France
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 · France has been abolitionist since 1981
- News items in the archive
- 161
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
France 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 161 news items on France, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
APRIL 7, 2026FranceDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris Leave Iran for France
- FEBRUARY 3, 2026FranceDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIAN COURT ACQUITS FRENCH MAN FACING POSSIBLE DEATH PENALTY ON DRUG CHARGES
A French national facing a possible death penalty in Malaysia on eight drug-related charges was acquitted on February 3, 2026, freeing him after nearly two and a half years in detention.
- JULY 30, 2025FranceDEATH PENALTY
FRANCE: SERGE ATLAOUI RELEASED AFTER YEARS ON INDONESIA DEATH ROW
A Frenchman who spent almost two decades on death row in Indonesia over drug offences before being returned to France left prison on July 18, 2025 after being granted a conditional release.
- FEBRUARY 13, 2025FranceDEATH PENALTY
REPATRIATED FRENCHMAN'S INDONESIA DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED TO 30 YEARS IN PRISON
A Frenchman reprieved after 18 years on death row in Indonesia on drug offenses will have to serve 30 years in jail after being repatriated last week, a French court ruled February 12, 2025.
- FEBRUARY 6, 2025FranceDEATH PENALTY
FRENCHMAN ATLAOUI RETURNS TO PARIS AFTER REPRIEVE FROM DEATH ROW IN INDONESIA
A Frenchman reprieved after 18 years on death row in Indonesia for alleged drug offences landed back in France on February 5, 2025, an airport source said.
JANUARY 14, 2025FranceDEATH PENALTYIRAN - French Citizen Olivier Grondeau Imprisoned in Iran
3rd Frenche citized deteined in Iran on vague charges
- DECEMBER 4, 2024FranceDEATH PENALTY
FRANCE REQUESTS TRANSFER OF DEATH ROW CONVICT HELD IN INDONESIA
France has asked Indonesia to transfer a French death row convict, who has been jailed for drug crimes in the country since 2005, a senior minister told AFP on November 29, 2024.
- FEBRUARY 11, 2024FranceDEATH PENALTY
ROBERT BADINTER, WHO ABOLISHED DEATH PENALTY IN FRANCE, DIES AT 95
Former French justice minister Robert Badinter, who abolished capital punishment in France in 1981, has died at the age of 95, one of his aides told local media on February 9, 2024.
JULY 9, 2022BelgiumDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Belgium. What Lessons Can Belgium Learn That France Never Did?
More on the Assadi case
MAY 16, 2020FranceDEATH PENALTYIRAN - French-Iranian academic Fariba Adelkhah sentenced to six years in prison
IRAN - French-Iranian academic Fariba Adelkhah sentenced to six years in prison
FEBRUARY 10, 2020FranceDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: FRENCH JIHADISTS APPEAL TO UN TO AVOID DEATH PENALTY
Five French jihadists sentenced to death in Iraq have appealed to the UN to pressure France to bring them home, their lawyer has said, adding they were suffering inhumane treatment.
- JANUARY 1, 2020FranceDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in France on September 9...
The death penalty was abolished in France on September 9...
- SEPTEMBER 18, 2019FranceDEATH PENALTY
UN EXPERT URGES FRANCE TO TRY NATIONALS ON DEATH ROW IN IRAQ
A U.N. human rights expert on 12 August 2019 called on the French government to repatriate and try seven French nationals sentenced to death on terror charges in Iraq.
- JUNE 9, 2019FranceDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ OFFERS TO COMMUTE DEATH SENTENCES OF FRENCH ISIL MEMBERS FOR 'MILLIONS OF EUROS'
Iraq is reportedly demanding money from France in return for commuting death sentences passed on 11 French jihadists to life imprisonment, according to the conservative newspaper Le Figaro.
- MAY 28, 2019FranceDEATH PENALTY
FRANCE SAYS IT OPPOSES DEATH PENALTY AS FOUR FRENCH SENTENCED IN IRAQ
France opposes the death penalty in principle but accepts Iraqi sovereignty, its foreign ministry said on 27 May 2019, as a fourth French citizen was sentenced to death in Iraq for being part of the Islamic State militant group.
MAY 21, 2019FranceDEATH PENALTYINDONESIA: FRENCHMAN FELIX DORFIN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A Frenchman arrested in Indonesia with nearly 4kg of drugs in his luggage was sentenced to death for drug trafficking.
- JANUARY 1, 2019FranceDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in France on September 9...
The death penalty was abolished in France on September 9...
- JANUARY 28, 2018FranceDEATH PENALTY
FRANCE ‘WILL INTERVENE’ IF JIHADIST NATIONALS SENTENCED TO DEATH IN MIDDLE EAST
France said it “will intervene” if its nationals are sentenced to death in Iraq or Syria for belonging to jihadist groups.
- JANUARY 1, 2018FranceDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in France on September 9...
The death penalty was abolished in France on September 9...
- JANUARY 1, 2017FranceDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in France on September 9...
The death penalty was abolished in France on September 9...
- JANUARY 1, 2016FranceDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in France on September 9...
The death penalty was abolished in France on September 9...
- JUNE 23, 2015FranceDEATH PENALTY
FRANCE DOING EVERYTHING IT CAN TO SAVE SERGE FROM EXECUTION
- JANUARY 1, 2015FranceDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in France on September 9...
The death penalty was abolished in France on September 9...
- JANUARY 1, 2014FranceDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in France on September 9...
The death penalty was abolished in France on September 9...
- DECEMBER 4, 2013BeninDEATH PENALTY
a French appeal court ruled against the extradition of Beninese businessman Patrice Talon, who is accused
a French appeal court ruled against the extradition of Beninese businessman Patrice Talon, who is accused
- JANUARY 1, 2013FranceDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in France on September 9...
The death penalty was abolished in France on September 9...
- OCTOBER 10, 2012AustriaDEATH PENALTY
six countries joined forces to call for the
six countries joined forces to call for the "complete abolition" of the death penalty worldwide.
- JANUARY 1, 2012FranceDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in France on September 9...
The death penalty was abolished in France on September 9...
- JANUARY 1, 2011FranceDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in France on September 9...
The death penalty was abolished in France on September 9...
- AUGUST 7, 2010ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: FRENCH CITIZEN GETS DEATH FOR DRUG TRADE IN CHINA
Chinese-born French citizen Chan Thao Phoumy, 47, and Xie Weiming, were sentenced to death by the Intermediate People's Court in Guangzhou, China Daily reported.