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
- APRIL 20, 2005OklahomaDEATH PENALTY
the state Parole Board approved clemency Wednesday for Garry Thomas Allen
the state Parole Board approved clemency Wednesday for Garry Thomas Allen
- APRIL 10, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. NEW PRESIDENT OPPOSED TO SADDAM DEATH SENTENCE
Iraq's new president, Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani, hinted in an interview that he opposed the idea of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein being sentenced to death.
- MARCH 30, 2005RussiaDEATH PENALTY
RUSSIA. CONVICTED MURDERER PREFERS EXECUTION TO ROTTING IN JAIL
terrorised by the idea of staying behind bars for the rest of his life, Sergei Deineko, a Russian man convicted of six brutal murders turned to the Supreme Court with the unique appeal to cancel the pardon which replaced his death penalty with a life term
- MARCH 10, 2005South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH AFRICA. CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO DECIDE ON DEATH ROW PRISONERS
sixty-two prisoners were still under sentence of death although the death penalty was declared invalid in South Africa 10 years ago, the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg heard.
- MARCH 7, 2005IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA. HIGH COURT CONVERTS TIKA RAM'S DEATH PENALTY TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT
the High Court in New Delhi, India, commuted into life imprisonment the death penalty passed on Tika Ram for the 1994 murders of five members of the Sharmas family in the city's Vasant Kunj area.
- MARCH 1, 2005MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA. RESTAURANT OWNER ESCAPES GALLOWS
restaurant owner Cheah Yoon Lim escaped the gallows when the Malaysian Court of Appeals amended a drug charge from trafficking to possessing 70.2 grammes of the prohibited substance.
- FEBRUARY 22, 2005KenyaDEATH PENALTY
death-row convicts at the Kamiti Maximum Prison, Kenya...
death-row convicts at the Kamiti Maximum Prison, Kenya...
- FEBRUARY 21, 2005BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
the Botswana Centre for Human Rights - Ditshwanelo - held a one-day seminar for legal practitioners.
the Botswana Centre for Human Rights - Ditshwanelo - held a one-day seminar for legal practitioners.
- FEBRUARY 12, 2005BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
BANGLADESH. THREE MEN HAVE SENTENCES COMMUTED TO LIFE, CONFIRMATION FOR THREE OTHERS
the High Court of Bangladesh in Dhaka commuted to life imprisonment the death penalty handed down to Sajibul Islam, Kabul and Tajibul Islam and confirmed the sentences handed to Ekramul Hossain alias Anis, Shukur Ali and Minarul Islam Mina.
- FEBRUARY 2, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
the European Union welcomed a Chinese court's decision to commute a death sentence
the European Union welcomed a Chinese court's decision to commute a death sentence
- FEBRUARY 1, 2005AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Singapore's premier said he would consider a bid for clemency from Australia
Singapore's premier said he would consider a bid for clemency from Australia
- JANUARY 28, 2005IndiaDEATH PENALTY
the Calcutta High Court, India, commuted to life imprisonment the death sentence
the Calcutta High Court, India, commuted to life imprisonment the death sentence
- JANUARY 26, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
China commuted the death sentence imposed on a Tibetan monk, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche
China commuted the death sentence imposed on a Tibetan monk, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, to a life term, state media reported.
- JANUARY 26, 2005PakistanDEATH PENALTY
it was reported that following rejection of their mercy appeal...
it was reported that following rejection of their mercy appeal...
- JANUARY 21, 2005AustriaDEATH PENALTY
Californian Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a newspaper interview...
Californian Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a newspaper interview in his native Austria that his refusal of clemency in the execution of Donald Beardslee, 61, carried out at midnight on January 18, had made it "the hardest day of his life."
- JANUARY 20, 2005IndiaDEATH PENALTY
the Indian Supreme Court today commuted into life imprisonment the death penalty
the Indian Supreme Court today commuted into life imprisonment the death penalty
- JANUARY 19, 2005CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
Donald Beardslee, 61, was executed
Donald Beardslee, 61, was executed
- JANUARY 10, 2005United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
Ferzana K., a convicted Pakistani drug dealer had her death sentence commuted
Ferzana K., a convicted Pakistani drug dealer had her death sentence commuted
- JANUARY 7, 2005IndianaDEATH PENALTY
with just 3 days left in his term, Indiana Gov. Joe Kernan granted clemency to Michael Daniels
with just 3 days left in his term, Indiana Gov. Joe Kernan granted clemency to Michael Daniels
- JANUARY 4, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
5 Chinese, Nepalese arms smugglers given commuted sentences
China gave a commuted sentence to five criminal suspects
- JANUARY 4, 2005IndiaDEATH PENALTY
the Orissa High Court, India, commuted the death sentence awarded to Krushna Naik
the Orissa High Court, India, commuted the death sentence awarded to Krushna Naik
- JANUARY 1, 2005Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: murder, causing an innocent person to be executed by bearing false witness, offences against the State, economic offences, drug offences and arms trading.
Capital crimes are: murder, causing an innocent person to be executed by bearing false witness, offences against the State, economic offences, drug offences and arms trading.
- JANUARY 1, 2005St. Kitts & NevisDEATH PENALTY
Murder is the only death-qualifiable offence.
Murder is the only death-qualifiable offence.
- JANUARY 1, 2005ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
The Zambia Constitution of 1991, allows the death penalty in Part III on the Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedom of the Individual.
The Zambia Constitution of 1991, allows the death penalty in Part III on the Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedom of the Individual.
- JANUARY 1, 2005MalawiDEATH PENALTY
The offences for which capital punishment either can or must be applied are murder, rape, treason, armed robbery and burglary with aggravating circumstances.
The offences for which capital punishment either can or must be applied are murder, rape, treason, armed robbery and burglary with aggravating circumstances.
- JANUARY 1, 2005MoldovaDEATH PENALTY
Moldova abolished the death penalty for all crimes in December 1995.
Moldova abolished the death penalty for all crimes in December 1995.
- DECEMBER 28, 2004NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
an Islamic Sharia court in northern Nigeria sentenced Danliti Rabiu to be stoned
an Islamic Sharia court in northern Nigeria sentenced Danliti Rabiu to be stoned
- DECEMBER 6, 2004IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
an Indonesian court submitted a request for presidential clemency
an Indonesian court submitted a request for presidential clemency
- DECEMBER 5, 2004BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
Libya said that it could review death sentences...
Libya said that it could review death sentences...
- DECEMBER 2, 2004ChinaDEATH PENALTY
Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama...
Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama...