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, 2016TunisiaDEATH 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, 2016GabonDEATH PENALTY
In February, 2010, Gabon completely abolished the death penalty.
In February, 2010, Gabon completely abolished the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2016BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
Article 32 of the Constitution provides
Article 32 of the Constitution provides
- JANUARY 1, 2016St. Kitts & NevisDEATH PENALTY
Murder is the only death-qualifiable offence.
Murder is the only death-qualifiable offence.
- JANUARY 1, 2016SyriaDEATH PENALTY
In Syria, capital crimes are: treason; murder...
In Syria, capital crimes are: treason; murder...
- JANUARY 1, 2016CubaDEATH 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, 2016SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
The penal code of Somalia represents an amalgam of various legal systems and traditions.
The penal code of Somalia represents an amalgam of various legal systems and traditions.
- JANUARY 1, 2016Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: murder, causing an innocent person
Capital crimes are: murder, causing an innocent person
- JANUARY 1, 2016GhanaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been in Ghana’s statute books since the inception
The death penalty has been in Ghana’s statute books since the inception
- DECEMBER 14, 2015ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR WIFE OF FALLEN POLITBURO MEMBER BO XILAI
A Beijing court has recommended that the death sentence for the wife of fallen Politburo member Bo Xilai
DECEMBER 4, 2015Myanmar (Burma)DEATH PENALTYMYANMAR: DOUBLE COP KILLER SENTENCED TO DEATH IN RANGOON
Rangoon’s Southern District Court handed down the death penalty to a man found guilty of murdering two
NOVEMBER 22, 2015MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: SULTAN IBRAHIM GRANTS CLEMENCY TO FOUR ON DEATH ROW
The Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, has granted clemency to four prisoners on death row
- OCTOBER 19, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The largest coalition of U.S. evangelicals has stepped away from its pro-death penalty stance
USA - The largest coalition of U.S. evangelicals has stepped away from its pro-death penalty stance
- OCTOBER 7, 2015ArkansasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Alabama. A jury recommended that Jovon Gaston, 26, Black, be put to death
USA - Alabama. A jury recommended that Jovon Gaston, 26, Black, be put to death
- OCTOBER 2, 2015DEATH PENALTY
MISSOURI (USA): GOVERNOR NIXON COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCE FOR CONVICTED MURDERER KIMBER EDWARDS
Gov. Jay Nixon commuted the death sentence of Kimber Edwards to life without parole.
- OCTOBER 2, 2015MissouriDEATH PENALTY
USA - Missouri. Gov. Jay Nixon commuted the death sentence of Kimber Edwards
USA - Missouri. Gov. Jay Nixon commuted the death sentence of Kimber Edwards
- OCTOBER 1, 2015DEATH PENALTY
VIRGINIA (USA): ALFREDO PRIETO EXECUTED AFTER LAST-MINUTE APPEALS, INCLUDING POPE FRANCIS’S, FAILED
Alfredo Prieto was executed today after a series of last-minute appeals failed.
- OCTOBER 1, 2015VirginiaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Virginia. Alfredo Prieto was executed today after a series of last-minute appeals, including Pope Francis’s, failed.
USA - Virginia. Alfredo Prieto was executed today after a series of last-minute appeals, including Pope Francis’s, failed.
- SEPTEMBER 30, 2015DEATH PENALTY
GEORGIA (USA): KELLY RENEE GISSENDANER EXECUTED
After several denied appeals Georgia has executed its only female death row inmate.
- SEPTEMBER 30, 2015DEATH PENALTY
OKLAHOMA (USA): CITING QUESTION OVER NEW DRUG, GOVERNOR HALTS GLOSSIP'S EXECUTION
4 p.m. Gov. Mary Fallin has granted a last-minute stay for Glossip who was set to be executed Wednesday afternoon.
- SEPTEMBER 30, 2015DEATH PENALTY
USA - Georgia. After several denied appeals Georgia has executed its only female death row inmate, Kelly Renee Gissendaner
USA - Georgia. After several denied appeals Georgia has executed its only female death row inmate, Kelly Renee Gissendaner
- SEPTEMBER 30, 2015OklahomaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Oklahoma. Citing question over new drug, governor halts Glossip's execution.
USA - Oklahoma. Citing question over new drug, governor halts Glossip's execution.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED TO TWO YEARS' THEOLOGY STUDY
An Iranian man who was on death row for allegedly insulting the prophet Muhammad has had his sentence
SEPTEMBER 23, 2015EgyptDEATH PENALTYEGYPT: PRESIDENT AL SISI PARDONS TWO JAILED AL JAZEERA REPORTERS
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi pardoned two imprisoned Al Jazeera journalists, resolving a case
SEPTEMBER 17, 2015Congo - KinshasaDEATH PENALTYDR CONGO: MILITARY COURT COMMUTES OFFICER'S DEATH SENTENCE FOR ACTIVIST MURDER
A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo commuted a senior police officer's death sentence
SEPTEMBER 11, 2015CubaDEATH PENALTYCUBA: 3,522 PRISONERS PARDONED AHEAD OF POPE FRANCIS VISIT
The Cuban government said it plans to pardon 3,522 prisoners over the next 72 hours as a "humanitarian"
AUGUST 29, 2015ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: CRIMES SUBJECT TO DEATH REDUCED
China amended the country's criminal law, tightening corruption sentencing, reclassifying sex with underage prostitutes as rape and eliminating the death penalty for nine crimes, state media reported.
- AUGUST 25, 2015NicaraguaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. Human Rights Commission Calls for Stay of Execution for Bernardo Tercero
USA - Texas. Human Rights Commission Calls for Stay of Execution for Bernardo Tercero
- AUGUST 3, 2015BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
BANGLADESH: SUPREME COURT COMMUTES DEATH PENALTY OF CHILD RAPIST
In a rare instance, the Supreme Court commuted a “teenage boy's” death sentence to jail until death for
- JULY 23, 2015CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. Clarence Ray has had his death sentence changed to life without parole.
USA - California. Clarence Ray has had his death sentence changed to life without parole.