Italy
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1998
Data card
- Legal status
- Abolitionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 0
- First news item in the archive
- NOVEMBER 12, 1998 · On 12 November 1998, Kurd leader Abdullah Ocalan,...
- News items in the archive
- 712
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Italy 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 712 news items on Italy, from 1998 to today.
Italy abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in the Constitution of 1948, removed it from the military penal code of war in 1994 and, in 2007, amended article 27 of the Constitution to delete the last reference to it. Since then it has supported a universal moratorium in international forums.
The Italian news in this archive concerns above all the association's other front: conditions inside places of detention, meaning overcrowding, suicides, access to care, life imprisonment without parole and alternative measures, together with the prison visits the association carries out and publishes reports on.
Latest news
MARCH 13, 2008ItalyDEATH PENALTYGAY IRANIAN. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: NO TO EXPULSION TO IRAN
the European Parliament approved the urgent resolution promoted by the Radical
- MARCH 11, 2008United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
NETHERLANDS. DUTCH COURT REJECTS APPEAL BY GAY IRANIAN MAN
the Council of State, the Netherlands' highest administrative court, rejected an
MARCH 10, 2008ItalyDEATH PENALTYTIBET. RADICALS OPEN THE "FREE TIBET" MARCH IN DHARAMSALA AND BEGIN THE WORLD SATYAGRAHA FOR PEACE
in Dharamsala, the capital of the Tibetan Government in exile, the Non Violent
MARCH 6, 2008NetherlandsDEATH PENALTYGAY IRANIAN. 60 EURO PARLIAMENTARIANS SIGN APPEAL TO SAVE MEHDI
an appeal was signed by 60 European parliamentarians to obtain assurances on
MARCH 3, 2008NetherlandsDEATH PENALTYGAY IRANIAN. RADICALS ASK DUTCH EU REPRESENTATIVE TO INTERVENE
Radical European Parliamentarians Marco Cappato and Marco Pannella asked
- MARCH 3, 2008ItalyDEATH PENALTY
NETHERLANDS. DECISION TO REPATRIATE GAY IRANIAN POSTPONED TO MARCH 5
in Rotterdam this morning, a Dutch judge met Seyed Mehdi Kazemi, the
MARCH 3, 2008ItalyDEATH PENALTYDEATH PENALTY. RADICALS TO D’ALEMA, SPECIAL UN ENVOY NEEDED
Sergio D’Elia, Member of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission
- FEBRUARY 26, 2008NetherlandsDEATH PENALTY
NETHERLANDS. AUTHORITIES BLOCK MEHDI’S TRANSFER TO UK
the Dutch authorities blocked the transfer of gay Iranian youth Mehdi Kazemi
JANUARY 15, 2008Vatican CityDEATH PENALTYPOPE: RADICALS, BELATED INTERVENTION BY RATZINGER ON THE DEATH PENALTY AT LA SAPIENZA
Elisabetta Zamparutti, Treasurer of the Italian Radicals and of Hands Off
- JANUARY 1, 2008ItalyDEATH PENALTY
Italy became totally abolitionist in 1994, when the death penalty was abolished from the Military Codes.
Italy became totally abolitionist in 1994, when the death penalty was abolished from the Military Codes.
DECEMBER 20, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYMORATORIUM. RADICALS, THE HARD WORK STARTS NOW
“The hard work starts now. Its like signing a contract, now you have to apply it,”
- DECEMBER 18, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALIAN 'VICTORY' IN UN DEATH PENALTY VOTE
the Italian government voiced ''great satisfaction'' over the approval
- DECEMBER 18, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
Italy voted in favour of the Resolution on a Moratorium...
Italy voted in favour of the Resolution on a Moratorium...
