Commutations of sentence and acts of clemency
Archive theme
A death sentence can be turned into a prison sentence by an act of clemency: commutation, pardon, amnesty, remission. These rest with heads of state, courts and clemency boards, and not infrequently arrive within hours of an execution.
For the association they are a concrete front: every commutation is a life, and the countries that grant many of them are often the ones closest to a moratorium in fact. This page collects the news on commutations, pardons and acts of clemency.
Latest news
- JANUARY 1, 2020NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Death sentences are mandatory for murder but also non lethal offences
Death sentences are mandatory for murder but also non lethal offences
- JANUARY 1, 2020ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
The Zambian penal code, section 43, foresees that the death penalty...
The Zambian penal code, section 43, foresees that the death penalty...
- JANUARY 1, 2020SudanDEATH PENALTY
The 1991 penal code based on Sharia law prescribes both the death penalty and corporal punishment.
The 1991 penal code based on Sharia law prescribes both the death penalty and corporal punishment.
- JANUARY 1, 2020BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been on the books in Botswana since its independence from Great Britain in 1966.
The death penalty has been on the books in Botswana since its independence from Great Britain in 1966.
- JANUARY 1, 2020Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: murder, causing an innocent person
Capital crimes are: murder, causing an innocent person
- JANUARY 1, 2020KenyaDEATH PENALTY
the mandatory death sentence is no longer lawful in Kenya
the mandatory death sentence is no longer lawful in Kenya
- JANUARY 1, 2020MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
In Malaysia capital crimes include murder...
In Malaysia capital crimes include murder...
- JANUARY 1, 2020SyriaDEATH PENALTY
In Syria, capital crimes are: treason; murder...
In Syria, capital crimes are: treason; murder...
- JANUARY 1, 2020KuwaitDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is provided for by laws based on the Sharia.
The death penalty is provided for by laws based on the Sharia.
- JANUARY 1, 2020TunisiaDEATH PENALTY
In Tunisian law the death penalty is issued for 21 separate offenses
In Tunisian law the death penalty is issued for 21 separate offenses
- JANUARY 1, 2020CubaDEATH PENALTY
In April 2013, after ten consecutive years without carrying out executions
In April 2013, after ten consecutive years without carrying out executions
- JANUARY 1, 2020EswatiniDEATH PENALTY
The Criminal Law and Procedure Act No.67 of 1938, as amended in 1975...
The Criminal Law and Procedure Act No.67 of 1938, as amended in 1975...
- JANUARY 1, 2020MoroccoDEATH PENALTY
The Country has 11 crimes that carry the death penalty
The Country has 11 crimes that carry the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2020GabonDEATH PENALTY
In February, 2010, Gabon completely abolished the death penalty.
In February, 2010, Gabon completely abolished the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2020St. Kitts & NevisDEATH PENALTY
Murder is the only death-qualifiable offence.
Murder is the only death-qualifiable offence.
- JANUARY 1, 2020TanzaniaDEATH PENALTY
Tanzania still retains the death penalty as one of punishments under...
Tanzania still retains the death penalty as one of punishments under...
- JANUARY 1, 2020CameroonDEATH PENALTY
Cameroon applies the death penalty for treason.
Cameroon applies the death penalty for treason.
DECEMBER 30, 2019PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED IN BROTHER-IN-LAW’S MURDER CASE
The Sindh High Court has commuted the death sentence of a man to life in prison in a murder case, the Dawn reported on 29 December 2019.
- DECEMBER 17, 2019DEATH PENALTY
KENTUCKY (USA): BEFORE LEAVING OFFICE, GOVERNOR MATT BEVIN COMMUTES THE SENTENCES OF TWO DEATH-ROW PRISONERS
In his last series of acts before leaving office, outgoing Governor Matt Bevin has commuted the sentences of two of the state’s longest serving death-row prisoners to life with the possibility of parole.
- DECEMBER 12, 2019ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA: GOV'T SAYS READY FOR TALKS TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY
Zambia on 10 December 2019 joined the rest of the world in commemorating the 2019 Human Rights Day with Vice-President Inonge Wina saying the government was open to discussions on the possibilities of abolishing the death penalty.
DECEMBER 9, 2019United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Kentucky. Governor Matt Bevin Commutes the Sentences of Two Death-Row Prisoners.
USA - Kentucky. Governor Matt Bevin Commutes the Sentences of Two Death-Row Prisoners.
DECEMBER 6, 2019JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: HIGH COURT CHANGES PERUVIAN MAN'S DEATH SENTENCE TO LIFE IN PRISON
The Tokyo High Court overturned a lower court’s death sentence and gave a Peruvian man life in prison on 5 December 2019 over the 2015 murder of six people in Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture.
NOVEMBER 25, 2019SingaporeDEATH PENALTYSINGAPORE: MALAYSIAN HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A Malaysian, Abd Helmi Ab Halim, on 22 November 2019 was hanged at Changi Prison after having been convicted of drug trafficking in 2017.
- NOVEMBER 15, 2019KentuckyDEATH PENALTY
USA - Kentucky. Death Sentence Switched to Life Without Parole for Roger Dale Epperson.
USA - Kentucky. Death Sentence Switched to Life Without Parole for Roger Dale Epperson.
NOVEMBER 14, 2019IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: GOVT COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCE OF BEANT SINGH KILLER TO LIFE
The Union Home Ministry on 12 November 2019 commuted the death sentence of Babbar Khalsa terrorist Balwant Singh Rajoana who was sentenced to death in 2007 for the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh.
NOVEMBER 11, 2019Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: PRESIDENT SIRISENA GRANTS PARDON TO ROYAL PARK MURDER CONVICT ON DEATH ROW
Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena in the final week of his term in office has pardoned a death row prisoner who was convicted of a murder of a Swedish teenager in 2005, local media reported on 9 November 2019.
NOVEMBER 11, 2019IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: BOMBAY HC COMMUTES DEATH PENALTY OF TWO YOUNG MEN IN BHANDARA ROBBERY AND MURDER CASE
The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court on 5 November 2019 commuted death penalty awarded to two young men convicted for robbery and murder of a woman and for injuring her minor son.
- NOVEMBER 6, 2019TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. Texas Appeals Court Takes Bobby James Moore Off Death Row.
USA - Texas. Texas Appeals Court Takes Bobby James Moore Off Death Row.
OCTOBER 11, 2019IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: PRESIDENT COMMUTES 20 DEATH SENTENCES IN NINE YEARS
President Ram Nath Kovind commuted death sentences to life imprisonment in at least 20 cases over the past nine years, based on the recommendations received from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), The Hindu reported on 4 October 2019.
OCTOBER 9, 2019MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: POPE FRANCIS THANKS JOHOR SULTAN FOR COMMUTING DEATH SENTENCES OF MEXICAN BROTHERS
Pope Francis has expressed his gratitude to Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar for commuting the death sentences of three Mexican brothers who were convicted for drug trafficking.