The people on death row
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On death row live the people who have been sentenced and are waiting to be executed. The wait can last years or decades, often in isolation, with a date that arrives or is put off again and again. It is a punishment inside the punishment, and in many countries the number of people held there is the hardest figure of all to obtain.
This page collects the news on the people on death row, on the conditions they are held in, and on the numbers the association is able to document.
Latest news
JULY 1, 2020PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: CONVICT SET FREE AFTER SPENDING 21 YEARS ON DEATH ROW
Muhammad Iqbal, who spent the last 21 years on death row for a crime he was convicted of committing when he was a juvenile, has been released, according to the Justice Project Pakistan (JPP).
JULY 1, 2020United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Pennsylvania. Kareem Johnson Becomes Nation’s 170th Death-Row Exoneree Since 1973.
USA - Pennsylvania. Kareem Johnson Becomes Nation’s 170th Death-Row Exoneree Since 1973.
JUNE 29, 2020United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Hear Execution Protocol Case, Removing Barrier to Resumption of Federal Executions.
USA - U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Hear Execution Protocol Case, Removing Barrier to Resumption of Federal Executions.
JUNE 29, 2020United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - California. COVID-19 Infects Nearly 200 on California’s Death Row, and 89 members of staff, and 1 death
USA - California. COVID-19 Infects Nearly 200 on California’s Death Row, and 89 members of staff, and 1 death
JUNE 25, 2020Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: LONGEST-SERVING PRISONER EXECUTED AFTER COUSIN’S FAMILY REJECT PARDON
Saudi Arabia's longest-serving prisoner was put to death on 23 June 2020, following a decades-long battle for a pardon from the family of his victim, which saw his impended execution delayed.
JUNE 25, 2020United StatesDEATH PENALTYUNITED STATES: 1,344 PRISONERS ARE ON DEATH ROWS IN VIOLATION OF U.S. HUMAN RIGHTS OBLIGATIONS (DPIC REPORT)
1,344 current prisoners on 26 state, federal, or U.S. military death rows have been incarcerated facing execution for more than 20 years, in violation of U.S. human rights obligations, according to the Death Penalty Information Centre.
JUNE 23, 2020ZimbabweDEATH PENALTYZIMBABWE: TWO TAXI DRIVER KILLERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
A High Court judge has condemned two robbers to death for killing a taxi driver in Harare two years ago, The Herald reported on 22 June 2020.
- JUNE 22, 2020United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - DPIC Report — 1,344 Prisoners are on U.S. Death Rows in Violation of U.S. Human Rights Obligations
USA - DPIC Report — 1,344 Prisoners are on U.S. Death Rows in Violation of U.S. Human Rights Obligations
JUNE 16, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Political prisoner Narges Mohammadi suffers for witnessing execution.
IRAN - Political prisoner Narges Mohammadi suffers for witnessing execution.
JUNE 12, 2020AlabamaDEATH PENALTYUSA - Alabama. Prosecutor in favor of the annulment of Toforest Johnson's sentence.
USA - Alabama. Prosecutor in favor of the annulment of Toforest Johnson's sentence.
JUNE 10, 2020PennsylvaniaDEATH PENALTYUSA - Pennsylvania. Judge exonerates Walter Ogrod, making him number 169 of the "Innocence List".
USA - Pennsylvania. Judge exonerates Walter Ogrod, making him number 169 of the "Innocence List".
JUNE 9, 2020PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: DEATH SENTENCE IN JUVENILE CASE COMMUTED
A Pakistani court on 8 June 2020 commuted the death sentence for a defendant who has spent the last 18 years on death row for a crime he was convicted of committing when he was a juvenile, a local advocacy group said.
JUNE 9, 2020United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Florida. Governor Signs Bill Authorizing Compensation for Death-Row Exoneree Clifford Williams.
USA - Florida. Governor Signs Bill Authorizing Compensation for Death-Row Exoneree Clifford Williams.
