Türkiye
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1998
Data card
- Legal status
- Abolitionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 0
- First news item in the archive
- NOVEMBER 12, 1998 · On November 12, 1998, Kurd leader Abdullah Ocalan was...
- News items in the archive
- 376
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Türkiye is classified as Abolitionist 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 376 news items on Türkiye, from 1998 to today.
Latest news
FEBRUARY 18, 2026TürkiyeDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Morteza Amiri and Shahrbanou Beykramiani could be deported from Turkey to Iran.
Turkey has a troubling tradition of collaboration with Iran.
JULY 14, 2022TürkiyeDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Instagram Star Milad Hatemi Faces Death Penalty Over Betting Sites
JULY 7, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Turkey. Abdul Wahab Kocak Sentenced To Life In Prison
Accused Of Killing Iranian Dissident In Turkey
- FEBRUARY 15, 2021TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Iran Denies Citizen Detained In Turkey Is A Consulate Employee
Involved in the murder of a dissident
- FEBRUARY 12, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Another Iranian Diplomat Arrested for Terror
In Turkey, for murder of an Iranian dissident
JANUARY 14, 2021ChinaDEATH PENALTYEXTRADITION TREATY BETWEEN TURKEY, CHINA ENDANGERS UIGHUR REFUGEES
The Uighur community in Turkey could be in jeopardy after a recent agreement was reached between Turkey and China, Voice Of America (VOA) wrote on 7 January 2021.
NOVEMBER 1, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Habib Alaswad extradited from Turkey.
IRAN - Habib Alaswad extradited from Turkey.
AUGUST 5, 2020AlgeriaDEATH PENALTYTURKEY EXTRADITES OFFICER BEHIND LEAKED MILITARY SECRETS TO ALGERIA
Turkey extradited a fugitive military officer who was allegedly behind a high-profile leak in the Algerian army, reports said on 4 August 2020.
- JANUARY 1, 2020TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been fully abolished by a package of constitutional and legislative amendments.
The death penalty has been fully abolished by a package of constitutional and legislative amendments.
FEBRUARY 15, 2019EgyptDEATH PENALTYTURKEY DEPORTS 28-YEAR-OLD EGYPTIAN WHO FACES DEATH PENALTY AT HOME
Turkey is investigating the deportation of an Egyptian citizen to Cairo after he reportedly sought asylum upon his arrival to Istanbul’s Ataturk airport last month, officials told Middle East Eye on 5 February 2019
- JANUARY 1, 2019TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been fully abolished by a package of constitutional and legislative amendments.
The death penalty has been fully abolished by a package of constitutional and legislative amendments.
- JANUARY 1, 2018TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been fully abolished by a package of constitutional and legislative amendments.
The death penalty has been fully abolished by a package of constitutional and legislative amendments.
OCTOBER 4, 2017TürkiyeDEATH PENALTYTURKEY SENTENCES 42 TO LIFE OVER PLOT TO KILL ERDOGAN
A Turkish court found 42 former soldiers guilty of trying to kill President Tayyip Erdogan during last year’s failed coup, and handed most of them life sentences in the highest profile case related to the attempted putsch so far.
MAY 9, 2017GermanyDEATH PENALTYMERKEL ANNOUNCES THAT TURKS IN GERMANY 'FORBIDDEN' TO VOTE ON DEATH PENALTY
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Turks living in Germany won’t be allowed to vote in a possible referendum on restoring the death penalty in Turkey.
- APRIL 16, 2017TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
TURKEY: ERDOGAN SAYS COULD HOLD REFERENDUM ON DEATH PENALTY
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he could hold a referendum on reinstating the death penalty, after claiming victory in the vote on a new constitution that gives him greater powers, reported AFP.
- JANUARY 1, 2017TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been fully abolished by a package of constitutional and legislative amendments.
The death penalty has been fully abolished by a package of constitutional and legislative amendments.
JULY 18, 2016Council of EuropeDEATH PENALTYCOUNCIL OF EUROPE WARNS TURKEY NOT TO REVIVE DEATH SENTENCE
The Council of Europe warned Turkey that restoring capital punishment after an attempted coup would be
- JULY 16, 2016TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
TURKEY MIGHT RE-INTRODUCE THE DEATH PENALTY TO DEAL WITH COUP PLOTTERS
Turkey’s Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the death penalty might be re-introduced to deal with the instigators of the failed coup on the government.
- JANUARY 1, 2016TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been fully abolished by a package of constitutional and legislative amendments.
The death penalty has been fully abolished by a package of constitutional and legislative amendments.
FEBRUARY 16, 2015TürkiyeDEATH PENALTYTURKEY: EU AFFAIRS MINISTER REFUSES RETURN OF DEATH PENALTY
Personal feelings and the reactions of a state should be separate, Turkey's EU affairs minister said regarding
- JANUARY 1, 2015TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been fully abolished by a package of constitutional and legislative amendments.
The death penalty has been fully abolished by a package of constitutional and legislative amendments.
- NOVEMBER 20, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Turkish man convicted of drug trafficking, the interior ministry said
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Turkish man convicted of drug trafficking, the interior ministry said
- JANUARY 1, 2014TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been fully abolished by a package of constitutional and legislative amendments.
The death penalty has been fully abolished by a package of constitutional and legislative amendments.
- JANUARY 1, 2013TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been fully abolished by a package of constitutional and legislative amendments.
The death penalty has been fully abolished by a package of constitutional and legislative amendments.
- NOVEMBER 13, 2012TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
TURKEY: REINSTATING DEATH PENALTY NOT ON JUSTICE MINISTRY’S AGENDA
Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin insisted that his ministry has no intention of reinstating the death penalty despite strong suggestions by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan that capital punishment could return to Turkey.
- NOVEMBER 11, 2012TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
TURKEY: ANKARA COULD BRING BACK DEATH PENALTY
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara would consider bringing back capital punishment in terror related crimes, a decade after it abolished the practice.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2012IraqDEATH PENALTYTURKEY REFUSES TO EXTRADITE FUGITIVE IRAQI VICE PREZ
Turkey today said it won't extradite Iraq's fugitive vice president Tareq al-Hashemi, who
- JANUARY 1, 2012TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been fully abolished by a package of constitutional and legislative amendments.
The death penalty has been fully abolished by a package of constitutional and legislative amendments.
- MARCH 31, 2011TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
TURKEY: PM SAYS GOV’T NOT CONTEMPLATING RETURN OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said the return of capital punishment is “not on
- MARCH 29, 2011TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
TURKISH POLITICIANS DEBATE DEATH PENALTY
capital punishment should remain within Turkey's legal codes whether it is implemented or not...