Ethiopia
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 · Aggravated murder and crimes against the State or humanity...
- News items in the archive
- 103
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Ethiopia 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 103 news items on Ethiopia, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
MARCH 11, 2025EthiopiaDEATH PENALTYINDONESIA: MINISTRY PROVIDES LEGAL AID FOR INDONESIAN ON DEATH ROW IN ETHIOPIA
The Indonesian Foreign Ministry has vowed to provide legal aid to Linda Yuliana, an Indonesian citizen facing the death penalty in Ethiopia after being convicted in a drug smuggling case.
DECEMBER 9, 2024EthiopiaDEATH PENALTYETHIOPIA: DEATH SENTENCE FOR MAN IN TIGRAY OVER KIDNAPPING AND KILLING OF 16-YEAR-OLD GIRL
One man has been sentenced to death in the Tigray region, Ethiopia, for the kidnapping and killing of a girl, Borkena News reported on December 5, 2024.
- SEPTEMBER 12, 2024EthiopiaDEATH PENALTY
ETHIOPIA PARDONS 178 DEFENSE FORCE MEMBERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
Ethiopia’s Defense Force announced on September 10, 2024 that it has pardoned 178 ethnic Tigrayan members of the Ethiopian Defense Force, who were sentenced to death by court martial in connection with the November 2020 attack on the Northern Command in t
DECEMBER 13, 2022EthiopiaDEATH PENALTYETHIOPIA: FEDERAL POLICE OFFICER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER OF SOMALI REGION MP
An Ethiopian federal police officer was sentenced to death on 12 December 2022 by a military court in Jigjiga for the shooting death of Somali region MP Juweria Subcis in late October.
JUNE 13, 2021EthiopiaDEATH PENALTYETHIOPIA: BOY PUBLICLY EXECUTED IN OROMIA
Ethiopian government forces summarily executed a 17-year-old boy in Ethiopia’s Oromia region in broad daylight, Human Rights Watch said on 10 June 2021.
APRIL 6, 2021EthiopiaDEATH PENALTYETHIOPIA: MAN GETS DEATH PENALTY AFTER KILLING THREE PEOPLE
A court in Oromia Regional state has ruled a capital punishment for a man convicted of killing a man in the region’s Ilu Ababor Zone, the State-Run Broadcaster reported on 4 April 2021.
FEBRUARY 17, 2020EthiopiaDEATH PENALTYETHIOPIA: HUMAN TRAFFICKER SENTENCED TO DEATH
A Higher court in East Harar, South-Eastern part of Ethiopia, sentenced a suspected human trafficker, who is said to be responsible for the death of five women, to death, Borkena.com reported on 17 February 2020.
- JANUARY 1, 2020EthiopiaDEATH PENALTY
In 2017, Ethiopia became de facto abolitionist, after 10 consecutive year without executions.
In 2017, Ethiopia became de facto abolitionist, after 10 consecutive year without executions.
JANUARY 24, 2019EthiopiaDEATH PENALTYETHIOPIA: ABIY PARDONS 13,000 ACCUSED OF TREASON OR TERRORISM
Ethiopia has pardoned more than 13,000 people in the past six months who had been charged with or convicted of treason or terrorism, state-affiliated media said on 22 January 2019.
- JANUARY 1, 2019EthiopiaDEATH PENALTY
In 2017, Ethiopia became de facto abolitionist, after 10 consecutive year without executions.
In 2017, Ethiopia became de facto abolitionist, after 10 consecutive year without executions.
- DECEMBER 7, 2018EthiopiaDEATH PENALTY
HANDS OFF CAIN'S MISSION TO ETHIOPIA
- JUNE 15, 2018EthiopiaDEATH PENALTY
ETHIOPIA PARDONS HUNDREDS SENTENCED ON 'TERRORISM' CHARGES
The government of Ethiopia has said it will release more than 304 prisoners, including 289 convicted on "terrorism" charges, according to state media.