JUNE 8, 2020TexasDEATH PENALTYUSA - Texas. Bobby Moore Granted Parole After 40 Years on Death Row.
USA - Texas. Bobby Moore Granted Parole After 40 Years on Death Row.
JUNE 6, 2020United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: PAUL BROWNING BECOMES THE 168TH PERSON EXONERATED FROM DEATH ROW
The Nevada Supreme Court affirmed the August 21, 2019 decision of a Las Vegas trial court that had dismissed all charges against former death-row prisoner Paul Browning, formally completing his exoneration.
- JUNE 5, 2020United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Pennsylvania. Walter Ogrod leaves prison after 28 years.
USA - Pennsylvania. Walter Ogrod leaves prison after 28 years.
JUNE 3, 2020IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: MORE THAN 3,000 ISIS TERRORISTS ON DEATH ROW
An Iraqi security source revealed that there are more than 3000 ISIS terrorists who have been sentenced to death without carrying out the punishment, Shiawaves reported on 2nd June 2020.
MAY 26, 2020DEATH PENALTYTEXAS (USA): RONALD PRIBLE COULD GO FREE WITHIN A MATTER OF MONTHS
A federal judge on 20 May 2020 ordered prosecutors to either bring new proceedings against a Texas death row inmate or release him from prison.
MAY 21, 2020DEATH PENALTYOREGON (USA): DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IS CLOSING DEATH ROW
Oregon Department of Corrections officials said on 15 May 2020 the agency will eliminate the state’s death row area of incarceration.
MAY 20, 2020TaiwanDEATH PENALTYTAIWAN: AFTER 19 YEARS ON DEATH ROW, HSIEH CHIH-HUNG FREED
The High Court’s Tainan branch on 15 May 2020 overturned a death sentence on rape and murder charges against Hsieh Chih-hung based on new findings from the Taiwan High Prosecutors’ Office after it restarted the investigation.
- MAY 20, 2020TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. Conviction of Ronald Prible overturned
USA - Texas. Conviction of Ronald Prible overturned
MAY 19, 2020PennsylvaniaDEATH PENALTYUSA - Pennsylvania. Kareem Johnson will be exonerated from Pennsylvania’s death row
USA - Pennsylvania. Kareem Johnson will be exonerated from Pennsylvania’s death row
MAY 16, 2020GeorgiaDEATH PENALTYUSA - Georgia. Johnny Lee Gates freed after 43 years
USA - Georgia. Johnny Lee Gates freed after 43 years
- MAY 15, 2020United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Oregon. Department of Corrections is closing death row
USA - Oregon. Department of Corrections is closing death row
MAY 6, 2020PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: IHC RELEASES EIGHT DEATH ROW CONVICTS
Eight men condemned to death by trial courts walked out free men after Islamabad High Court (IHC) decided their appeals during the lockdown period, IHC registrar office stated on 5 May 2020.
- APRIL 24, 2020ArizonaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Arizona. 4 death row prisoners have tested positive for coronavirus and another 5 are showing symptoms
USA - Arizona. 4 death row prisoners have tested positive for coronavirus and another 5 are showing symptoms
APRIL 16, 2020OklahomaDEATH PENALTYUSA - Pennsylvania. Federal Court Approves Settlement of Death-Row Conditions Lawsuit.
USA - Pennsylvania. Federal Court Approves Settlement of Death-Row Conditions Lawsuit.
APRIL 15, 2020United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Two tv series about death penalty.
USA - Two tv series about death penalty.
APRIL 14, 2020PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: 29 YEARS ON DEATH ROW, WOMAN SUFFERS MENTAL ILLNESS
Kanizan Bibi was 16 when she was charged with murdering her employer’s wife and five children. The police said she was having an affair with her employer, who was also arrested and later hanged.
- APRIL 9, 2020NevadaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Nevada. Battle over drugs for execution ends with no decision.
USA - Nevada. Battle over drugs for execution ends with no decision.