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, 2009St. Kitts & NevisDEATH PENALTY
Murder is the only death-qualifiable offence.
Murder is the only death-qualifiable offence.
- JANUARY 1, 2009BotswanaDEATH 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, 2009BelarusDEATH PENALTY
Article 24 of the constitution reads that
Article 24 of the constitution reads that "the death penalty...
- JANUARY 1, 2009MalawiDEATH 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, 2009MoldovaDEATH 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, 2009ZambiaDEATH 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
DECEMBER 7, 2008EgyptDEATH PENALTYQATAR: APPEALS COURT COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCE IN MAID MURDER CASE
a Doha Appeals Court commuted the death sentence given to a 31 year old Egyptian woman, accused of
- DECEMBER 5, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: HC COMMUTES TO LIFE CHILD KILLER'S DEATH SENTENCE
a man sentenced to death for murdering a child had his death sentenced commuted to life imprisonment by the Madras high court in India.
- DECEMBER 3, 2008PakistanDEATH PENALTY
the Islamabad High Court in Pakistan commuted the death sentence of a convict into life imprisonment
the Islamabad High Court in Pakistan commuted the death sentence of a convict into life imprisonment
- DECEMBER 1, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: CLEMENCY SOUGHT FOR 11
the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) sought clemency for 11 people given the death penalty by the special sessions court, which heard cases regarding the serial church blasts across Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh in 2000.
- NOVEMBER 15, 2008NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA LEADER PARDONS MAN ON DEATH ROW FOR 22 YEARS
Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua pardoned a man who spent more than two decades on death row for
- NOVEMBER 9, 2008AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
AUSTRALIA TO SEEK UN RESOLUTION AGAINST EXECUTIONS
Australia will press for an international moratorium on capital punishment following the execution of the Bali
- NOVEMBER 6, 2008IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
INDONESIA. NIGERIANS SENTENCED TO DEATH OPT FOR REVIEW
the News Agency of Nigeria reported that eighteen Nigerians sentenced to death for drug trafficking in
- NOVEMBER 4, 2008ThailandDEATH PENALTY
THAILAND: COURT COMMUTES DEATH PENALTY IN CHIANG RAI
the Thai Court of Appeals commuted the death sentence handed to a Chiang Rai-based man for drug trading to life imprisonment, citing his possession of inside information on narcotics dealings, which would be vital in the police campaign against drugs, as
- NOVEMBER 3, 2008PakistanDEATH PENALTY
a Division Bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in Pakistan commuted a convict’s death sentence to life imprisonment
a Division Bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in Pakistan commuted a convict’s death sentence to life imprisonment
OCTOBER 31, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: ANTONY COMMUTES DEATH PENALTY OF JAWAN
an Army jawan in India facing the death penalty for killing an officer had his death sentenced commuted to
- OCTOBER 28, 2008DEATH PENALTY
TEXAS (USA). MAN EXECUTED FOR RAPE, MURDER OF 7-YEAR-OLD GIRL
A former plumbing supply salesman was executed in Texas for strangling and raping
- OCTOBER 21, 2008PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
PHILIPPINES: SC AFFIRMS COMMUTATION OF FOUR DEATH SENTENCES
the Supreme Court of the Philippines affirmed the commutation of the death sentences of Millano Muit, Sergio Pancho Jr., Rolando Dequillo, and Romeo Pancho, who kidnapped Engr. Ignacio Earl Ong, son-in-law of businessman John Gokongwei
- OCTOBER 6, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: ONLY PRESIDENT CAN PARDON SARABJIT: NAEK
Pakistani Law Minister Farooq Naek met Indian death row prisoner Sarabjit Singh at the Lahore’s Kot Lakhpath Jail to review his case following the Indian government’s appeal for clemency for him.
- OCTOBER 6, 2008PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: EXECUTION SCHEDULED DESPITE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT
even though Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani announced that all death sentences were to be commuted to life imprisonment on June 21, four prisoners have been executed and the fifth, Zulifkar Ali, is to be hanged on October 8 in Rawalpindi's Adi
- SEPTEMBER 29, 2008CanadaDEATH PENALTY
CANADA REFUSES CLEMENCY FOR MAN ON DEATH ROW IN MONTANA
a decision by the Conservative government to stop seeking clemency for a Canadian man on death row in the United States was arbitrary and unfair, his defense lawyer said.
- SEPTEMBER 23, 2008DEATH PENALTY
USA. SUPREME COURT ISSUES STAY OF EXECUTION FOR DAVIS
the US Supreme Court granted a last minute reprieve to a Georgia man, less than than two hours before his scheduled execution for the 1989 slaying of an off-duty police officer.
- SEPTEMBER 23, 2008DEATH PENALTY
USA - Georgia. Supreme Court issues stay of execution for Davis
USA - Georgia. Supreme Court issues stay of execution for Davis
- SEPTEMBER 16, 2008DEATH PENALTY
GEORGIA (USA). MAN ON DEATH ROW 33 YEARS IS EXECUTED
a man who had been on Georgia's death row for 33 years was executed by lethal injection for killing his wife in 1974.
- SEPTEMBER 14, 2008Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA. TWO DEATH SENTENCES COMMUTED
a Saudi Arabian court overruled the verdict of a lower court and sentenced a Kuwaiti girl and her brother to 20 years in jail for killing their sister in a desert in Saudi Arabia before surrendering themselves to Saudi authorities, reports Awan daily.
- SEPTEMBER 12, 2008DEATH PENALTY
USA - Georgia. The state Board of Pardons and Paroles today refused to grant clemency to Troy Anthony Davis
USA - Georgia. The state Board of Pardons and Paroles today refused to grant clemency to Troy Anthony Davis
- SEPTEMBER 1, 2008IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
INDONESIA. 20 NIGERIANS FACE EXECUTION
Twenty Nigerian citizens are currently awaiting the hangman’s nose in Indonesia
- AUGUST 20, 2008Trinidad & TobagoDEATH PENALTY
the Trinidad and Tobago government says it will seek to amend existing legislation to make it easier to carry
the Trinidad and Tobago government says it will seek to amend existing legislation to make it easier to carry
- AUGUST 15, 2008Trinidad & TobagoDEATH PENALTY
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: 52 ESCAPE DEATH ROW
fifty-two people in Trinidad & Tobago convicted of murder had their death sentences commuted to life imprisonment after Justice Nolan Bereaux at the Port-of-Spain High Court ruled in favour of a Constitutional motion brought by the prisoners, that they be
- AUGUST 14, 2008OhioDEATH PENALTY
USA - Ohio. Nearly 23 years after first sentencing Frederick Dickerson to death, a three-judge panel permanently released him from death row today.
USA - Ohio. Nearly 23 years after first sentencing Frederick Dickerson to death, a three-judge panel permanently released him from death row today.