- MAY 26, 2018EthiopiaDEATH PENALTY
ETHIOPIA PARDONS SENIOR OPPOSITION LEADER SENTENCED TO DEATH
Ethiopia pardoned an opposition leader with British citizenship who had been sentenced to death, the latest in a series of pardons and releases of jailed dissidents announced in the wake of years of violent unrest.
- JANUARY 1, 2018EthiopiaDEATH PENALTY
In 2017, Ethiopia became de facto abolitionist, after 10 consecutive year without executions.
In 2017, Ethiopia became de facto abolitionist, after 10 consecutive year without executions.
- AUGUST 15, 2017EthiopiaDEATH PENALTY
despite strong public support, the House of Representatives has today voted
despite strong public support, the House of Representatives has today voted
- JANUARY 1, 2017EthiopiaDEATH PENALTY
Aggravated murder and crimes against the State or humanity are capital crimes.
Aggravated murder and crimes against the State or humanity are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2016EthiopiaDEATH PENALTY
Aggravated murder and crimes against the State or humanity are capital crimes.
Aggravated murder and crimes against the State or humanity are capital crimes.
JANUARY 10, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: ETHIOPIAN KILLER MAID GETS DEATH SENTENCE
A penal court in Taif has sentenced an Ethiopian maid to death for killing her woman sponsor with an axe.
- JANUARY 1, 2015EthiopiaDEATH PENALTY
Aggravated murder and crimes against the State or humanity are capital crimes.
Aggravated murder and crimes against the State or humanity are capital crimes.
NOVEMBER 16, 2014EthiopiaDEATH PENALTYKUWAIT: SIHAM’S MURDERER SENTENCED TO DEATH
The criminal court in Kuwait sentenced an Ethiopian maid who stabbed her employer’s daughter to death.
- JULY 4, 2014EthiopiaDEATH PENALTY
UK STANDS ACCUSED OVER EXTRADITION OF ETHIOPIAN OPPOSITION LEADER
The Foreign Office has been accused of failing to act to prevent the extradition to Ethiopia of an opposition
- JANUARY 1, 2014EthiopiaDEATH PENALTY
Aggravated murder and crimes against the State or humanity are capital crimes.
Aggravated murder and crimes against the State or humanity are capital crimes.
- JUNE 26, 2013EthiopiaDEATH PENALTY
KUWAIT: DEATH SENTENCE FOR BRIDE KILLER
A Kuwaiti court sentenced an Ethiopian domestic helper to death for killing a Kuwaiti bride a day before
- APRIL 26, 2013EthiopiaDEATH PENALTY
the Federal High Court sentenced eight members and leaders of the Gambella People’s Liberation
the Federal High Court sentenced eight members and leaders of the Gambella People’s Liberation
MARCH 27, 2013United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTYUAE: DUBAI COURT GIVES DEATH SENTENCE
A housemaid who stabbed a co-worker to death with a kitchen knife in an unexplained
- JANUARY 1, 2013EthiopiaDEATH PENALTY
Aggravated murder and crimes against the State or humanity are capital crimes.
Aggravated murder and crimes against the State or humanity are capital crimes.
MAY 29, 2012United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTYUAE: FIRING SQUAD FOR MAID WHO KILLED MOTHER AND TODDLER
A maid who killed her employer and the woman's two-year-old child will face a firing squad
JANUARY 27, 2012EthiopiaDEATH PENALTYETHIOPIA: DEATH PENALTY FOR BLOGGER, PRISON FOR JOURNALISTS
A U.S.-based journalist convicted on politicized terrorism charges in Ethiopia was
- JANUARY 1, 2012EthiopiaDEATH PENALTY
Aggravated murder and crimes against the State or humanity are capital crimes.
Aggravated murder and crimes against the State or humanity are capital crimes.
- AUGUST 4, 2011United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: RAS AL KHAIMAH KILLER HOUSEMAID TO BE EXECUTED
a criminal court in Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates sentenced Ethiopian housemaid S. Burhanu, 23, to death for robbing and murdering her Moroccan employer, 35, and her three-year-old daughter in August 2010 after an argument.