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
- 150
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 150 news items on Syria, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
- OCTOBER 20, 2009SyriaDEATH PENALTY
SYRIA: COALITION AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY FOUNDED
the Palestinian newspaper al Quds al Arabi reported the founding and subsequent announcement by the
- OCTOBER 6, 2009SyriaDEATH PENALTY
SYRIA. TWO PUBLIC HANGINGS IN ALEPPO IN SEPTEMBER
two men were hanged on September 3 in Aleppo, Syria, for armed robbery and murder, according to a foreign witness.
- JUNE 27, 2009ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALY-SYRIA: AL MOLKY EXPULSION, “THEY ARE SENDING ME TO MY DEATH”
Maged Al Molky, the captain of the Palestinian commandos that hijacked the Achille Lauro in 1985 and killed an American citizen, was expelled from Italy and sent to Syria where he risks being sentenced to death.
MARCH 31, 2009SyriaDEATH PENALTYSYRIA: THREE MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDERING DIPLOMAT
a court in Damascus, Syria, sentenced three men to death after finding them guilty of murdering a "senior diplomat" from an unidentified country's embassy, a Syrian newspaper reported.
- JANUARY 1, 2009SyriaDEATH 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 23, 2008EgyptDEATH PENALTY
an Egyptian court sentenced three Syrian men to death by hanging for trafficking heroin and opium
an Egyptian court sentenced three Syrian men to death by hanging for trafficking heroin and opium
- JUNE 25, 2008SyriaDEATH PENALTY
the Committee for the Monitoring of the Syrian Society and Human...
the Committee for the Monitoring of the Syrian Society and Human Rights stated that the Syrian authorities had executed the civil engineer Yasser al-Sakka, born in Aleppo in year 1970, married with two children, nearly a month before, without any prior ed
- JUNE 6, 2008SyriaDEATH PENALTY
SPAIN TO EXTRADITE SUSPECTED ARMS DEALER TO US
The Spanish government authorised the extradition to the United States of a suspected Syrian
- APRIL 29, 2008Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
LEBANON'S AL-MANAR TV REPORTS SYRIAN PROTESTS OVER SAUDI EXECUTIONS
the families of Syrian prisoners and inmates being held in Saudi Arabia staged a sit-in in front of the Saudi Embassy in Damascus for the third time.
- APRIL 28, 2008Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI SAYS BEHEADINGS OF SYRIANS NOT POLITICAL
Saudi Arabian Justice Minister Abdullah al-Sheikh said there was nothing political behind recent beheadings of Syrians in the ultra-conservative kingdom, amid strained ties between the two countries.
- APRIL 25, 2008Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI BEHEADS PAKISTANIS, SYRIAN FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
two Pakistanis and a Syrian convicted of smuggling drugs were beheaded by the
- APRIL 21, 2008Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA SENTENCES 30 SYRIANS TO DEATH - ACTIVISTS
Saudi Arabia sentenced to death at least 30 Syrians in recent months for alleged
- APRIL 18, 2008Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
two Syrian men convicted of drug trafficking were beheaded by the sword in
two Syrian men convicted of drug trafficking were beheaded by the sword in
- APRIL 1, 2008LebanonDEATH PENALTY
SYRIA. SEVEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG DEALING
a Syrian court sentenced four Syrians, two Turkish and one Lebanese to death for
- JANUARY 1, 2008SyriaDEATH 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 18, 2007SyriaDEATH PENALTY
Syria voted against the Resolution on a Moratorium...
Syria voted against the Resolution on a Moratorium...
- OCTOBER 25, 2007SyriaDEATH PENALTY
SYRIA. FIVE YOUTHS HANGED IN PUBLIC SQUARE
Syria executed five youths by hanging in a public square after they were
- SEPTEMBER 30, 2007SyriaDEATH PENALTY
SYRIA: DEATH SENTENCE FOR BELONGING TO EXTREMIST ISLAMIC GROUP COMMUTED
Syria's State Security Court sentenced Ali Ahmad al-Ajeel, a Syrian national, to 12 years in jail after initially ordering him to be sentenced to death for belonging to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, the National Organization for Human Rights in Syria s
- MAY 23, 2007United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
a man who beat his wife to death has had his death penalty commuted...
a man who beat his wife to death has had his death penalty commuted...
- JANUARY 1, 2007SyriaDEATH 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 26, 2006Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ HANDS DEATH SENTENCE TO THREE 'FOREIGN FIGHTERS'
an Iraqi court sentenced a Saudi, a Syrian and a Sudanese to death after finding them guilty of Al-Qaeda related terrorist offences, the US-led coalition in Iraq said.
- DECEMBER 7, 2006JordanDEATH PENALTY
JORDAN. FOUR SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER US SHIP ATTACK
a Jordanian military tribunal condemned to death three Syrian nationals and an Iraqi in connection with a rocket attack on US warships that killed a Jordanian soldier.
- JUNE 25, 2006SyriaDEATH PENALTY
SYRIA. COURT COMMUTES MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD MEMBER'S DEATH SENTENCE
a Syrian court sentenced a member of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood to death, but then commuted the verdict to a 12-year prison term, The National Organization for Human Rights in Syria said
- MARCH 16, 2006SyriaDEATH PENALTY
SYRIA. DISSIDENT LABWANI COULD BE SENTENCED TO DEATH, LAWYER
the Syrian dissident and founder of the Liberal Unionist Party Dr Kamal Al Labwani may be sentenced to hard labour or even death if the court accepts the accusations against him, said his lawyer Anwar Al Bana.
- JANUARY 1, 2006SyriaDEATH 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
- JUNE 15, 2005SyriaDEATH PENALTY
SYRIA. HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS ASK FOR DEMOCRATIC REFORMS AND THE ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY
the Committee for the Defense of Democratic Liberties and Human Rights in Syria (CDF) addressed a letter to an EU delegation visiting the country advancing proposals for the improvement of human rights and civil society in Syria.
- JANUARY 1, 2005SyriaDEATH 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 30, 2004SyriaDEATH PENALTY
Ahmad Shlash Hassan and Ezzo Hussein al-Hussein, both Syrian nationals, were sentenced to death
Ahmad Shlash Hassan and Ezzo Hussein al-Hussein, both Syrian nationals, were sentenced to death
- AUGUST 29, 2004SyriaDEATH PENALTY
The Higher State Security Court in Damascus, Syria,...
The Higher State Security Court in Damascus, Syria, sentenced a group Kurdish detainees to several years in prison and sentenced to death a detainee charged with affiliation to the banned "Muslim Brotherhood" group in Syria
- APRIL 12, 2004SyriaDEATH 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