Death sentences
Archive theme
A death sentence is not the same thing as an execution: years can pass between the two, and the sentence may be overturned on appeal, commuted, or never carried out. Counting them separately measures two different things: how far a state resorts to capital punishment, and how far it actually applies it.
This page collects the news on death sentences handed down around the world, on the later stages of appeal, and on the sentences upheld or overturned. Executions have a page of their own.
Latest news
- JANUARY 11, 2018MissouriDEATH PENALTY
USA - Missouri. Judge Thomas Mountjoy sentenced Craig Wood to death
USA - Missouri. Judge Thomas Mountjoy sentenced Craig Wood to death
- JANUARY 11, 2018FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. A jury sentenced Peter Avsenew to death.
USA - Florida. A jury sentenced Peter Avsenew to death.
- JANUARY 10, 2018Congo - KinshasaDEATH PENALTY
Beni: two militia chiefs sentenced to death
10 January 2018: the military Court of North Kivu, sitting in the fair room in Beni, condemned Ugandan rebels of the ADF and their collaborators to sentences which vary between two years of penal servitude to the death penalty.
JANUARY 9, 2018DEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH: 2 MOULVIBAZAR WAR CRIMINALS GET DEATH PENALTY
A special tribunal in Dhaka sentenced death penalty to two people from Moulvibazar and life-term jail to three others for committing crimes during the Liberation War in 1971.
JANUARY 9, 2018DEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR ARMED ROBBERY
A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, sentenced one Mutiu Oyedeji to death by hanging after he was found guilty of armed robbery.
- JANUARY 8, 2018Congo - KinshasaDEATH PENALTY
Beni: one condemned to death
8 January 2018: the operational military Court of North Kivu had sentenced to death Kamal Selemani
- JANUARY 4, 2018PennsylvaniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Pennsylvania. Jose DeJesus has been re-sentenced to three consecutive terms of life without parole.
USA - Pennsylvania. Jose DeJesus has been re-sentenced to three consecutive terms of life without parole.
- JANUARY 3, 2018EgyptDEATH PENALTY
the number of civilians sentenced to death in Egypt's military courts leapt from 60 in 2016 to at least 112 in 2017,
the number of civilians sentenced to death in Egypt's military courts leapt from 60 in 2016 to at least 112 in 2017,
JANUARY 3, 2018DEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: MAN GETS DEATH SENTENCE FOR 18G OF HEROIN
A suspect found guilty for the possession and distribution of heroin was sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court.
JANUARY 3, 2018DEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: FIVE ACCUSED OF TERROR ATTACK ARE SENTENCED TO DEATH
The Somali Military Court sentenced five defendants to death for participating in the October 14 attack that caused 512 deaths, attributed by the government to the terrorist group Al Shabab.
JANUARY 2, 2018EgyptDEATH PENALTYEGYPT: FIVE PRISONERS HANGED DAYS AFTER MASS EXECUTION
Egyptian prison authorities executed five inmates who had been sentenced to death, four of them over a bombing that killed military cadets, security officials said.
- JANUARY 1, 2018TanzaniaDEATH PENALTY
Tanzania still retains the death penalty as one of punishments under...
Tanzania still retains the death penalty as one of punishments under...
- JANUARY 1, 2018MoroccoDEATH PENALTY
The Country has 11 crimes that carry the death penalty
The Country has 11 crimes that carry the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2018KuwaitDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is provided for by laws based on the Sharia.
The death penalty is provided for by laws based on the Sharia.
- JANUARY 1, 2018United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is rarely applied in the UAE...
The death penalty is rarely applied in the UAE...
- JANUARY 1, 2018Palestinian TerritoriesDEATH PENALTY
On 29 November 2012, the General Assembly voted to grant
On 29 November 2012, the General Assembly voted to grant
- JANUARY 1, 2018IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is applicable for murder..
The death penalty is applicable for murder...
- JANUARY 1, 2018SudanDEATH PENALTY
The 1991 penal code based on Sharia law prescribes both the death penalty and corporal punishment.
The 1991 penal code based on Sharia law prescribes both the death penalty and corporal punishment.
- JANUARY 1, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
In Malaysia capital crimes include murder...
In Malaysia capital crimes include murder...
- JANUARY 1, 2018PakistanDEATH PENALTY
Pakistan sanctions the death penalty for 27 offences
Pakistan sanctions the death penalty for 27 offences
- JANUARY 1, 2018Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islamic law
Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islamic law
- JANUARY 1, 2018SingaporeDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: murder, treason, offences against the President, illegal possession of arms, kidnapping and causing an innocent person to be executed by bearing false witness.
Capital crimes are: murder, treason, offences against the President, illegal possession of arms, kidnapping and causing an innocent person to be executed by bearing false witness.
- JANUARY 1, 2018LaosDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
- JANUARY 1, 2018BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
Article 32 of the Constitution provides
Article 32 of the Constitution provides
- JANUARY 1, 2018CameroonDEATH PENALTY
Cameroon applies the death penalty for treason.
Cameroon applies the death penalty for treason.
- JANUARY 1, 2018AlgeriaDEATH PENALTY
Algeria’s laws prescribe the death penalty for a range of crimes including ordinary crimes.
Algeria’s laws prescribe the death penalty for a range of crimes including ordinary crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2018EgyptDEATH PENALTY
The Egyptian Constitution makes no reference to the death penalty.
The Egyptian Constitution makes no reference to the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2018AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
The 2004 Afghan Constitution, in article 23 asserts the right to life
The 2004 Afghan Constitution, in article 23 asserts the right to life
- JANUARY 1, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
In accordance with Article 4 of the Iranian Constitution...
In accordance with Article 4 of the Iranian Constitution...
- JANUARY 1, 2018South SudanDEATH PENALTY
The Republic of South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011
The Republic of South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011