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
MAY 9, 2012IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: NO PLAN TO REVIEW LAWS ON DEATH SENTENCE - CHIDAMBARAM
There were no plans to review laws on death sentence in India, Home Minister P. Chidambaram
MAY 8, 2012IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: HC COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCE OF DRUG PEDDLER TO 30-YEAR RI
In India, the Bombay High Court commuted to thirty years rigorous imprisonment the death
- MAY 7, 2012IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: KARNATAKA GOVT REJECTS MERCY PLEA OF SERIAL RAPIST UMESH REDDY
In India, the Karnataka government rejected the mercy plea of serial rapist B A Umesh
- MAY 5, 2012United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UAE: COURT COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCE OF PINAY'S RAPIST-KILLERS
two Emirati rapist-murderers of a Filipina housemaid in the United Arab Emirates were
APRIL 29, 2012IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: PRESIDENT PRATIBHA PATIL COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCE OF SERVANT WHO KILLED 3 PERSONS
President Pratibha Patil of India commuted the death sentence of a domestic help, who
- APRIL 20, 2012DEATH PENALTY
NORTH CAROLINA (USA): JUDGE OVERTURNS DEATH SENTENCE UNDER RACIAL JUSTICE ACT
In North Carolina, Cumberland County Superior Court Judge Gregory Weeks ordered Marcus
- APRIL 20, 2012North CarolinaDEATH PENALTY
USA - North Carolina. Judge Overturns Death Sentence Under Racial Justice Act
USA - North Carolina. Judge Overturns Death Sentence Under Racial Justice Act
- APRIL 20, 2012DEATH PENALTY
USA - Georgia. Board Commutes Death Sentence of 'Model Prisoner' Daniel Greene, 42, black
USA - Georgia. Board Commutes Death Sentence of 'Model Prisoner' Daniel Greene, 42, black
APRIL 3, 2012GeorgiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: TWO GEORGIANS SAVED FROM HANGING
The second of two Georgians has been saved from execution for drug crimes in Malaysia
- MARCH 28, 2012ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
ZIMBABWE PLANS TO CUT BACK ON HANGINGS, DEATH PENALTY ONLY FOR 'EXTREME VIOLENCE'
Zimbabwe is considering cutting back on hangings according to a proposed new constitution
MARCH 27, 2012UgandaDEATH PENALTYUGANDA: PRESIDENT MUSEVENI PARDONS SHARMA KOOKY
After spending 12 years behind bars at Luzira Maximum Security Prisons, in Uganda, for
- MARCH 26, 2012IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: STAYED EXECUTION
the hanging of Beant Singh assassin Balwant Singh Rajoana would not take place on March
- MARCH 21, 2012St. Kitts & NevisDEATH PENALTY
four people had their death sentences commuted by a judgment
four people had their death sentences commuted by a judgment
- MARCH 20, 2012PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
PHILIPPINES SEEKS MERCY FOR 77 ON DEATH ROW ABROAD
The Philippines said today its diplomats had increased their efforts to save 77 Filipinos
MARCH 14, 2012BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: PRESIDENT LUKASHENKO DENIES SUBWAY BOMBERS CLEMENCY
Belarus' president has denied clemency to two men sentenced to death for last
FEBRUARY 29, 2012IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: SC SAVES MAN WHO MURDERED WIFE, 3 KIDS FROM THE GALLOWS
Holding that the gruesome murders were committed on the spur of the moment due to suspicion
- FEBRUARY 9, 2012IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: PRESIDENT PATIL COMMUTED DEATH PENALTY OF 23 TO LIFE DURING HER TENURE
President Pratibha Patil accepted the clemency petition of Sushil Murmu, pending
FEBRUARY 7, 2012IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: SC SAVES FROM GALLOWS MAN WHO BEHEADED HIS MOTHER
In India, the Supreme Court reduced to life imprisonment the death sentence imposed
- FEBRUARY 2, 2012DEATH PENALTY
NORTH CAROLINA (USA): INMATE REMOVED FROM DEATH ROW
Superior Court Judge Arnold Jones vacated the death sentence of Marvin Williams, 50
- FEBRUARY 2, 2012North CarolinaDEATH PENALTY
USA - North Carolina. Judge Arnold Jones vacated the death sentence of Marvin Williams, 50, black, for mental retardation
USA - North Carolina. Judge Arnold Jones vacated the death sentence of Marvin Williams, 50, black, for mental retardation
- JANUARY 26, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: OGUN STATE GOVERNOR COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCES OF 2 PRISONERS
Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, has granted amnesty to seven prisoners who
- JANUARY 20, 2012TunisiaDEATH PENALTY
TUNISIA: HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST PRESIDENT TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY?
General amnesty was recently granted to thousands of detainees in Tunisian prisons in
- JANUARY 17, 2012DEATH PENALTY
DELAWARE (USA): GOVERNOR COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCE TO LIFE IN PRISON
Gov. Jack Markell, 51, white, Democratic, today announced he is sparing the life of Robert Gattis, 49, black, who was scheduled to die by lethal injection early Friday morning.
JANUARY 17, 2012PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: CHILDREN ON DEATH ROW
Currently, there are five prisoners on death row of Mach Jail in Balochistan, Pakistan
- JANUARY 17, 2012DelawareDEATH PENALTY
USA - Delaware. Gov. Jack Markell, 51, white, Democratic, today announced he is sparing the life of Robert Gattis, 49, black
USA - Delaware. Gov. Jack Markell, 51, white, Democratic, today announced he is sparing the life of Robert Gattis, 49, black
- JANUARY 15, 2012DelawareDEATH PENALTY
USA - Delaware. The Board of Pardons is recommending that the death sentence for Robert A. Gattis, 49, black, be commuted to life in prison
USA - Delaware. The Board of Pardons is recommending that the death sentence for Robert A. Gattis, 49, black, be commuted to life in prison
JANUARY 14, 2012TunisiaDEATH PENALTYTUNISIA: AMNESTY TO THOUSANDS ON BEN ALI OUSTER ANNIVERSARY
Tunisia granted an amnesty or conditional release from prison to 9,000 detainees
- JANUARY 12, 2012Myanmar (Burma)DEATH PENALTY
MYANMAR: GOVERNMENT GRANTED AMNESTY TO 651 MORE PRISONERS, INCLUDING 302 POLITICAL PRISONERS
the Myanmar government granted amnesty to 651 more prisoners, including 302 political
- JANUARY 2, 2012Myanmar (Burma)DEATH PENALTY
MYANMAR REDUCES SENTENCES FOR MANY PRISONERS, STOPS SHORT OF AMNESTY
Myanmar’s government announced that it is reducing the sentences of many prisoners
- JANUARY 1, 2012ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
The Zambia Constitution of 1991, allows the death penalty in Part III
The Zambia Constitution of 1991, allows the death penalty in Part III