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
JULY 31, 2013LibyaDEATH PENALTYLIBYA: GADDAFI MINISTER SENTENCED TO DEATH
A criminal court in the western city of Misrata, Libya, has sentenced a Gaddafi-era education
- JUNE 5, 2013LibyaDEATH PENALTY
the Misrata Military Court sentenced to death two soldiers loyal to Mummar Gaddafi’s regime, who opened
the Misrata Military Court sentenced to death two soldiers loyal to Mummar Gaddafi’s regime, who opened
- MARCH 13, 2013LibyaDEATH PENALTY
LIBYA: TOBRUK BANK ROBBERS CONDEMNED TO DEATH
Five men found guilty of killing four staff of the Tobruk branch of the Bank of North Africa
FEBRUARY 17, 2013LibyaDEATH PENALTYLIBYA: 'MISSIONARIES' COULD FACE DEATH
Libyan officials said they arrested four foreigners on suspicion of dispensing Christian
- JANUARY 1, 2013LibyaDEATH PENALTY
Under the penal code in force at the time of Gaddafi...
Under the penal code in force at the time of Gaddafi...
- NOVEMBER 27, 2012LibyaDEATH PENALTY
twelve men are facing mutilation and execution, in Libya...
twelve men are facing mutilation and execution, in Libya...
NOVEMBER 8, 2012LibyaDEATH PENALTYLIBYA: FIVE OFFICERS OF GHADDAFI'S ARMY SENTENCED TO DEATH
A military court in Benghazi, Libya, has sentenced to death in absentia five soldiers of the murdered
OCTOBER 10, 2012LibyaDEATH PENALTYKADHAFI SON 'WOULD BE HANGED IN LIBYA'
Moamer Kadhafi's son Seif al-Islam without a doubt would get a death sentence
- SEPTEMBER 5, 2012MauritaniaDEATH PENALTY
Libya's most-wanted man, former intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi
Libya's most-wanted man, former intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi
- JUNE 24, 2012LibyaDEATH PENALTY
Tunisia extradited Libya's former prime minister Al-Baghdadi
Tunisia extradited Libya's former prime minister Al-Baghdadi
- FEBRUARY 15, 2012LibyaDEATH PENALTY
AMNESTY: LIBYAN MILITIAS TORTURE GADHAFI LOYALISTS, UPROOT RIVAL COMMUNITIES
Armed militias now rule much of Libya, Amnesty International said, accusing them of torturing
- JANUARY 1, 2012LibyaDEATH PENALTY
A large number of offences, including political offences and economic “crimes” are punishable by death.
A large number of offences, including political offences and economic “crimes” are punishable by death.
NOVEMBER 19, 2011LibyaDEATH PENALTYLIBYA: SAIF GADDAFI COULD FACE DEATH PENALTY - MINISTER
Saif al-Islam Gaddafi will be put on trial in Libya for serious crimes that carry
OCTOBER 25, 2011LibyaDEATH PENALTYLIBYA: APPARENT EXECUTION OF 53 GADDAFI SUPPORTERS
Fifty-three people, apparent Gaddafi supporters, seem to have been executed at a hotel
OCTOBER 20, 2011ItalyDEATH PENALTYBONINO: GADDAFI DEATH DENIES JUSTICE
“Gaddafi did not deserve a "beautiful death" in battle, but a "beautiful trial": a fair trial by
OCTOBER 20, 2011ItalyDEATH PENALTYPANNELLA ON THE DEATH/ASSASSINATION OF GADDAFI: HE CANNOT BE TAKEN TO THE HAGUE TO TESTIFY ABOUT THE GREATEST CRIME IN THE WORLD IN THE LAST TWENTY YEARS
regarding the death of Gaddafi, Marco Pannella, the leader of the Non Violent Radical Party, Transnational and Transparty (PRNTT) and Hands Off Cain President, said:
- JANUARY 1, 2011LibyaDEATH PENALTY
A large number of offences, including political offences and economic “crimes” are punishable by death.
A large number of offences, including political offences and economic “crimes” are punishable by death.
SEPTEMBER 22, 2010LibyaDEATH PENALTYLYBIA: EIGHT GHANAIANS FACE EXECUTION
eight Ghanaian nationals may be executed by firing squad in Libya any time, newspaper
MAY 30, 2010NigeriaDEATH PENALTYLIBYA: 18 PEOPLE EXECUTED BY FIRING SQUAD
eighteen people including nationals of Nigeria, Chad and Egypt were executed in Libya after being convicted of premeditated murder, Libya's online Qurina news website reported.
- APRIL 19, 2010GhanaDEATH PENALTY
LIBYA: KOFI NTI AWAITS EXECUTION IN LIBYA
Kofi Nti, a 26-year old Ghanaian from Techiman-Forikrom is awaiting execution in Libya after being sentenced to death in 2004 on suspicion of being involved in the murder of a Zimbabwean.
- JANUARY 1, 2010LibyaDEATH PENALTY
A large number of offences, including political offences and economic “crimes” are punishable by death.
A large number of offences, including political offences and economic “crimes” are punishable by death.
- NOVEMBER 24, 2009LibyaDEATH PENALTY
LIBYA TO ALLOW NGOS, LIMIT DEATH PENALTY: MAGISTRATE
Abdelrahman Boutouta, the head of a legal committee tasked with amending Libya's penal code, told
OCTOBER 1, 2009NigeriaDEATH PENALTYLIBYA HALTS EXECUTION OF NIGERIANS ON DEATH ROW
Libyan authorities agreed to stay the execution of the approximately 200 Nigerians on death row pending a
- SEPTEMBER 16, 2009LibyaDEATH PENALTY
ALGERIA: JUSTICE MINISTER THANKS LIBYAN LEADER FOR PARDONING PRISONERS
Minister of State for Justice and Keeper of the Seals Tayeb Belaiz has expressed Algeria's appreciation for
- SEPTEMBER 8, 2009LibyaDEATH PENALTY
the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights said that Egyptian nationals Hijazi Ahmad Zaydan, Haytham al-
the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights said that Egyptian nationals Hijazi Ahmad Zaydan, Haytham al-
- SEPTEMBER 8, 2009LibyaDEATH PENALTY
the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights said that 5 of the 35 Egyptians on death row in al-Kwafiyah
the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights said that 5 of the 35 Egyptians on death row in al-Kwafiyah
SEPTEMBER 8, 2009LibyaDEATH PENALTYLIBYA: THREE EGYPTIANS EXECUTED
the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights said that Egyptian nationals Hijazi Ahmad Zaydan, Haytham al-
- AUGUST 30, 2009NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: ALANA WRITES TO AL-GADDAFI OVER NIGERIANS
Lagos lawyer Femi Falana urged Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi to order a stay of execution for all Nigerians on death row in his country.
AUGUST 24, 2009ItalyDEATH PENALTYITALY-LIBYA: ITALIAN 'FRECCE TRICOLORI' CELEBRATE DICTATORSHIP - D'ELIA
'The economic cost of flying the Italian “Frecce Tricolore” in Libya may be ridiculous, but the political cost
- AUGUST 14, 2009LibyaDEATH PENALTY
RELATIVES REVEAL NIGERIANS EXECUTED IN LIBYA
between 32 and 40 black Africans, mainly Nigerians, were secretly executed in Libya despite a denial by the Libyan presidency, a Nigerian House of Representatives source said.