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, 2006MalawiDEATH 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, 2006MoldovaDEATH 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, 2006Congo - KinshasaDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, treason...
Capital crimes are: aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, treason, spying, political and military offences and genocide.
- JANUARY 1, 2006ZambiaDEATH 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
- JANUARY 1, 2006St. Kitts & NevisDEATH PENALTY
Murder is the only death-qualifiable offence.
Murder is the only death-qualifiable offence.
- DECEMBER 31, 2005TaiwanDEATH PENALTY
TAIWAN. TAIWAN PLANS ON INTODUCING CHINESE STYLE DEATH PENALTY WITH TWO YEARS SUSPENSION, JUSTICE MINISTER
the United Daily News (UDN) quoted Taiwan’s Justice Minister Shih Mao-lin as saying that Taipei was studying the possibility of following China's example of issuing a “death penalty with two years suspension” to give criminals a chance to repent.
- DECEMBER 13, 2005ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALY. ‘WILLIAMS EXECUTION IS RUTHLESS JUSTICE’, D’ELIA
Stanley Williams was executed after being denied clemency by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
- DECEMBER 7, 2005ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALY’S ACTORS AND DIRECTORS APPEAL TO CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER TO GRANT CLEMENCY TO STANLEY ‘TOOKIE’ WILLIAMS
a number of Italy’s actors and directors have signed Hands Off Cain’s appeal aimed at California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to halt the scheduled execution Stanley Williams at San Quintino penitentiary on December 13. Those who have given their suppor
- DECEMBER 5, 2005ItalyDEATH PENALTY
HANDS OFF CAIN ENTRUSTS PRESIDENT CIAMPI WITH STANLEY ‘TOOKIE’ WILLAIMS APPEAL
Secretary of Hands Off Cain Sergio D’Elia delivered to Italy’s President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi the appeal signed by Italy’s Parliamentarians and Regional Presidents to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for the suspension of the scheduled execution
- DECEMBER 3, 2005ItalyDEATH PENALTY
HOC. ITALIAN ‘GOVERNORS’ PRESENT CLEMENCY APPEAL FOR STANLEY ‘TOOKIE’ WILLIAMS
the press conference for the presentation of the appeal by Italy’s ‘Governors’ to ask California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger clemency for Stanley ‘Tookie’ Williams, scheduled to be put to death on December 13, was held in Rome at Hands Off Cain’s headq
- DECEMBER 2, 2005DEATH PENALTY
NORTH CAROLINA. KENNETH LEE BOYD BECOMES 1,000TH PERSON EXECUTED IN U.S. SINCE 1977
a convicted murderer was put to death in the nation's 1,000th execution since capital punishment resumed in 1977. Kenneth Lee Boyd, 57, received a lethal injection and was pronounced dead at 2:15 a.m., said state Department of Correction spokeswoman Pam W
- DECEMBER 2, 2005North CarolinaDEATH PENALTY
Kenneth Lee Boyd, 57, was put to death by lethal injection at Central Prison in Raleigh.
Kenneth Lee Boyd, 57, was put to death by lethal injection at Central Prison in Raleigh.
- NOVEMBER 30, 2005ItalyDEATH PENALTY
AFGHANISTAN. CUTULI CASE, ITALIAN EMBASSY AWAITS CONFIRMATION OF DEATH SENTENCES
it was reported that the Italian embassy in Kabul may ask for the commutation into life imprisonment of the death sentences handed down to brothers Zar Jan and Abdul Wahid for the murders of Maria Grazia Catulli and three other journalists in November 200
- NOVEMBER 29, 2005United StatesDEATH PENALTY
VIRGINIA. GOVERNOR STOPS MILESTONE U.S. EXECUTION
Gov. Mark Warner spared the life of a convicted killer who would have been the 1,000th person executed in the United States since the Supreme Court allowed capital punishment to resume in 1976. The governor commuted Robin Lovitt's death sentence to life
- NOVEMBER 29, 2005ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA. PRESIDENT COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCES OF 12 CONVICTS
Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa commuted death sentences handed down on 12 criminals convicted for violent crimes including murder, commissioner of prisons Jethro Mumbuwa announced.
- NOVEMBER 23, 2005Congo - BrazzavilleDEATH PENALTY
CONGO. NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DROPS FORMER PREMIER'S DEATH SENTENCE
Congo’s National Assembly unanimously voted in favour of amnesty for former Brazzaville mayor and former prime minister, Bernard Kolelas .
- NOVEMBER 21, 2005CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA. JESSE JACKSON ASKS FOR WILLIAMS PARDON AND FOR MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS IN CALIFORNIA
“Today I have requested a meeting with Governor Schwarzenegger”, Rev. Jesse Jackson announced.
- NOVEMBER 18, 2005MoroccoDEATH PENALTY
MOROCCO. KING PARDONS 10,000 PRISONERS
King Mohammed of Morocco pardoned or reduced the prison sentences of 10,000 people to mark the 50th anniversary of independence, Justice Ministry officials said.
- NOVEMBER 16, 2005Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA. MAN SHOT DEAD AFTER BROTHER'S KILLER PARDONED
a Saudi man, enraged by a last-minute pardon granted to his brother's killer, was shot dead as he tried to attack the condemned man, Saudi newspapers said.
- NOVEMBER 7, 2005AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
AUSTRALIA. NGUYEN SUPPORTERS VOICE DEATH PENALTY OPPOSITION
Adelaide supporters of Nguyen Tuong Van, an Australian man on death row in Singapore, held a lunchtime rally to voice their opposition to the death penalty. About 30 people sat on the steps of Parliament House to show support for Nguyen, 25, who was facin
- NOVEMBER 2, 2005GhanaDEATH PENALTY
Ghana still retains the death penalty for armed robbery, treason and first-degree murder.
Ghana still retains the death penalty for armed robbery, treason and first-degree murder.
- NOVEMBER 1, 2005ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
the Supreme Court of Zambia commuted the death sentences handed down to Roderick Tembo...
the Supreme Court of Zambia commuted the death sentences handed down to Roderick Tembo, a police officer, and Mutemwa Mutoloka, an accomplice, for aggravated robbery and instead sentenced them to 20 years imprisonment with hard labour.
- OCTOBER 29, 2005IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA. UNION LAW MINISTER IN FAVOUR OF DEATH PENALTY, CALLS FOR DEBATE
the Indian government is yet to take a decision on the abolition of the death penalty and is going by the Supreme Court’s guideline that it be awarded in only in the rarest of rare cases, said Union law minister H R Bhardwaj.
- OCTOBER 28, 2005ItalyDEATH PENALTY
AFGHANISTAN - Two death sentences for the murder of Maria Grazia Cutuli and three other journalists
an Afghan court ruled that two brothers should be executed for their involvement in the killing of four journalists in 2001.
- OCTOBER 27, 2005PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN. HIGH COURT COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCE TO LIFE
the Peshawar High Court, Pakistan, commuted Said Mehmood’s sentence from death to life and acquitted his son Bakhtiar, co-accused in the murder case.
- OCTOBER 26, 2005IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA. PRESIDENT CALLS FOR COMPREHENSIVE POLICY ON DEATH PENALTY
continuing the debate in India on pardons for death row convicts, President A P J Abdul Kalam said a policy should be laid down after all aspects relating to the death penalty had been discussed in Parliament.
- OCTOBER 24, 2005KenyaDEATH PENALTY
Murder, treason and armed robbery are capital crimes.
Murder, treason and armed robbery are capital crimes.
- OCTOBER 24, 2005AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
AUSTRALIA. CANBERRA STEPS UP LAST-MINUTE APPEALS TO SINGAPORE OVER NATIONAL ON DEATH ROW
Canberra issued a forceful last-minute appeal to Singapore to spare the life of Nguyen Tyong Van, a condemned Australian drug smuggler, after the island state ignored repeated pleas for clemency from Australia's top leaders.
- OCTOBER 22, 2005United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. DEATH SENTENCE IS COMMUTED
the Federal Supreme Court has upheld a ruling by a Court of Appeal commuting the death sentence on a drug trafficker to a 10-year imprisonment and a fine of Dh50,000 to be followed by deportation.
- OCTOBER 21, 2005AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
SINGAPORE. HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP CALLS FOR MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY
Think Centre, a Singapore civil rights group, called for a moratorium on executions after Australian national Nguyen Tuong Van lost his final clemency appeal.