Belgium
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1998
Data card
- Legal status
- Abolitionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 0
- First news item in the archive
- DECEMBER 10, 1998 · On December 10, 1998, Belgium ratified Protocol No
- News items in the archive
- 103
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Belgium is classified as Abolitionist in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 0 executions in the country, against 0 the year before. The archive holds 103 news items on Belgium, from 1998 to today.
Latest news
- NOVEMBER 14, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller criticized...
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller criticized the [EU] demands for Turkey to abolish capital punishment for everybody, without any exceptions, including terrorists, in a period when it is accepted that all terrorists, including Usamah Bin-Ladin, sh
- NOVEMBER 13, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
The European Union welcomed Turkish steps towards expanding...
The European Union welcomed Turkish steps towards expanding civil liberties, but said in its progress report on candidates that the reforms far from guarantee freedoms required for membership in the bloc
- NOVEMBER 13, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said that Turkey...
Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said that Turkey needs to take action as soon as possible to remedy shortcomings pointed out in the recent EU report on Turkey's progress towards membership
- NOVEMBER 9, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
At its plenary session in Brussels last week, the Joint...
At its plenary session in Brussels last week, the Joint Parliamentary Assembly urged the Cuban authorities to provide a strong signal of the liberalisation by releasing political prisoners and abolishing the death sentence
- NOVEMBER 8, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
At the UN Third Committee hearing for calls for priority...
At the UN Third Committee hearing for calls for priority attention to incorporating human rights treaty provisions into domestic law, the European Union welcomed the recent signatures and ratifications of the Second Optional Protocol to the International
- NOVEMBER 8, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
A Eurobarometer survey of 10,000 young Europeans between...
A Eurobarometer survey of 10,000 young Europeans between the ages of 15 and 24 found that the number of respondents believing their generation to be in favour of the death penalty has fallen drastically since 1997, from 36% to 27%
- NOVEMBER 6, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Civil rights campaign group Human Rights Watch (HRW)...
Civil rights campaign group Human Rights Watch (HRW) expressed concern over recent EU moves to crack down on terrorism
- OCTOBER 26, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
China will let an investigator from the United Nations...
China will let an investigator from the United Nations look into allegations of torture carried out by police and prison officials, the head of a European Union human rights delegation said
- OCTOBER 26, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
The European Parliament called on Turkey to ban the...
The European Parliament called on Turkey to ban the death penalty as part of constitutional reforms aimed at bolstering its campaign to join the EU
- OCTOBER 25, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
During a press briefing by the EU Commission, spokesman...
During a press briefing by the EU Commission, spokesman Leonello Gabrici said there would be no question of extraditing to third countries persons who could face the death penalty
- OCTOBER 25, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
European Union countries will not extradite suspects...
European Union countries will not extradite suspects to the US if they could face the death penalty, despite heavy pressure from Washington, EU officials pledged
- OCTOBER 24, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Under an EU Charter of Fundamental Rights adopted in...
Under an EU Charter of Fundamental Rights adopted in 2000, "no one may be removed, expelled or extradited to a state where there is a serious risk that he or she would be subjected to the death penalty, torture or other inhuman or degrading treatment or p
- OCTOBER 24, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
In a European Parliament debate on the war against...
In a European Parliament debate on the war against terrorism, Green Party MEP Paul Lannoye (Belgium), expressed his concern about any extradition agreement with the United States, where the death penalty could apply
- OCTOBER 23, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
The European Union welcomed candidate country Turkey's...
The European Union welcomed candidate country Turkey's approval of constitutional reforms but urged Ankara to show more flexibility over Cyprus
- OCTOBER 22, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
European Union ambassadors pulled out of Eritrea in...
European Union ambassadors pulled out of Eritrea in protest at a crackdown on political dissent and a free press in that country
- OCTOBER 22, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
US President George Bush asked European Union leaders...
US President George Bush asked European Union leaders to consider a range of new measures to fight terrorism, including improvements to border controls and transportation safety, officials said
- OCTOBER 15, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Two leading human rights organisations appealed to...
Two leading human rights organisations appealed to the European Union not to approve security measures which could harm individual freedoms following the attacks on the United States
- OCTOBER 6, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
EU leaders hope to agree by December 6 two key measures:...
EU leaders hope to agree by December 6 two key measures: a common definition of terrorist offences and the introduction of a European arrest warrant that would make extradition between states almost automatic
- OCTOBER 6, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
While US and European leaders are moving to accelerate...
While US and European leaders are moving to accelerate extradition procedures for terrorism suspects, capital punishment remains a sticking point
- OCTOBER 4, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
The European Parliament congratulated the Union for...
The European Parliament congratulated the Union for having successfully directed the Durban Conference on Racism [August -September 2001] onto the road of compromise
- OCTOBER 4, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
The European Parliament adopted a resolution in which...
The European Parliament adopted a resolution in which it calls on the Vietnamese authorities to abolish the death sentence (and, in the meantime, guarantee the implementation of a moratorium) and to ratify the second optional protocol to the International
- SEPTEMBER 29, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
European Union President, Belgium's Justice Minister...
European Union President, Belgium's Justice Minister Marc Verwilghen, said neither Osama bin Laden nor his followers [wanted for the September 11 terrorist attacks on the US] would be handed to the US if caught in Europe because the EU would not extradite
- SEPTEMBER 28, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Efforts to agree a European Union-wide extradition...
Efforts to agree a European Union-wide extradition deal with the United States are running into trouble over the death penalty
- SEPTEMBER 20, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
The European Union is rethinking its refusal to send...
The European Union is rethinking its refusal to send accused terrorists to face trial in the United States, which has capital punishment
- JULY 5, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
During the extraordinary session the European Parliament...
During the extraordinary session the European Parliament passed Resolution No
- APRIL 25, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Belgium was a cosponsor and voted in favor of the resolution...
Belgium was a cosponsor and voted in favor of the resolution on the death penalty approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights on April 25, 2001
- JANUARY 1, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Note: Belgium is term-president of the EU from June...
Note: Belgium is term-president of the EU from June to December 2001
- JANUARY 1, 2001BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Belgian laws allow courts to try foreigners for war...
Belgian laws allow courts to try foreigners for war crimes committed on foreign soil
- OCTOBER 19, 2000BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
A letter was sent from Belgium Justice Ministry to...
A letter was sent from Belgium Justice Ministry to Istanbul State Security Court saying that Fehriye Erdal, would not be extradited to Turkey
- SEPTEMBER 1, 2000BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt after a meeting of Belgian...
Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt after a meeting of Belgian Council of Ministers said Belgium will not extradite Fehriye Erdal to Turkey