Canada
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Abolitionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 0
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · Canada also cosponsored the resolution on the moratorium...
- News items in the archive
- 141
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Canada 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 141 news items on Canada, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
JUNE 3, 2009CanadaDEATH PENALTYCANADA: MURDER SUSPECT EXTRADITED WITH GUARANTEE NO DEATH PENALTY
an Californian man who fled to Canada in late 2007 was been sent back to the US to
- APRIL 2, 2009CanadaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI COURT UPHOLDS CANADIAN'S DEATH SENTENCE
a lower court in Saudi Arabia upheld the death penalty against a Canadian in the killing of a Syrian-born teenager, the Arab News reported.
- MARCH 4, 2009CanadaDEATH PENALTY
Canada/Usa. Canadian Justice Robert Barnes ordered the Canadian government to seek clemency for Ronald Allen Smith, on death row in Montana
Canada/Usa. Canadian Justice Robert Barnes ordered the Canadian government to seek clemency for Ronald Allen Smith, on death row in Montana
- FEBRUARY 10, 2009CanadaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI TOP COURT REJECTS DEATH SENTENCE OF CANADIAN
the Saudi Arabian Supreme Court rejected the death sentence of a Canadian man and asked the lower court to revise its ruling, CBC News learned.
- JANUARY 1, 2009CanadaDEATH PENALTY
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1976, after a nine-year moratorium.
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1976, after a nine-year moratorium.
- NOVEMBER 30, 2008CanadaDEATH PENALTY
TORONTO JOINS GLOBAL PROTESTS AGAINST DEATH PENALTY
in Canada, Toronto joined with more than 800 cities around the world to speak out against the death penalty.
- NOVEMBER 26, 2008CanadaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI APPEALS COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE
an appeals court in Saudi Arabia upheld the death penalty for Dollard des Ormeaux resident Mohammed Kohail, 23, who was convicted of killing a Syrian national during a school fight in 2007.
- NOVEMBER 1, 2008CanadaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: ONLY SAUDI KING CAN PREVENT CANADIAN'S BEHEADING
a Canadian citizen is one step closer to execution after a Saudi appeals court upheld his death sentence.
- SEPTEMBER 29, 2008CanadaDEATH PENALTY
CANADA REFUSES CLEMENCY FOR MAN ON DEATH ROW IN MONTANA
a decision by the Conservative government to stop seeking clemency for a Canadian man on death row in the United States was arbitrary and unfair, his defense lawyer said.
- SEPTEMBER 27, 2008CanadaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Usa / Canada. For $20, a Toronto artist delivers a taste of death row.
USA - Usa / Canada. For $20, a Toronto artist delivers a taste of death row.
- JULY 9, 2008CanadaDEATH PENALTY
the youngest Canadian ever to face execution is receiving...
the youngest Canadian ever to face execution is receiving...
- JUNE 13, 2008CanadaDEATH PENALTY
52 % of respondents said they oppose or strongly oppose capital punishment, while 39 % support it
52 % of respondents said they oppose or strongly oppose capital punishment, while 39 % support it
- JUNE 13, 2008CanadaDEATH PENALTY
a new poll shows that just over half of Canadians...
a new poll shows that just over half of Canadians...
- MARCH 31, 2008CanadaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI COURT MEETS IN SECRET OVER CANADIAN SLATED FOR BEHEADING
a Saudi court threatened the lawyer of a Canadian man who is facing a public beheading after the advocate submitted a bid to appeal the death sentence.
- MARCH 3, 2008CanadaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA. CANADIAN SENTENCED TO DEATH
Mohamed Kohail, a Canadian citizen jailed in Saudi Arabia on murder charges
- JANUARY 1, 2008CanadaDEATH PENALTY
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1976, after a nine-year moratorium.
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1976, after a nine-year moratorium.
- DECEMBER 18, 2007CanadaDEATH PENALTY
Canada voted in favour of the Resolution on a Moratorium...
Canada voted in favour of the Resolution on a Moratorium...
- DECEMBER 12, 2007CanadaDEATH PENALTY
CANADIAN BISHOPS CALL ON GOVERNMENT TO OPPOSE CAPITAL PUNISHMENT INTERNATIONALLY
the president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops asked the Prime Minister of Canada to “strenuously” intervene when Canadians face a death sentence in other countries.
- NOVEMBER 22, 2007CanadaDEATH PENALTY
CAR SMUGGLING GANG LEADER GETS DEATH PENALTY
the leader of a smuggling ring was given the death penalty, suspended for two years...
- NOVEMBER 12, 2007CanadaDEATH PENALTY
a new poll indicates respondents oppose...
a new poll indicates respondents oppose...
- NOVEMBER 7, 2007CanadaDEATH PENALTY
Human Rights Watch, a leading international advocacy group based in the United States...
Human Rights Watch, a leading international advocacy group based in the United States...
- NOVEMBER 7, 2007CanadaDEATH PENALTY
CANADA DROPS SPONSORSHIP OF UN ANTI-DEATH PENALTY RESOLUTION
Canada said that it will not co-sponsor a United Nations resolution calling for a global moratorium on the death penalty, breaking a nearly decade-old tradition by a country that has long prided itself on its opposition to capital punishment.
- MARCH 13, 2007CanadaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA PROMISES NOT TO EXECUTE CITIZEN IF REPATRIATED FROM CANADA
China promised not to sentence accused smuggler Lai Changxing to death because this was essential to have him repatriated from Canada, a Supreme Court spokesman said.
- JANUARY 1, 2007CanadaDEATH PENALTY
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1976, after a nine-year moratorium.
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1976, after a nine-year moratorium.
- NOVEMBER 21, 2006CanadaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA WILL NOT EXECUTE CANADIAN ACCUSED OF TERRORISM
Canada received assurances from Beijing that Huseyin Celil, 37...
- JUNE 27, 2006CanadaDEATH PENALTY
CANADIAN EXTRADITED FROM UZBEKISTAN FACES POSSIBLE DEATH PENALTY IN CHINA
Canadian citizen Huseyincan Celil was extradited from Uzbekistan to China where he may be executed for founding a political party to represent a minority ethnic group in Xinjiang province, Canada's foreign affairs spokeswoman Kim Girtel told AFP. Celil, 3
- JUNE 1, 2006CanadaDEATH PENALTY
CANADA. COURT DELAYS DEPORTATION OF CHINESE FUGITIVE LAI
Chinese fugitive Lai Changxing, the alleged kingpin of a multi-billion-dollar smuggling operation, will not be deported on June 2 as planned, Canada's Federal Court ruled.
- MAY 25, 2006CanadaDEATH PENALTY
CANADA. PRIME MINISTER 'INSISTS' CHINESE FUGITIVE SHOULD NOT FACE DEATH PENALTY
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he will "insist" that fugitive Lai Changxing should not face the death penalty if returned to China, a sanction Beijing had declined to rule out.
- APRIL 10, 2006CanadaDEATH PENALTY
CANADA. BEAUTY QUEEN LAUNCHES QUEST TO SAVE NAMESAKE FROM DEATH SENTENCE IN IRAN
a Canadian beauty queen's campaign to save the life of an Iranian teenager was drawing worldwide interest, with more than 7,000 people signing a petition.
- MARCH 23, 2006CanadaDEATH PENALTY
AFGHANISTAN. KARZAI SAYS CONVERT WILL NOT BE EXECUTED – CANADA
Afghan President Hamid Karzai assured Canada that Abdur Rahman, a man facing possible execution for converting to Christianity, would not be put to death, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said.