Cuba
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Abolitionist de facto
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 0
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · The Penal Code presently in force provides for the...
- News items in the archive
- 119
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Cuba is classified as Abolitionist de facto 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 119 news items on Cuba, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
- JANUARY 1, 2020CubaDEATH PENALTY
In April 2013, after ten consecutive years without carrying out executions
In April 2013, after ten consecutive years without carrying out executions
- JANUARY 1, 2019CubaDEATH PENALTY
In April 2013, after ten consecutive years without carrying out executions
In April 2013, after ten consecutive years without carrying out executions
- JANUARY 1, 2018CubaDEATH PENALTY
In April 2013, after ten consecutive years without carrying out executions
In April 2013, after ten consecutive years without carrying out executions
- JANUARY 1, 2017CubaDEATH PENALTY
In April 2013, after ten consecutive years without carrying out executions
In April 2013, after ten consecutive years without carrying out executions
- JANUARY 1, 2016CubaDEATH PENALTY
In April 2013, after ten consecutive years without carrying out executions
In April 2013, after ten consecutive years without carrying out executions
SEPTEMBER 11, 2015CubaDEATH PENALTYCUBA: 3,522 PRISONERS PARDONED AHEAD OF POPE FRANCIS VISIT
The Cuban government said it plans to pardon 3,522 prisoners over the next 72 hours as a "humanitarian"
- JANUARY 1, 2015CubaDEATH PENALTY
In April 2013, after ten consecutive years without carrying out executions
In April 2013, after ten consecutive years without carrying out executions
- JANUARY 1, 2014CubaDEATH PENALTY
In April 2013, after ten consecutive years without carrying out executions
In April 2013, after ten consecutive years without carrying out executions
- JANUARY 1, 2013CubaDEATH PENALTY
In April 2013, after ten consecutive years without carrying out executions
In April 2013, after ten consecutive years without carrying out executions
- JANUARY 1, 2012CubaDEATH PENALTY
The Penal Code presently in force provides for the death penalty for 112 offences, 33 of which are common crimes.
The Penal Code presently in force provides for the death penalty for 112 offences, 33 of which are common crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2011CubaDEATH PENALTY
The Penal Code presently in force provides for the death penalty for 112 offences, 33 of which are common crimes.
The Penal Code presently in force provides for the death penalty for 112 offences, 33 of which are common crimes.
- DECEMBER 28, 2010CubaDEATH PENALTY
CUBA COMMUTES LONE REMAINING DEATH SENTENCE
Cuba's Supreme Tribunal commuted the death sentence of an anti-Castro activist who was the last death row inmate on the island, a rights group said. The tribunal was ruling on the appeal of Humberto Eladio Real, who had been convicted in the 1990s on mur
- DECEMBER 7, 2010CubaDEATH PENALTY
CUBA COMMUTES ANOTHER BOMBER'S DEATH SENTENCE
For the second time this month, the Cuban Supreme Court commuted the death
DECEMBER 4, 2010CubaDEATH PENALTYCUBA: SUPREME COURT COMMUTES BOMBER'S DEATH SENTENCE TO 30 YEARS
Cuba has commuted the death sentence of a Salvadoran man convicted of killing an Italian
- JANUARY 1, 2010CubaDEATH PENALTY
The Penal Code presently in force provides for the death penalty for 112 offences, 33 of which are common crimes.
The Penal Code presently in force provides for the death penalty for 112 offences, 33 of which are common crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2009CubaDEATH PENALTY
The Penal Code presently in force provides for the death penalty for 112 offences, 33 of which are common crimes.
The Penal Code presently in force provides for the death penalty for 112 offences, 33 of which are common crimes.
- AUGUST 12, 2008CubaDEATH PENALTY
CUBA: SENTENCES COMMUTED BUT TREATMENT STILL HARSH
prisoners in Cuba who were facing the death penalty but had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment or 30 years in jail are still being treated like death row inmates, a dissident organisation complained.
- APRIL 30, 2008CubaDEATH PENALTY
REACTIONS TO CUBA’S COMMUTATION OF DEATH PENALTY
Cuban President Raúl Castro’s announcement that virtually all death sentences would be commuted to terms of 30 years to life was welcomed by social sectors calling for the abolition of capital punishment.
- APRIL 29, 2008CubaDEATH PENALTY
CUBA. D'ELIA, COMMUTATION OF DEATH SENTENCES AN IMPORTANT HUMANITARIAN ACT
"we are happy that President Raul Castro has commuted almost all death sentences in Cuba," Sergio D'Elia, Hands Off Cain Secretary, said.
- APRIL 28, 2008CubaDEATH PENALTY
CUBA'S RAUL CASTRO COMMUTES MOST DEATH SENTENCES
New Cuban President Raul Castro announced that all death sentences had been commuted to prison terms o
- JANUARY 1, 2008CubaDEATH PENALTY
The Penal Code presently in force provides for the death penalty for 112 offences, 33 of which are common crimes.
The Penal Code presently in force provides for the death penalty for 112 offences, 33 of which are common crimes.
- DECEMBER 18, 2007CubaDEATH PENALTY
Cuba abstained on the Resolution...
Cuba abstained on the Resolution...
- SEPTEMBER 18, 2007CubaDEATH PENALTY
CUBA: TALKS WITH EU POSSIBLY INCLUDE DEATH PENALTY
military tribunals that tried serious cases of murder and kidnapping in the last few weeks in Cuba have opted for life sentences or 30-year prison terms instead of the death penalty, which has not been applied in this country in more than four years in a
- AUGUST 30, 2007CubaDEATH PENALTY
CUBA. DEATH PENALTY OPPONENTS ENCOURAGED BY NO CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN PRISON UPRISING CASE
four men involved in a prison uprising that killed two military officers have been
- JANUARY 1, 2007CubaDEATH PENALTY
The Penal Code presently in force provides for the death penalty for 112 offences, 33 of which are common crimes.
The Penal Code presently in force provides for the death penalty for 112 offences, 33 of which are common crimes.
- JUNE 19, 2006CubaDEATH PENALTY
CUBA. DISSIDENTS ASK FOR AMNESTY FOR POLITICAL PRISONERS, MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS
dissident groups in Cuba asked Havana to grant a general amnesty to political prisoners and to introduce a legal moratorium on capital executions.
- APRIL 28, 2006CubaDEATH PENALTY
CUBA. CUBAN SOCIOLOGIST AURELIO ALONSO SPEAKS OUT AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY
Cuban sociologist Aurelio Alonso perceives the problem of capital punishment from two angles: legal and ethical.
- APRIL 28, 2006CubaDEATH PENALTY
CUBA. UNIQUE OPINION SURVEY SHOWED WIDESPREAD OPPOSITION TO THE DEATH PENALTY
the death penalty in Cuba is not a focus of public debate. But the only known opinion survey, carried out three years ago by a moderate dissident group proposing a charter of human rights for public consideration, indicated widespread opposition to the de
- APRIL 11, 2006CubaDEATH PENALTY
"Right now there are around 50 people either sentenced to, or eligible for, the death sentence...
"Right now there are around 50 people either sentenced to, or eligible for, the death sentence," opposition leader Elizardo Sánchez said.
- JANUARY 1, 2006CubaDEATH PENALTY
The Penal Code presently in force provides for the death penalty for 112 offences, 33 of which are common crimes.
The Penal Code presently in force provides for the death penalty for 112 offences, 33 of which are common crimes.
