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
APRIL 3, 2022BangladeshDEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH: WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TRAFFICKING 0.5 KG OF HEROIN
A court in Bangladesh on 31 March 2022 sentenced a woman caught with a 0.5 kg of heroin in Gaibandha in 2018 to death in a narcotics case.
APRIL 1, 2022MissouriDEATH PENALTYUSA - Missouri. Marvin Rice sentenced to death
First death sentence in Missouri in nine years
MARCH 31, 2022BangladeshDEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH: 4 GET DEATH PENALTY FOR KILLING BLOGGER ANANTA BIJOY
Four persons on 30 March 2022 were sentenced to death in Bangladesh for killing writer and blogger Ananta Bijoy Das of Sylhet in May 2015.
MARCH 31, 2022PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: 2 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR PLAN TO BOMB THE SINDH ASSEMBLY
Two terrorists on 30 March 2022 were sentenced to death for their plot to blow up the Sindh Assembly and other government buildings in Karachi, while their three accomplices will serve three rigorous life sentences.
MARCH 30, 2022SingaporeDEATH PENALTYSINGAPORE: DRUG TRAFFICKER HANGED IN RESUMPTION OF EXECUTIONS
A Singaporean man on death row for drug trafficking was hanged on 30 March 2022 in the first execution in the city-state in over two years, rights activists said.
MARCH 30, 2022LouisianaDEATH PENALTYUSA - Louisiana. The state can’t buy drugs to use in executions
So judge drops death penalty case
- MARCH 28, 2022TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. 87 out of 150 Representatives Call for Clemency for Melissa Lucio
Who risks execution for the probable accidental death of her daughter
MARCH 28, 2022TaiwanDEATH PENALTYTAIWAN: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR 2020 RAPE, MURDER OF MALAYSIAN STUDENT
A 30-year-old man was convicted on 18 March 2022 of raping and killing a Malaysian university student in 2020, and he was sentenced to death by the Taiwan Ciaotou District Court.
MARCH 28, 2022DEATH PENALTYIRAN - Zarkhatoon Mazarzehi sentenced to death
A Baluch woman
MARCH 26, 2022SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: FIVE SOLDIERS SENTENCED TO DEATH IN GALMUDUG
Galmudug Military Court on 24 March 2022 sentenced five members of Galmudug's Police, Army and Paramilitary Forces to death.
MARCH 24, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH IN EKITI FOR RAPING, KILLING LANDLADY
An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on 23 March 2022 sentenced a man, Tunmise Abraham, to death by hanging for raping and killing his landlady, Mrs Bukola Olanrewaju, a mother of three.
MARCH 23, 2022IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: MAN GETS DEATH PENALTY FOR HONOUR KILLING
A court in Ahmedabad on 15 March 2022 punished one Hardik Chavda (27) with death for killing his pregnant sister and brother-in-law in a case of honour killing in Sanand town in September 2018.
MARCH 23, 2022Myanmar (Burma)DEATH PENALTYMYANMAR: FIFTEEN YOUTHS IN YANGON SENTENCED TO DEATH AND LIFE IMPRISONMENT
Myanmar military tribunal has sentenced fifteen youths to death and life imprisonment in Yangon, Burma News International reported on 22 March 2022, citing the military council.
MARCH 22, 2022BangladeshDEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH: FOUR SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING NARAYANGANJ SCHOOLBOY
The Narayanganj Additional District and Sessions Judge Court-2 on 20 March 2022 sentenced four people to death and two others to life term rigorous imprisonment for killing a schoolboy in 2013.
- MARCH 18, 2022FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. State to drop death penalty in resentencing of Richard Allen Johnson
- MARCH 17, 2022AlabamaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Alabama. Jury again recommends death for Nicholas Smith
- MARCH 17, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
NIGERIA: CLERIC SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING FRIEND IN LAGOS
A Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, on 16 March 2022, sentenced a 34-year-old cleric, Fatai Afobaje, to death for killing his friend and mutilating his body
MARCH 16, 2022NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: THREE PERSONS SENTENCED TO DEATH IN RIVERS STATE
After 11 years of trial, Godffrey Hanson, Chima Wokoma and Andy Clement have been sentenced to death by hanging in Rivers state for the murder of Chief Precious Nwali and Charles Nwogu, a former director at the state Ministry of Health, Elanhub reported o
MARCH 16, 2022SingaporeDEATH PENALTYSINGAPORE: COURT REJECTS APPEALS BY THREE MEN ON DEATH ROW
A Singapore court on 16 March 2022 rejected appeals by three men sentenced to death for drugs offences despite criticism from the United Nations and rights campaigners.
MARCH 16, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hamid Rastegar and Gholamreza Paki executed in Isfahan on March 16
MARCH 15, 2022BangladeshDEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH: NINE SENTENCED TO DEATH IN NAOGAON FOR TRIPLE MURDER
The Naogaon Additional District and Sessions Judge Court on 14 March 2022 sentenced nine people to death and another to life term imprisonment for murdering three people in Badalgachhi upazila in the district in 2014.
MARCH 15, 2022SudanDEATH PENALTYSUDAN: INTELLIGENCE AGENT SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING
The El Obeid Court in North Kordofan, Sudan, sentenced a member of the General Intelligence Service (GIS) to death by hanging on 14 March 2022.
MARCH 15, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hatem Ozdemir sentenced to death
Kurdish political prisoner
MARCH 14, 2022United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTYUAE: UMM AL QUWAIN COURT SENTENCES AFRICAN MAN TO DEATH FOR HIS ROOMMATE'S MURDER
An African man has been sentenced to death for murdering his roommate by stabbing him in the chest and heart, Khaleej Times reported on 13 March 2022.
- MARCH 13, 2022BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS: UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE CONDEMNS EXECUTION
The UN Human Rights Committee on 10 March 2022 condemned Belarus for its execution of Victor Pavlov, whose petition was still being examined by the Committee.
MARCH 13, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Political prisoner Firooz Moosa-Lou sentenced to death
For membership in the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)
- MARCH 9, 2022IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: MAN GETS DEATH PENALTY FOR MURDER, RAPE OF WOMAN AND DAUGHTER IN GUJARAT
A court in Gujarat on 7 March 2022 sentenced a man to death for raping and murdering a woman and her 11-year-old daughter in 2018, a case that had triggered national outrage. His accomplice was given life imprisonment on the charge of murder.
MARCH 9, 2022TunisiaDEATH PENALTYTUNISIA: 16 SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER 2016 ATTACKS
A Tunisian court sentenced 16 people to death in the first judgments against militants involved in 2016 attacks near the Libyan border that left scores dead, media reported on 5 March 2022.
- MARCH 8, 2022EgyptDEATH PENALTY
EGYPT: 4 MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR 2014 MURDER OF 2 POLICEMEN
A Sharqiya criminal court handed on 3 March 2022 death sentences against four men and handed 7-15 jail terms to 26 others for murdering two policemen and attempting to murder other security personnel in 2014.
MARCH 7, 2022EgyptDEATH PENALTYEGYPT: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING HIS CHILDREN DIES IN PRISON
An Egyptian man, who was sentenced to death for killing his three children with help of his two wives, died in prison before the death penalty could be carried out, Gulf News reported on 3 March 2022, citing local media.