Germany
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 · The Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany (1949)...
- News items in the archive
- 120
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Germany 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 120 news items on Germany, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
- JUNE 28, 2008GermanyDEATH PENALTY
German politicians across the political spectrum responded...
German politicians across the political spectrum responded...
- MAY 31, 2008GermanyDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. QUR'AN CRITIC TO BE EXECUTED WITHIN DAYS
the Mullahs' regime in Iran is set to execute scholar on the history of Iran and Islam, Dr
- JANUARY 11, 2008GermanyDEATH PENALTY
GERMANY: COURT OVERTURNS NAZI VERDICT ON REICHSTAG ARSONIST
Germany's federal prosecutor overturned the guilty verdict passed on Marinus van der Lubbe...
- JANUARY 1, 2008GermanyDEATH PENALTY
The Federal Republic of Germany abolished the death penalty in 1949.
The Federal Republic of Germany abolished the death penalty in 1949.
- DECEMBER 18, 2007GermanyDEATH PENALTY
Germany voted in favour of the Resolution on a Moratorium...
Germany voted in favour of the Resolution on a Moratorium...
- JANUARY 1, 2007GermanyDEATH PENALTY
The Federal Republic of Germany abolished the death penalty in 1949.
The Federal Republic of Germany abolished the death penalty in 1949.
- APRIL 18, 2006GermanyDEATH PENALTY
GERMANY. USA AND GERMANY AGREE TO SIMPLIFY EXTRADITION PROCESS
the United States and Germany signed an accord on Tuesday aimed at speeding up extraditions, though Berlin will continue to reject requests for individuals who could be put to death, Germany's Justice Ministry said.
- JANUARY 1, 2006GermanyDEATH PENALTY
The Federal Republic of Germany abolished the death penalty in 1949.
The Federal Republic of Germany abolished the death penalty in 1949.
- APRIL 20, 2005GermanyDEATH PENALTY
Germany was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Germany was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
- JANUARY 1, 2005GermanyDEATH PENALTY
The Federal Republic of Germany abolished the death penalty in 1949.
The Federal Republic of Germany abolished the death penalty in 1949.
- SEPTEMBER 2, 2004GermanyDEATH PENALTY
Germany refused to pass on evidence to the US that...
Germany refused to pass on evidence to the US that could lead to the death penalty being invoked against the so-called 20th hijacker
- JULY 5, 2004GermanyDEATH PENALTY
Chairwoman of the German Green Party, Angelika Beer,...
Chairwoman of the German Green Party, Angelika Beer, came out against the death penalty for overthrown Iraqi dictator Saddam Husayn
- JULY 1, 2004GermanyDEATH PENALTY
Baghdad's decision to re-establish the death penalty...
Baghdad's decision to re-establish the death penalty ahead of the war crimes trial of Saddam Hussein evoked a mixed reaction in Europe, recalling the split across the continent over the war that toppled the Iraqi leader
- MAY 8, 2004GermanyDEATH PENALTY
An Omani court referred its secret verdict on a German...
An Omani court referred its secret verdict on a German woman physiotherapist, Dana Gerlish, and her alleged lover, a wheelchair-bound Omani, to the grand mufti, normal procedure for death sentences, a court source said
- MAY 5, 2004GermanyDEATH PENALTY
Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer expressed Germany's...
Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer expressed Germany's dismay over the confirmation of a death sentence ordered against a dissident Iranian academic Hashem Aghajari
- APRIL 21, 2004GermanyDEATH PENALTY
Germany was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the...
Germany was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 60th UN Commission on Human Rights
- APRIL 7, 2004GermanyDEATH PENALTY
The Federal Republic of Germany abolished the death penalty in 1949.
The Federal Republic of Germany abolished the death penalty in 1949.
- MARCH 17, 2004GermanyDEATH PENALTY
During his state visit to Nigeria, German President...
During his state visit to Nigeria, German President Johannes Rau criticised the fact that Islamic law was applied in the north of the country
- DECEMBER 18, 2003GermanyDEATH PENALTY
Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said that Germany...
Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said that Germany would oppose any decision to execute fallen Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, after talks with leaders of Iraq's interim Governing Council
- OCTOBER 18, 2003GermanyDEATH PENALTY
Thousands of Iranians demonstrated in the German city...
Thousands of Iranians demonstrated in the German city of Dortmund in support of the leader of the Iranian opposition movement, the People's Mujahedeen, under investigation in France over alleged terrorist links
- JULY 21, 2003GermanyDEATH PENALTY
A German court approved the extradition of Mohammed...
A German court approved the extradition of Mohammed Ali Hassan al-Moayad, a Yemeni cleric, and his assistant, Mohammed Mohsen Yahya Zayed, to face charges in the United States of supplying weapons, militants and millions of dollars in funding to the al-Qa
- APRIL 24, 2003GermanyDEATH PENALTY
Germany was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the...
Germany was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights, in Geneva
- JANUARY 1, 2003GermanyDEATH PENALTY
The Federal Republic of Germany abolished the death...
The Federal Republic of Germany abolished the death penalty in 1949
- JANUARY 1, 2003GermanyDEATH PENALTY
Germany has signed but not yet ratified Protocol No...
Germany has signed but not yet ratified Protocol No 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms banning the death penalty in all circumstances
- JANUARY 1, 2003GermanyDEATH PENALTY
In 1999 Germany filed a case with the International...
In 1999 Germany filed a case with the International Court of Justice against the United States for violating the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963 by not informing its consular officials of the arrest and murder convictions of two German-bor
- OCTOBER 29, 2002GermanyDEATH PENALTY
The Stop the death penalty through Internet campaign...
The Stop the death penalty through Internet campaign launch in Nuremberg was attended by city mayor Horst Förther (SPD), Elisabetta Zamparutti; HOC Board Member , Emma Bonino, MEP, Sophia Hedmark, Miss Sweden World and Peter Beat of the Pocket Opera Compa
- OCTOBER 23, 2002GermanyDEATH PENALTY
The federal government basically supports Turkey in...
The federal government basically supports Turkey in its efforts to get accepted into the EU
- OCTOBER 22, 2002GermanyDEATH PENALTY
Mounir Motassadeq's trial, a 28-year-old Moroccan who...
Mounir Motassadeq's trial, a 28-year-old Moroccan who has acknowledged knowing the hijackers, detained in Hamburg, could test the extent of U
- OCTOBER 22, 2002GermanyDEATH PENALTY
Mounir Motassadeq's trial, a 28-year-old Moroccan who...
Mounir Motassadeq's trial, a 28-year-old Moroccan who has acknowledged knowing the hijackers, detained in Hamburg, could test the extent of U
- SEPTEMBER 16, 2002GermanyDEATH PENALTY
Pakistan said it was prepared to extradite key al Qaeda...
Pakistan said it was prepared to extradite key al Qaeda suspect Ramzi Binalshibh to the United States after completing its own investigations and legal formalities