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
- MARCH 27, 2008AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
AFGHANISTAN: JOURNALIST UNDER DEATH SENTENCE MOVED TO KABUL AHEAD OF HIS APPEAL
Reporters Without Borders welcomed the transfer to Kabul ahead of his appeal hearing of young Afghan journalist Sayed Perwiz Kambakhsh, who has been sentenced to death.
- MARCH 25, 2008MexicoDEATH PENALTY
The U.S. Supreme Court, in the Medellin v. Texas case, ruled in a 6-3 decision that the President does not have the authority to order states to follow decisions of the International Court of Justice
The U.S. Supreme Court, in the Medellin v. Texas case, ruled in a 6-3 decision that the President does not have the authority to order states to follow decisions of the International Court of Justice
- MARCH 22, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. WOMAN BOSS GETS DEATH PENALTY FOR FRAUD
a woman boss of a beauty parlour was sentenced to death in east China's Zhejiang
- MARCH 20, 2008UgandaDEATH PENALTY
the hearing of the appeal, in which over 400 condemned inmates in Uganda are
the hearing of the appeal, in which over 400 condemned inmates in Uganda are
- MARCH 19, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. NEW DEATH PENALTY FOR KURDISH JOURNALIST
A young Kurdish journalist has been condemned to death in Iran for the second
- MARCH 19, 2008Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA. ACCUSED IN MURDER CASE SENTENCED TO DEATH
in Sri Lanka, Galle High Court Judge Bandusena Rajapakse sentenced Appuwa
- MARCH 18, 2008VietnamDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM. AUSTRALIAN WOMAN FACES FIRING SQUAD
an Australian woman of Vietnamese origin lost her court appeal and will face a
- MARCH 17, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN. DEATH SENTENCE FOR MURDERING TWO RELATIVES
a man who murdered and robbed two relatives in Kyoto and Kanagawa
- MARCH 15, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
a local court in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, in India, awarded the death penalty to a
a local court in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, in India, awarded the death penalty to a
- MARCH 10, 2008AlgeriaDEATH PENALTY
nine Islamists were sentenced to death in absentia by the tribunal in Bourmedés...
nine Islamists were sentenced to death in absentia by the tribunal in Bourmedés...
- MARCH 9, 2008DEATH PENALTY
ALGERIA. 100 PEOPLE SENTENCED TO DEATH IN ABSENTIA THIS YEAR
about 100 People involved in cases related to terrorism acts, have been
- MARCH 9, 2008VietnamDEATH PENALTY
a court in northern Vietnam sentenced four people to death and seven others...
a court in northern Vietnam sentenced four people to death and seven others...
- MARCH 7, 2008AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
AFGHANISTAN. AFGHAN SOLDIER GETS DEATH PENALTY
a military court in Afghanistan, sentenced an Afghan soldier to death for killing a
- MARCH 6, 2008AlgeriaDEATH PENALTY
three Islamists were sentenced to death in absentia in Bourmedés...
three Islamists were sentenced to death in absentia in Bourmedés...
- MARCH 5, 2008FloridaDEATH PENALTY
Jurors today recommended Lawrence Joey Smith
Jurors today recommended Lawrence Joey Smith
- MARCH 5, 2008Trinidad & TobagoDEATH PENALTY
TRINIDAD: DEATH SENTENCE FOR ICE-PICK MURDER
Reed Richards, 35, was sentenced to death for the murder of 56 year old taxi-driver Roland Marshall, who was stabbed more than 40 times with an ice-pick.
- MARCH 5, 2008PakistanDEATH PENALTY
a Pakistani tribunal sentenced Anwarul Haq to death...
a Pakistani tribunal sentenced Anwarul Haq to death...
- MARCH 4, 2008FloridaDEATH PENALTY
In Jacksonville, Circuit Judge Michael Weatherby
In Jacksonville, Circuit Judge Michael Weatherby
- MARCH 4, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
a district court in Baghpat, India, awarded the death penalty to an accused in a
a district court in Baghpat, India, awarded the death penalty to an accused in a
- MARCH 3, 2008CanadaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA. CANADIAN SENTENCED TO DEATH
Mohamed Kohail, a Canadian citizen jailed in Saudi Arabia on murder charges
- FEBRUARY 29, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. 'CHEMICAL ALI' EXECUTION APPROVED
the execution of Saddam Hussein's cousin and henchman "Chemical Ali" has
- FEBRUARY 29, 2008UgandaDEATH PENALTY
UGANDA. PGB SOLDIER SENTENCED TO DEATH
a soldier attached to the Presidential Guard Brigade (PGB) in Uganda
- FEBRUARY 29, 2008GhanaDEATH PENALTY
GOVERNMENT SECURES PARDON FOR KANKAM
a Ghanaian citizen, Kwabena Kankam, sentenced to death in Lybia, was pardoned
- FEBRUARY 27, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
in Iran five teenagers were sentenced...
in Iran five teenagers were sentenced...
- FEBRUARY 27, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
at a high court in Japan, presiding Judge Masaaki Ogawa nullified
at a high court in Japan, presiding Judge Masaaki Ogawa nullified
- FEBRUARY 26, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
the Ahmedabad District and Sessions Court in India sentenced a person to death
the Ahmedabad District and Sessions Court in India sentenced a person to death
- FEBRUARY 26, 2008Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Ahmed al Bahrani, sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for murder...
Ahmed al Bahrani, sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for murder...
- FEBRUARY 25, 2008AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
AFGHANISTAN. REPORTER DENIED ACCESS TO LAWYER
an Afghan reporter sentenced to death after downloading an article
- FEBRUARY 25, 2008FloridaDEATH PENALTY
An Orange County jury recommended today that 21-year-old Dane Abdool receive the death penalty
An Orange County jury recommended today that 21-year-old Dane Abdool receive the death penalty
- FEBRUARY 25, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. KURDISH TEACHER SENTENCED TO DEATH
Branch 30 of Iran's Revolutionary Court sentenced Kurdish teacher Farzad