Syria
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 · Aggravated murder, aggravated rape and offenses against...
- News items in the archive
- 152
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Syria 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 152 news items on Syria, from 1999 to today.
In Syria capital punishment applies to murder, terrorism and offences against the state. International organisations have documented summary executions and mass hangings inside prisons, in particular at Saydnaya, outside any verifiable procedure.
The archive gathers the available news, distinguishing sentences handed down from extrajudicial executions.
Latest news
JUNE 10, 2013SyriaDEATH PENALTYSYRIA: TEENAGER MOHAMMAD QATAA 'EXECUTED BY ISLAMISTS FOR BLASPHEMY'
Members of an Al Qaeda-linked Islamist group in the Syrian city of Aleppo have allegedly executed a 15-year-old boy in front of his parents as punishment for what the group regarded as blasphemy.
- MAY 20, 2013SyriaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi authorities beheaded a Syrian man today after convicting him of drug trafficking, the
Saudi authorities beheaded a Syrian man today after convicting him of drug trafficking, the
MAY 6, 2013Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA EXECUTES SYRIAN DRUG TRAFFICKER
Saudi authorities beheaded a Syrian man after he was convicted of drug trafficking, the interior
APRIL 16, 2013SyriaDEATH PENALTYSYRIA: PRESIDENT’S NEW AMNESTY OFFER WAIVES DEATH PENALTY FOR WAR CRIMES
Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad has issued a general amnesty for crimes committed in the war-torn
- APRIL 2, 2013SyriaDEATH PENALTY
SYRIA: LEGISLATIVE DECREE ON KIDNAPPING CRIMES AND DUE PENALTIES
President Bashar al-Assad issued legislative decree No. 20 for the year 2013 on Kidnapping
- FEBRUARY 12, 2013Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Nabil Abu Khanjar, a Syrian, was beheaded in Al-Jawf Province after he was convicted
Nabil Abu Khanjar, a Syrian, was beheaded in Al-Jawf Province after he was convicted
- JANUARY 1, 2013SyriaDEATH PENALTY
In Syria, capital crimes are: treason; murder...
In Syria, capital crimes are: treason; murder...
- DECEMBER 14, 2012SyriaDEATH PENALTY
LEBANON: SYRIAN SENTENCED TO DEATH IN SAHEL ALMA CASE
The Syrian man convicted in the killing of a young woman at a monastery in the Kesrouan area
- OCTOBER 23, 2012SyriaDEATH PENALTY
SYRIA: PRESIDENT AL-ASSAD GRANTS GENERAL AMNESTY FOR CRIMES COMMITTED BEFORE OCTOBER 23, 2012
President Bashar al-Assad issued the legislative decree No. 71 for 2012 stipulating for granting
OCTOBER 2, 2012SyriaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: SYRIAN BEHEADED FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Syrian for drug smuggling, the interior ministry announced
- AUGUST 29, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi authorities beheaded by the sword a Syrian man in Qurrayyat
Saudi authorities beheaded by the sword a Syrian man in Qurrayyat
AUGUST 29, 2012SyriaDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: 26 EXECUTIONS IN THREE DAYS
Iraq executed 26 people convicted of terror-related charges between 27 and 29 August 2012, including a Syrian and Saudi national, a justice ministry spokesman said.
- JULY 2, 2012SyriaDEATH PENALTY
SYRIA: ASSAD ISSUES 'COUNTER-TERROR' LAWS
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued three new "counter-terrorism" laws, the official
- JUNE 26, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi authorities beheaded a Syrian national for drug smuggling, the interior ministry said.
Saudi authorities beheaded a Syrian national for drug smuggling, the interior ministry said.
JUNE 25, 2012SyriaDEATH PENALTYUAE: DEATH SENTENCE FOR SELLING POT
The Foreign Office confirmed a young British man was sentenced to death in the United Arab Emirates
- JUNE 12, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi authorities beheaded two of its nationals and a Syrian
Saudi authorities beheaded two of its nationals and a Syrian
MAY 18, 2012SyriaDEATH PENALTYSYRIA: ACTIVIST SENTENCED TO DEATH
Syrian authorities have sentenced to death for "treason" an activist who was arrested in April
- MARCH 13, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia executed a a Syrian drug smuggler...
Saudi Arabia executed a a Syrian drug smuggler...
FEBRUARY 7, 2012SyriaDEATH PENALTYBOSNIA: EUROPEAN COURT HALTS SYRIA DEPORTATION
the European Court of Human Rights decided to block Bosnia’s deportation of a Syrian
JANUARY 29, 2012SyriaDEATH PENALTYSYRIA: SENIOR ARMY DEFECTOR EXECUTED
the Syrian Association for the Defense of Human Rights claimed that soldiers from
- JANUARY 1, 2012SyriaDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: treason; murder; political acts such as bearing arms against Syria
Capital crimes are: treason; murder; political acts such as bearing arms against Syria
- DECEMBER 20, 2011SyriaDEATH PENALTY
SYRIA: NEW LAW STIPULATES DEATH FOR 'TERRORISTS'
The Syrian regime is tightening its grip around armed rebels and deserters. The official news agency SANA reported that President Bashar al-Assad, has signed a decree imposing the death penalty on anyone who 'supplies weapons or helps supply weapons to co
- SEPTEMBER 14, 2011Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Syrian national accused of drug trafficking.
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Syrian national accused of drug trafficking.
- APRIL 23, 2011YemenDEATH PENALTY
YEMENI COURT UPHOLDS DEATH PENALTY ON SYRIAN OF BRINGING DRUGS
the appeal court in Sana'a, Yemen, chaired by Judge Ahmed al-Mu'alimi...
- JANUARY 1, 2011SyriaDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: treason; murder; political acts such as bearing arms against Syria
Capital crimes are: treason; murder; political acts such as bearing arms against Syria
- DECEMBER 24, 2010SyriaDEATH PENALTY
Egypt's independent Al-Shuruq daily said a Syrian chemist...
Egypt's independent Al-Shuruq daily said a Syrian chemist...
- NOVEMBER 4, 2010SyriaDEATH PENALTY
Eliaza al-Saleh, Ahmed al-‘Abbas and Mazen Bassouni were executed...
Eliaza al-Saleh, Ahmed al-‘Abbas and Mazen Bassouni were executed...
APRIL 21, 2010SyriaDEATH PENALTYLEBANON: DEATH SENTENCES FOR TWO PALESTINIANS AND SYRIAN
in Lebanon, military investigation judge Fadi Sawan Sentenced two Palestinians
- FEBRUARY 21, 2010YemenDEATH PENALTY
YEMEN: YEMEN HANDS DOWN DEATH TO SYRIAN
the Specialised Penal Court in Yemen, chaired by Judge Muhsen Alwan, sentenced Syrian national Omer Ahmed Omer Khanto, 45, to death for amphetamine smuggling.
- JANUARY 4, 2010KuwaitDEATH PENALTY
Judge Hamoud Al-Mutawa of the Kuwaiti Criminal Court sentenced...
Judge Hamoud Al-Mutawa of the Kuwaiti Criminal Court sentenced...