Iranian prisons.

Only 12 of the 160 executions (7.5 percent) were officially announced by Iranian state media or judiciary-affiliated websites. In addition, 17 executions were carried out secretly, without informing the families and without granting prisoners a final visit with their relatives.

Execution of women prisoners

During this period, at least four women were executed in the prisons of Tabriz, Zanjan, and Isfahan (two cases).

Mahnaz Roshani from Shahin Shahr and Sohaila Asadi from Kashan were executed in Isfahan Central Prison on charges of premeditated murder. Tayyebeh Hekmat, from Zanjan, was executed in Zanjan Prison on charges of premeditated murder. Mina Nasirpour, from Ardabil, was executed in Ardabil Central Prison on drug-related charges.

Execution of political and ideological prisoners

During the past three months, at least 12 political and ideological prisoners were executed on charges including baghi (armed rebellion), membership in militant groups, and espionage for Israel.

Eight of these prisoners were executed in the past three weeks, following the outbreak of the recent war between the United States, Israel, and Iran.

The executed political and ideological prisoners are:

1. Ali Ardestani – executed January 7, 2026, on charges of espionage for Israel
2. Amanj Karvanchi (Sardasht) – executed January 24, 2026, accused of ISIS membership
3. Arsalan Sheikhi (Sardasht) – executed January 24, 2026, accused of ISIS membership
4. Hamidreza Sabet Esmailpour – executed January 28, 2026, on charges of espionage for Israel
5. Kourosh Keyvani (Savojbolagh) – executed March 18, 2026, on charges of espionage for Israel
6. Saleh Mohammadi – arrested during the Qom protests, executed March 19, 2026
7. Mehdi Ghasemi – arrested during the Qom protests, executed March 19, 2026
8. Saeed Davoudi – arrested during the Qom protests, executed March 19, 2026
9. Akbar Daneshvarkar (Tehran) – executed March 30, 2026, on charges of baghi through membership in the MEK
10. Mohammad Taghavi Sangdehi (Amol) – executed March 30, 2026, on charges of baghi through membership in the MEK
11. Pouya Ghobadi Bistouni (Sonqor and Koliai) – executed March 31, 2026, on charges of baghi through membership in the MEK
12. Babak Alipour (Rasht) – executed March 31, 2026, on charges of baghi through membership in the MEK

Executions by charges

During the first three months of 2026, the majority of executions were related to premeditated murder, accounting for 92 cases (57.5 percent).

Additionally, 46 prisoners were executed on drug-related charges.

Breakdown by charges:

• Political and ideological charges: 12
• Premeditated murder: 92
• Drug-related offenses: 46
• Armed robbery: 7
• Rape: 3

Executions by ethnic and national minorities

During the past three months, the following executions were recorded among ethnic and national groups:

• Lor: 22
• Turk: 19
• Gilak: 12
• Kurd: 11
• Arab: 7
• Mazani: 7
• Baloch: 4
• Turkmen: 1
• Afghan nationals: 6
• Persian: 39
• Ethnicity not confirmed for Hengaw: 32

Executions by province prisons

The highest number of executions during this period was recorded in Alborz Province prisons with 36 executions. In total, executions were carried out in 26 provinces across Iran.

After Alborz Province, the highest numbers were recorded in:

• East Azerbaijan: 15
• Fars: 14
• Lorestan and Isfahan: 11 each
• Khuzestan and Razavi Khorasan: 10 each
• Qom: 9
• Gilan: 8
• Golestan and Semnan: 7 each
• Qazvin: 6
• Hamedan, Yazd, Mazandaran, Zanjan: 4 each
• Kermanshah (Kermashan) and Markazi: 3 each
• Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad and Ardabil: 2 each
• Ilam, Kerman, Sistan and Baluchestan, North Khorasan, South Khorasan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari: 1 each
• Unknown location: 1