Libya
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Retentionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 0
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · Premeditated murder, treason and offenses against the...
- News items in the archive
- 226
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Libya is classified as Retentionist 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 226 news items on Libya, from 1999 to today.
In Libya the death penalty applies to a wide list of offences and is administered within a fragmented institutional framework, with authorities and courts that do not recognise one another. The documented executions include both judicial sentences and killings carried out by armed groups.
The archive gathers what can be verified, and always names the source.
Latest news
OCTOBER 3, 2026LibyaDEATH PENALTYLibya: five sentenced to death over pregabalin smuggling
SEPTEMBER 21, 2026LibyaDEATH PENALTYLibya: dozens executed, many more at imminent risk
AUGUST 23, 2026LibyaDEATH PENALTYEastern Libya executes 10 convicted on terrorism charges
JUNE 13, 2024LibyaDEATH PENALTYLIBYA: DEATH SENTENCE FOR MAN CONVICTED OF MURDER CASE
The Misrata Criminal Court has sentenced one person to death and imprisoned three others in the case of the murder of citizen Abdul Rahman Ali Ishteiwi, Libya Observer reported on June 13, 2024.
MAY 30, 2023LibyaDEATH PENALTYLIBYA COURT SENTENCES 23 TO DEATH FOR ISIL CAMPAIGN
A Libyan court on May 29, 2023 sentenced 23 people to death and another 14 to life in prison for their role in a deadly ISIL (ISIS) campaign that included beheading a group of Egyptian Christians and seizing the city of Sirte in 2015.
DECEMBER 20, 2022LibyaDEATH PENALTYLIBYA: 17 FORMER IS MEMBERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
A Libyan court sentenced 17 former members of the Islamic State group to death, a statement from the country’s Tripoli-based top prosecutor said on 19 December 2022.
SEPTEMBER 15, 2022LibyaDEATH PENALTYLIBYAN CONVERT SENTENCED TO DEATH UNDER CONTROVERSIAL APOSTASY LAW
Libyan authorities sentenced an unidentified young man to death, according to Middle East Concern, based on a loophole in an apostasy law.
NOVEMBER 28, 2021LibyaDEATH PENALTYLIBYA: MISURATA’S MILITARY COURT SENTENCING HAFTAR TO DEATH
The permanent court-martial in Misurata sentenced in absentia on 25 November 2021 Khalifa Haftar to death for bombing Misurata Air Defense College in 2019 and causing the killing of one Libyan Army soldier.
APRIL 9, 2020LibyaDEATH PENALTYLIBYA: 1347 INMATES RELEASED FROM PRISON OVER CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS
The Ministry of Justice of the UN-backed Libyan government said on 6 April 2020 that a total of 1,347 prisoners have been released so far over the fears about the spread of COVID-19.
- JANUARY 1, 2020LibyaDEATH PENALTY
Under the penal code in force at the time of Gaddafi...
Under the penal code in force at the time of Gaddafi...
- JANUARY 1, 2019LibyaDEATH PENALTY
Under the penal code in force at the time of Gaddafi...
Under the penal code in force at the time of Gaddafi...
- JANUARY 1, 2018LibyaDEATH PENALTY
Under the penal code in force at the time of Gaddafi...
Under the penal code in force at the time of Gaddafi...
JULY 23, 2017LibyaDEATH PENALTY18 ISIL fighters executed by Haftar's forces in Libya
23 July 2017: a group of 18 suspected fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group have been executed, shot point blank in the back of the head, by the forces of General Khalifa Haftar in Libya.
JUNE 10, 2017LibyaDEATH PENALTYGaddafi son Saif al-Islam freed by Libyan militia
10 June 2017: former dictator’s son, who is wanted for war crimes, had been held since 2011 revolution in which his father was killed
FEBRUARY 21, 2017LibyaDEATH PENALTYUN: SAIF AL-ISLAM GADDAFI MUST BE HURLED BEFORE ICC
The United Nations (UN) Human Rights chief says the trial Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of former Libyan
- JANUARY 1, 2017LibyaDEATH PENALTY
Under the penal code in force at the time of Gaddafi...
Under the penal code in force at the time of Gaddafi...
- JULY 6, 2016LibyaDEATH PENALTY
LIBYA: GADDAFI'S SON RELEASED AFTER 2015 DEATH SENTENCE, LAWYER SAYS
Saif al-Islam, second son of Libya’s former ruler Muammar Gaddafi has been released after he was
FEBRUARY 12, 2016LibyaDEATH PENALTYLIBYA: DAESH EXECUTES THREE PRISONERS IN SIRTE
An armed group attributed to Daesh executed three Libyans in Sirte city.
JANUARY 21, 2016LibyaDEATH PENALTYLIBYA: THREE EXECUTED FOR STEALING AND FOUR WHIPPED FOR DRINKING ALCOHOL BY ISIS
ISIS militants in the Libyan town of Sirte have executed at least three men and whipped another for drinking
- JANUARY 1, 2016LibyaDEATH PENALTY
Under the penal code in force at the time of Gaddafi...
Under the penal code in force at the time of Gaddafi...
JULY 28, 2015LibyaDEATH PENALTYLIBYA: GADDAFI’S SON SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER WAR CRIMES
A Libyan court sentenced Muammar Gaddafi's most prominent son, Saif al-Islam, and eight others to death
- JULY 28, 2015LibyaDEATH PENALTY
LIBYA: HANDS OFF CAIN, ALSO WE RESPONSIBLE FOR SAIF GADDAFI SENTENCE
The ruling of the Libyan court "Is the undesirable effect of the decision to intervene militarily in Libya, a
- JANUARY 1, 2015LibyaDEATH PENALTY
Under the penal code in force at the time of Gaddafi...
Under the penal code in force at the time of Gaddafi...
- DECEMBER 9, 2014LibyaDEATH PENALTY
the court in Misrata has sentenced to death Salah Al-Fatouri Salah Al-Shushan, a former Qaddafi
the court in Misrata has sentenced to death Salah Al-Fatouri Salah Al-Shushan, a former Qaddafi
AUGUST 19, 2014LibyaDEATH PENALTYLIBYA: EGYPTIAN PUBLICLY EXECUTED BY ISLAMIC MILITANTS IN A FOOTBALL STADIUM
MARCH 6, 2014LibyaDEATH PENALTYGADDAFI SON FACING DEATH PENALTY AFTER EXTRADITION TO LIBYA
Saadi Gaddafi, son of the former Libyan dictator, is facing the death penalty after being handed over to
- JANUARY 1, 2014LibyaDEATH PENALTY
Under the penal code in force at the time of Gaddafi...
Under the penal code in force at the time of Gaddafi...
NOVEMBER 19, 2013LibyaDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: A LIBYAN PUT TO DEATH IN BAGHDAD
the NGO Libyan Prisoners Abroad reported that a Libyan found guilty of murder, Adel Zuwai, was
SEPTEMBER 26, 2013LibyaDEATH PENALTYLYBIA: THREE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
Three former revolutionaries were sentenced to be hanged by a Tripoli court for the murder
- AUGUST 30, 2013LibyaDEATH PENALTY
Between January and August 2013, the Zawiyah Criminal Court issued four death sentences in three separate cases, all involving murder.
Between January and August 2013, the Zawiyah Criminal Court issued four death sentences in three separate cases, all involving murder.