DECEMBER 18, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYMORATORIUM. PANNELLA, IT’S A SUCCESS FOR ALL
''It is a success for everyone that, for 14 years, every day, in their own way
DECEMBER 18, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYHANDS OFF CAIN: WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE UN MORATORIUM NOW THE FOCUS GOES TO ITS IMPLEMENTATION
“After 15 years of campaigning, the approval of the moratorium on death penalty
DECEMBER 18, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYUN GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROVES RESOLUTION CALLING FOR DEATH PENALTY MORATORIUM
The U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for a moratorium on the death penalty with a view to abolishing capital punishment. The vote in the 192-member world body was 104-54 with 29 abstentions.
DECEMBER 11, 2007GabonDEATH PENALTYGABON. CONCLUSION OF HANDS OFF CAIN CONFERENCE FOR THE UN MORATORIUM ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
the conference organised by Hands Off Cain in Gabon on December 10 and 11 concluded today with the adoption of the Declaration of Libreville. The conference was held in partnership with the government of Gabon, under the patronage of President Omar Bongo
DECEMBER 3, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYUN. BONINO WORKS FOR A MAJORITY ON THE MORATORIUM
“These are weeks of big diplomatic activity to convince a majority of countries to vote YES,” Emma Bonino, Minister for Community Politics, said in Madrid.
- NOVEMBER 29, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
MORATORIUM. ITALIAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTRY, GENERAL ASSEMBLY VOTE ISN'T FOREGONE CONCLUSION
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, Pasquale Ferrara, cautioned that “vigilance is required until the
- NOVEMBER 21, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY. UN VOTE ON MORATORIUM DECEMBER 19 OR 20
the final vote by the UN General Assembly on the Moratorium on capital
- NOVEMBER 15, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
UN PANEL ADOPTS RESOLUTION CALLING FOR MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY
the Third Commission of the United Nations passed apassed a resolution calling for a moratorium on executions with the ultimate goal of eventually abolishing the practice despite fierce opposition from several members.
- NOVEMBER 12, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
NAPOLITANO: DEATH PENALTY DISCUSSED WITH QATAR EMIR
Italian president Giorgio Napolitano raised the issue of a Moratorium on the death penalty in his meeting with the emir of Qatar Al-Thani, at the head of a country whose legislation still includes the death penalty.
- NOVEMBER 4, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
a global moratorium of the death penalty isn't just an idea of a few countries...
a global moratorium of the death penalty isn't just an idea of a few countries...
- OCTOBER 29, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY. PRO MORATORIUM CAMPAIGN ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AT THE NEW YORK MARATHON
At the New York Marathon on November 4, Olympic champion Stefano Baldini will run with a ribbon to support the Italian initiative to halt global executions.
- OCTOBER 24, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. D'ELIA- EUROPE’S CONDESCENSION DOESN’T HELP RESPECT OF HUMAN RIGHTS
“It lacks consistency and credibility that countries, like Italy, support the UN Moratorium on capital
OCTOBER 19, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYDEATH PENALTY. D'ELIA, BATTLE FOR THE MORATORIUM TEST OF DEALINGS WITH GOVERNMENT
Sergio D'Elia, secretary of Hands Off Cain and Rosa nel Pugno Parliamentarian, said that the situation regarding the Universal Moratorium on capital punishment at the UN “is a cause for concern.”
OCTOBER 10, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYDEATH PENALTY. RADICALS SEEK PRO MORATORIUM MOBILISATION
the Radicals are asking for support in walking the last mile toward UN approval of the Moratorium on the death penalty by mid December. They held an outdoor press conference in Piazza Argentina, Rome, at one of the many stands used by the Radicals to col
OCTOBER 9, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYNEW YORK. APPEAL BY GLOBAL COALITION FOR MORATORIUM
the Press Conference for the Abolitionof the
- OCTOBER 2, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
the President of the Republic, Giorgio Napolitano...
the President of the Republic, Giorgio Napolitano...
SEPTEMBER 28, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYDEATH PENALTY. RADICALS ACHIEVE OBJECTIVE OF PUTTING UN MORATORIUM CAMPAIGN ON TRACK
the militant Radicals, committed to a hunger strike to support the UN Moratorium on capital punishment, have decided to suspend their non violent action.