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, 2012GabonDEATH PENALTY
In February, 2010, Gabon completely abolished the death penalty.
In February, 2010, Gabon completely abolished the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2012MoldovaDEATH PENALTY
Moldova abolished the death penalty for all crimes in December 1995...
Moldova abolished the death penalty for all crimes in December 1995 but the Constitution retains it for crimes committed during war or with an inevitable threat of war.
- JANUARY 1, 2012St. Kitts & NevisDEATH PENALTY
Murder is the only death-qualifiable offence.
Murder is the only death-qualifiable offence.
- JANUARY 1, 2012JamaicaDEATH PENALTY
On the issue of capital punishment, the Jamaica Constitution states...
On the issue of capital punishment, the Jamaica Constitution states, "No person shall intentionally be deprived of his life save in execution of a sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been convicted".
- JANUARY 1, 2012BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been in force in Botswana since the country became independent in 1966.
The death penalty has been in force in Botswana since the country became independent in 1966.
- JANUARY 1, 2012KenyaDEATH PENALTY
Murder, treason and armed robbery are capital crimes.
Murder, treason and armed robbery are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2012MalawiDEATH PENALTY
The offences for which capital punishment either can or must be applied are murder...
The offences for which capital punishment either can or must be applied are murder...
- JANUARY 1, 2012GhanaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been in Ghana’s statute books...
The death penalty has been in Ghana’s statute books since the inception of English common law in the country in 1874.
- DECEMBER 27, 2011ThailandDEATH PENALTY
THAILAND: COURT REDUCES CONVICT'S SENTENCE
the Thai Appeal Court commuted the death sentence of Somkid Pumpoung, 45, to life imprisonment because his confession was useful to the case.
- DECEMBER 19, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: FEMALE KURDISH PRISONER’S DEATH SENTENCE OVERTURNED
the Iranian Supreme Court commuted the death sentence of Zeinab Jalalian, a Kurdish prisoner of conscience, to life in prison.
DECEMBER 15, 2011MaliDEATH PENALTYMALI: PRESIDENT TOURÈ PARDONS TUNISIAN NATIONAL
Amadou Toumani Touré, the President of Mali, pardoned Bechir Sinoun, the Tunisian national
DECEMBER 9, 2011BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: APPEAL FOR CLEMENCY
Vladislav Kovalyov, one of the two men sentenced to death in Belarus for bombing a metro
- DECEMBER 7, 2011PennsylvaniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Pennsylvania. District Attorney Seth Williams announced he will not seek the death penalty against Mumia Abu-Jamal
USA - Pennsylvania. District Attorney Seth Williams announced he will not seek the death penalty against Mumia Abu-Jamal
- DECEMBER 1, 2011IndiaDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: INDIAN PRISONER’S DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED, LHC TOLD
the superintendent of the Lahore Central Jail informed the Lahore High Court that Indian prisoner Surjit Singh was sent to the jail in 1985 as a condemned prisoner but now he is being treated as life imprisonment convict in the light of the general amnest
- NOVEMBER 11, 2011UgandaDEATH PENALTY
the High Court commuted the death sentences for...
the High Court commuted the death sentences for...
- NOVEMBER 2, 2011TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. Chelsea Richardson, 1 of 10 women on death row in Texas, had the death sentence changed to ife in prison
USA - Texas. Chelsea Richardson, 1 of 10 women on death row in Texas, had the death sentence changed to ife in prison
- OCTOBER 27, 2011United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: DEATH PENALTY COMMUTED
the Appellate Court in Ras Al Khaimah, the United Arab Emirates, commuted the death sentence to three years in jail, to be followed by deportation, after the parents of the victim forgave the suspect.
- OCTOBER 27, 2011Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: FIVE INDONESIAN MAIDS ON DEATH ROW
five Indonesian maids sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia are appealing for clemency.
OCTOBER 20, 2011UgandaDEATH PENALTYUGANDA: THREE CONVICTS ON DEATH ROW SURVIVE HANGMAN
in Uganda, Enoch Tumuwine, Abdu Maliyamungu and Walker Muhairwe had their death sentences
- OCTOBER 12, 2011TanzaniaDEATH PENALTY
TANZANIA: TWO PARDONED FOR MURDER
Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete commuted the death sentences of Former Police Corporal Juma Mswa and Constable Mataba Matiku to two years imprisonment, which they had already served.
- SEPTEMBER 30, 2011IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: SC REDUCES DEATH PENALTY TO LIFE TERM
the Indian Supreme Court commuted the death sentence issued by the Bombay High Court to Sham Kishor Bhaskarrao Matkari to life imprisonment, finding it was not in the rarest of the rare category.
- SEPTEMBER 29, 2011IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: SC COMMUTES DEATH PENALTY OF CHILD KILLER
the Indian Supreme Court commuted the death sentence imposed on Rajesh Kumar for murdering to life imprisonment.
- SEPTEMBER 28, 2011IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: SC SEEKS EXPLANATION FOR DELAY IN DECIDING BHULLAR'S MERCY PLEA
the Indian Supreme Court sought an explanation from the Union government for delay of more than 8 years in deciding the mercy petition filed by the Punjab militant Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar who is facing death sentence for killing 9 security personnel in
- SEPTEMBER 28, 2011TennesseeDEATH PENALTY
USA - Tennessee. Gaile Owens, whose death sentence was commuted last year, will be released on parole
USA - Tennessee. Gaile Owens, whose death sentence was commuted last year, will be released on parole
- SEPTEMBER 26, 2011DEATH PENALTY
OHIO (USA): GOV. KASICH COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCE
Ohio's Republican Governor John Kasich today commuted the death sentence of Joseph Murphy
- SEPTEMBER 26, 2011OhioDEATH PENALTY
USA - Ohio. Governor John Kasich today commuted the death sentence of Joseph Murphy
USA - Ohio. Governor John Kasich today commuted the death sentence of Joseph Murphy
- SEPTEMBER 26, 2011OhioDEATH PENALTY
USA - Ohio. Gov. John Kasich today commuted Joseph Murphy’s death sentence
USA - Ohio. Gov. John Kasich today commuted Joseph Murphy’s death sentence
- SEPTEMBER 20, 2011DEATH PENALTY
GEORGIA (USA): PARDONS BOARD DENIES PLEA FOR CLEMENCY
The state Board of Pardons and Paroles declined to commute the death sentence
- SEPTEMBER 20, 2011DEATH PENALTY
USA - Georgia. The Board of Pardons and Paroles delayed a decision whether to grant or deny clemency to Troy Davis
USA - Georgia. The Board of Pardons and Paroles delayed a decision whether to grant or deny clemency to Troy Davis
- SEPTEMBER 20, 2011DEATH PENALTY
USA - Georgia. The Board of Pardons and Paroles had declined to commute the death sentence of Troy Davis.
USA - Georgia. The Board of Pardons and Paroles had declined to commute the death sentence of Troy Davis.