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
- DECEMBER 6, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The Council of Europe Human Rights Representative Alvaro...
The Council of Europe Human Rights Representative Alvaro Gil-Robles said that the Council of Europe was aware of the fact that a very important period started in Turkey
- NOVEMBER 27, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
A state security court in Izmir sentenced to death...
A state security court in Izmir sentenced to death three leftist militants convicted of acts of terror - the first such judgment since parliament passed in October a law lifting the death penalty for most crimes
- NOVEMBER 22, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
A prominent Islamist in prison in Germany has foregone...
A prominent Islamist in prison in Germany has foregone his privilege of early release, reportedly because he fears deportation to Turkey, where he may face the death sentence
- NOVEMBER 13, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said that Turkey...
Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said that Turkey needs to take action as soon as possible to remedy shortcomings pointed out in the recent EU report on Turkey's progress towards membership
- NOVEMBER 13, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The European Union welcomed Turkish steps towards expanding...
The European Union welcomed Turkish steps towards expanding civil liberties, but said in its progress report on candidates that the reforms far from guarantee freedoms required for membership in the bloc
- OCTOBER 31, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The German government said it hoped to deport a Turkish-born...
The German government said it hoped to deport a Turkish-born Islamic fundamentalist leader after he completed his sentence, provided Turkey gives assurances he won't face the death penalty
- OCTOBER 26, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The European Parliament called on Turkey to ban the...
The European Parliament called on Turkey to ban the death penalty as part of constitutional reforms aimed at bolstering its campaign to join the EU
- OCTOBER 23, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The European Union welcomed candidate country Turkey's...
The European Union welcomed candidate country Turkey's approval of constitutional reforms but urged Ankara to show more flexibility over Cyprus
- OCTOBER 18, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
Thousands of people - mostly women wearing national...
Thousands of people - mostly women wearing national costumes and youths - welcomed the leaders of the Kurdish based People's Democracy Party, HADEP, at the foot of the Agri mountain shouting "No to the death penalty"
- OCTOBER 9, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
Analysing Turkey's constitutional changes the Economist...
Analysing Turkey's constitutional changes the Economist Intelligence Unit said that though "the death penalty is to be abolished for ordinary crimes, it will stay in place for those committed in the course of terrorism or in a war - a restriction tailored
- OCTOBER 7, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The number of death sentence files awaiting to be taken...
The number of death sentence files awaiting to be taken up by the Parliamentary Justice Commission reached 61
- OCTOBER 4, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
Many analysts are sceptical that the amended constitution...
Many analysts are sceptical that the amended constitution would lead to dramatic changes
- OCTOBER 4, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The Council of Europe commended Turkey for its constitutional...
The Council of Europe commended Turkey for its constitutional reforms, but said the country's refusal to abolish the death penalty remained a roadblock in its campaign to join the EU
- SEPTEMBER 26, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The Turkish Parliament voted to change several articles...
The Turkish Parliament voted to change several articles of the constitution, including restricting the death penalty to crimes of terrorism, in times of war and close threat of war
- SEPTEMBER 24, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
Turkish MPs opened debate on abolishing the death penalty...
Turkish MPs opened debate on abolishing the death penalty and making far-reaching constitutional reforms to boost their drive to join the EU
- SEPTEMBER 20, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The Parliamentary Constitution Commission passed an...
The Parliamentary Constitution Commission passed an amendment bill proposing changes in 37 articles in the current Constitution
- SEPTEMBER 6, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
A top Turkish judge, Appeals Court chief judge Sami...
A top Turkish judge, Appeals Court chief judge Sami Selcuk, said the country should draw up a new constitution instead of "wasting time" amending the present charter to bring it into line with European Union standards
- SEPTEMBER 6, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The constitutional amendment bill been presented to...
The constitutional amendment bill been presented to the Parliament Chairmanship proposes a number of changes in capital punishment, freedom of thought, political party closures and the authority of the President
- SEPTEMBER 3, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
Mohamed Aly Abbas, a Turkish national suspected of...
Mohamed Aly Abbas, a Turkish national suspected of killing Briton Edgar Fernandes was extradited from Malta to Turkey
- AUGUST 1, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
Izmir Forestry Regional Directorate's Protection Branch...
Izmir Forestry Regional Directorate's Protection Branch Director Ilhami Alkan said that people who burned down forests for terrorist purposes would be sentenced to 24-30 years in prison and would be fined TL 34
- JULY 6, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
Turkish officials unveiled a new penal code that abolishes...
Turkish officials unveiled a new penal code that abolishes the death penalty and eliminates laws under which intellectuals and politicians were jailed for expressing opinions contrary to official government policy
- JULY 3, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The Court of Cassation upheld the death sentences given...
The Court of Cassation upheld the death sentences given to 31 Moslem activists accused of participating in an Islamist riot in 1993 in which 37 people were killed
- JUNE 21, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
Council of Europe Secretary General Walter Scwimmer...
Council of Europe Secretary General Walter Scwimmer asked Turkey and Russia to sign European Convention of Human Rights protocol no
- JUNE 15, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The All-Party Parliamentary Accord Commission had reached...
The All-Party Parliamentary Accord Commission had reached a consensus on 37 of 51 proposed constitutional amendments
- JUNE 11, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The Human Rights Association Istanbul Branch demonstrated...
The Human Rights Association Istanbul Branch demonstrated in protest of the execution of Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh
- MAY 31, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The Prime Ministry notes requesting the execution of...
The Prime Ministry notes requesting the execution of the death sentences given to inmates Mutlu Akyn, Mehmet Nuri Ozen, Hasan Askyn and Seyhmus Poyraz, were submitted to Parliament
- MAY 31, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The Ankara Bar Chairman Sadik Erdogan complained that...
The Ankara Bar Chairman Sadik Erdogan complained that the Interparties Concession Subcommission did not bring a change regarding the abolishment of the death penalty
- MAY 28, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
Assessing his government's performance in the previous...
Assessing his government's performance in the previous two years, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said the government had made significant accomplishments against the separatist, anti-secularist and anti-democratic forces
- MAY 21, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association...
The Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) released its progress report in which it stated a list of objectives for democratisation in Turkey
- MAY 20, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
Turkish security forces have killed six people in the...
Turkish security forces have killed six people in the mountainous southeastern province of Bingol, state-controlled Anatolian news agency said