Lesotho
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 · Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes
- News items in the archive
- 33
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Lesotho 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 33 news items on Lesotho, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
- JUNE 3, 2025LesothoDEATH PENALTY
13 COUNTRIES URGE LESOTHO TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY
Lesotho has been urged by 13 countries to formally abolish the death penalty, maintain its de facto moratorium on executions, and ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR-OP2), which seeks to e
NOVEMBER 11, 2022LesothoDEATH PENALTYLESOTHO: DEATH PENALTY FOR HIV RAPISTS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, TOP COURT RULES
A decision by the constitutional division of Lesotho’s High Court has found controversial provisions in that country’s sexual offences law, unconstitutional.
- JANUARY 1, 2020LesothoDEATH PENALTY
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2019LesothoDEATH PENALTY
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2018LesothoDEATH PENALTY
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2017LesothoDEATH PENALTY
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2016LesothoDEATH PENALTY
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2015LesothoDEATH PENALTY
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
- AUGUST 21, 2014LesothoDEATH PENALTY
Makhotso Molise, 47, one of the three murderers who brutally killed Senior Women Citizens
Makhotso Molise, 47, one of the three murderers who brutally killed Senior Women Citizens
- JANUARY 1, 2014LesothoDEATH PENALTY
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2013LesothoDEATH PENALTY
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2012LesothoDEATH PENALTY
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2011LesothoDEATH PENALTY
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2010LesothoDEATH PENALTY
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2009LesothoDEATH PENALTY
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2008LesothoDEATH PENALTY
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
- DECEMBER 18, 2007LesothoDEATH PENALTY
Lesotho abstained on the Resolution on a Moratorium...
Lesotho abstained on the Resolution on a Moratorium...
- JANUARY 1, 2007LesothoDEATH PENALTY
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2006LesothoDEATH PENALTY
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2005LesothoDEATH PENALTY
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
- APRIL 11, 2004LesothoDEATH PENALTY
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2003LesothoDEATH PENALTY
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes
- AUGUST 7, 2002LesothoDEATH PENALTY
Draft legislation before the Lesotho parliament providing...
Draft legislation before the Lesotho parliament providing stringent penalties for sexual offenders and child abusers proposes the death penalty for people who commit sexual offences knowing they are HIV-positive
- JANUARY 9, 2002LesothoDEATH PENALTY
The Lesotho People's Congress (LPC) member for Butha-Buthe,...
The Lesotho People's Congress (LPC) member for Butha-Buthe, Pitikoe Mohasoane angrily suggested that people found guilty of women and child abuse should be hanged without any mercy
- JANUARY 1, 2002LesothoDEATH PENALTY
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes
- DECEMBER 4, 2001LesothoDEATH PENALTY
Lesotho's proposed legislation to provide for the death...
Lesotho's proposed legislation to provide for the death sentence on men who rape knowing they are infected with Aids was published in the capital Maseru
- JANUARY 1, 2001LesothoDEATH PENALTY
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes
- FEBRUARY 8, 2000LesothoDEATH PENALTY
Private Tlala Ranchobe, one of 38 soldiers from the...
Private Tlala Ranchobe, one of 38 soldiers from the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) facing charges of mutiny went on trial
- JANUARY 1, 2000LesothoDEATH PENALTY
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes
- DECEMBER 22, 1999LesothoDEATH PENALTY
On December 22, hundreds of mourners attending American...
On December 22, hundreds of mourners attending American musician Val Pringle's memorial service near Maseru applauded Lesotho Foreign Minister Tom Thabane when he said Pringle's killers would hang