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 1, 2014South 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
- JANUARY 1, 2014Guinea-BissauDEATH PENALTY
Guinea Bissau abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1993.
Guinea Bissau abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1993.
DECEMBER 31, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: MAN GETS DEATH SENTENCE FOR MINOR’S RAPE, MURDER
A fast track court in Jammu and Kashmir, India, awarded the death penalty to an accused charged
DECEMBER 28, 2013PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: TWO GET DEATH SENTENCE IN BLASPHEMY CASE
In Pakistan, additional Sessions Judge Chaudhry Zafar Iqbal awarded death sentences to two
- DECEMBER 27, 2013CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A jury sentenced Robert Gonzales Castro, 34, Hispanic, to death
USA - California. A jury sentenced Robert Gonzales Castro, 34, Hispanic, to death
- DECEMBER 27, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Nigeria - A Katsina State High Court sitting in Malumfashi sentenced Aminu Ibrahim to death
Nigeria - A Katsina State High Court sitting in Malumfashi sentenced Aminu Ibrahim to death
DECEMBER 25, 2013Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: BLOGGER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR APOSTASY
Raif Badawi, a Saudi blogger who has been in prison since June 2012 for violating the nation’s anti-
- DECEMBER 24, 2013AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
Afghanistan - Afghan soldier who killed three Australian soldiers has been sentenced to death
Afghanistan - Afghan soldier who killed three Australian soldiers has been sentenced to death
- DECEMBER 22, 2013Congo - KinshasaDEATH PENALTY
two soldiers got death sentences for sexual violence - one for rape and the other for having taken part in the
two soldiers got death sentences for sexual violence - one for rape and the other for having taken part in the
- DECEMBER 19, 2013Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI PRINCE SAVES KILLER FROM EXECUTION
A Saudi sentenced to death for killing another citizen is set to walk free after mediation by
- DECEMBER 19, 2013CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A San Bernardino jury sentenced John Wayne Thomson to death
USA - California. A San Bernardino jury sentenced John Wayne Thomson to death
- DECEMBER 18, 2013BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
Bangladesh - Eight activists of the Awami League were awarded death penalty
Bangladesh - Eight activists of the Awami League were awarded death penalty
- DECEMBER 17, 2013BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS: ACTIVISTS SAY AUTHORITIES HIDING INFORMATION ON DEATH PENALTIES
The Minsk regional court has said that a man it sentenced to death last month is a Moscow-
- DECEMBER 16, 2013AlabamaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Alabama. Judge Brian Howell overrode a jury's recommendation and sentenced Joshua Russell to death.
USA - Alabama. Judge Brian Howell overrode a jury's recommendation and sentenced Joshua Russell to death.
- DECEMBER 15, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. Secretary of State John Kerry urges Texas to reconsider death sentence of Edgar Arias Tamayo, a Mexican citizen
USA - Texas. Secretary of State John Kerry urges Texas to reconsider death sentence of Edgar Arias Tamayo, a Mexican citizen
- DECEMBER 14, 2013United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UAE: ON DEATH ROW, NEPALI MAN GETS CLEMENCY
A Nepali migrant worker, who was sentenced to death by a court in the United Arab Emirates on
- DECEMBER 13, 2013ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
Zimbabwe - Two men who assaulted and raped woman before killing her companion, sentenced to death
Zimbabwe - Two men who assaulted and raped woman before killing her companion, sentenced to death
DECEMBER 13, 2013VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: 5 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A court in central Vietnam sentenced five people, including four women, to death and another
DECEMBER 13, 2013LebanonDEATH PENALTYLEBANON: MILITARY COURT SENTENCES DOCTOR, HIS BROTHER FOR COLLABORATING WITH MOSSAD
A Lebanese military court sentenced a doctor to ten years in prisoner and his brother to
- DECEMBER 12, 2013JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN EXECUTES 2 KILLERS; PERIOD ON DEATH ROW SHORTENS UNDER LDP-LED GOVERNMENT
Two convicted murderers were hanged in the fourth round of executions since the Liberal
- DECEMBER 12, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTY
India - A Ferozepur court sentenced a man to death for killing a seven-year-old boy
India - A Ferozepur court sentenced a man to death for killing a seven-year-old boy
- DECEMBER 12, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
Nigeria - Three Men Sentenced To Death For Robbery by an Ogwashi-Uku High Court
Nigeria - Three Men Sentenced To Death For Robbery by an Ogwashi-Uku High Court
- DECEMBER 11, 2013TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. A jury sentenced James Harris, 54, Black, to death.
USA - Texas. A jury sentenced James Harris, 54, Black, to death.
- DECEMBER 10, 2013CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. A jury sentenced Joseph Michael Nissensohn, 62, White, to death
USA - California. A jury sentenced Joseph Michael Nissensohn, 62, White, to death
DECEMBER 10, 2013PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: FOUR SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
The anti-terrorist court in Taxila (Pakistan) sentenced four people to death for abducting and
- DECEMBER 9, 2013SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
a Hargeisa City Councillor, Mustaffe Osman Dahir, was sentenced to death by the Regional
a Hargeisa City Councillor, Mustaffe Osman Dahir, was sentenced to death by the Regional
- DECEMBER 8, 2013DEATH PENALTY
CONNECTICUT (USA): POLAND'S PRESIDENT CHALLENGES STATE'S DEATH PENALTY
In what could spark an international incident, the president of Poland is demanding the state not execute
- DECEMBER 8, 2013Palestinian TerritoriesDEATH PENALTY
the High Military Court in Gaza sentenced Z. R. to death by hanging, after convicting him of betrayal
the High Military Court in Gaza sentenced Z. R. to death by hanging, after convicting him of betrayal
- DECEMBER 8, 2013PolandDEATH PENALTY
USA - Connecticut. Poland's president challenges state's death penalty
USA - Connecticut. Poland's president challenges state's death penalty
- DECEMBER 5, 2013SyriaDEATH PENALTY
a Sunni jihadist group convicted and sentenced Syrian artist Khalil Hem-Sourek to death in absentia,
a Sunni jihadist group convicted and sentenced Syrian artist Khalil Hem-Sourek to death in absentia,