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, 2019AlgeriaDEATH 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, 2019United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is rarely applied in the UAE...
The death penalty is rarely applied in the UAE...
- JANUARY 1, 2019IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is applicable for murder..
The death penalty is applicable for murder...
- JANUARY 1, 2019Guinea-BissauDEATH PENALTY
Guinea Bissau abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1993.
Guinea Bissau abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1993.
- JANUARY 1, 2019IsraelDEATH PENALTY
The country has been abolitionist for ordinary crimes since 1954.
The country has been abolitionist for ordinary crimes since 1954.
- JANUARY 1, 2019ComorosDEATH PENALTY
Aggravated murder, treason and spying are capital crimes.
Aggravated murder, treason and spying are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2019NigerDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: premeditated murder, torture, aggravated theft, treason and offences against the State. Niger has not imposed the death penalty since 1976.
Capital crimes are: premeditated murder, torture, aggravated theft, treason and offences against the State. Niger has not imposed the death penalty since 1976.
- JANUARY 1, 2019AfghanistanDEATH 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
- DECEMBER 31, 2018CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. New trial for Freddie Lee Taylor
USA - California. New trial for Freddie Lee Taylor
DECEMBER 31, 2018South SudanDEATH PENALTYSOUTH SUDAN: TWO MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING A KENYAN PRIEST
Two men were on 18 December 2018 sentenced to death for killing a Kenyan priest in Cueibet, South Sudan on November 15, at around 2 am.
DECEMBER 31, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: BOMBAY HC UPHOLDS DEATH PENALTY OF WOMAN TECHIE KILLER
The Bombay High Court on 20 December 2018 upheld a trial court verdict awarding the death penalty to a man convicted of raping and killing a 23-year-old woman techie from Andhra Pradesh in 2014, describing him as a "menace to the society".
DECEMBER 28, 2018EgyptDEATH PENALTYEGYPT: ISIS-AFFILIATED MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING CHRISTIAN DOCTOR
The Cairo Criminal Court handed a death sentence to an ISIS-affiliated man who killed a christian doctor in his clinic in Shubra, Asharq Al-Awsat reported on 23 December 2018.
- DECEMBER 28, 2018JordanDEATH PENALTY
JORDAN: LIBYAN NATIONAL SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
The Criminal Court on 23 December 2018 convicted and sentenced a Libyan man to death for murdering a fellow national in Amman in July of 2017.
DECEMBER 27, 2018EgyptDEATH PENALTYEGYPT: AT LEAST 581 SENTENCED TO DEATH, 32 EXECUTED IN FIRST 11 MONTHS OF 2018
Over 30 people were executed and nearly 600 death sentences were issued in Egypt in the first 11 months of 2018, according to a report issued on 22 December 2018 by the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR).
DECEMBER 24, 2018ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: FORMER INNER MONGOLIA BANK CHIEF HANDED DEATH SENTENCE WITH TWO-YEAR REPRIEVE
A Chinese court on 21 December 2018 sentenced the former chairman of Bank of Inner Mongolia, a private joint-stock lender, to death for corruption with a two-year reprieve, the official Xinhua news agency said, effectively meaning he will be jailed for li
DECEMBER 24, 2018South SudanDEATH PENALTYSOUTH SUDAN: SOLDIER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING HIS CHILDREN IN BOR
A High Court in Jonglei State on 18 December 2018 sentenced to death a man who was found guilty of killing two of his children, two months ago.
DECEMBER 24, 2018United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTYUAE: ASIAN TO BE EXECUTED FOR KILLING COLLEAGUE
The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court sentenced an Asian to execution on charges of throttling his colleague to death with ghotra (cloth used by a community to form a turban out of the same), The Gulf Today reported on 18 December 2018.
- DECEMBER 21, 2018JordanDEATH PENALTY
JORDAN: COURT PASSES DEATH SENTENCE ON MAN FOR HIS MOTHER'S MURDER
The Criminal Court on 18 December 2018 sentenced a 29-year-old man to death after convicting him of murdering and decapitating his mother in Amman in November of 2016.
DECEMBER 21, 2018JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: OSAKA MAN GIVEN DEATH SENTENCE FOR CHILD MURDERS
A court in Osaka on 19 December 2018 sentenced a man to death for the murders of a 13-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy.
- DECEMBER 20, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: MAN AWARDED DEATH PENALTY FOR 'WAGING WAR AGAINST COUNTRY'
A district court on 15 December 2018 sentenced Sheikh Abdullah Nayeem alias Sk Samir, who had links with terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, to death for "waging war against the country".
- DECEMBER 20, 2018FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. The Florida Supreme Court revesed the death sentence of Gerald Murray.
USA - Florida. The Florida Supreme Court revesed the death sentence of Gerald Murray.
- DECEMBER 20, 2018FloridaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Florida. The Florida Supreme Court upheld the non unanimous death sentence of Steven Taylor
USA - Florida. The Florida Supreme Court upheld the non unanimous death sentence of Steven Taylor
DECEMBER 20, 2018PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: 310 TERRORISTS SENTENCED TO DEATH, 56 EXECUTED
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on 16 December 2018 released details of the death sentences awarded to convicted terrorists and their executions following trial by military courts.
- DECEMBER 19, 2018UgandaDEATH PENALTY
UGANDA: SFC SOLDIER, GUARD GET DEATH FOR MURDER
A soldier of the Special Forces Command and a security guard were on 14 December 2018 sentenced to death for the murder of a Mobile Money agent over two years ago.
DECEMBER 18, 2018SyriaDEATH PENALTYSYRIA: DAMASCUS COURT PUTS 4 DEFENDANTS ON DEATH ROW
The Damascus Criminal Court has handed down death sentences to the head of Tahrir al-Sham Mohamed al-Sharaa, known by his alias Abu Muhammad al-Julani and Jaysh al-Islam group head Essam al-Buwaydhani, aawsat.com reported on 12 December 2018.
DECEMBER 17, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: HC ABOLISHES SOLITARY CONFINEMENT FOR PRISONERS FACING DEATH PENALTY
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on 14 December 2018 abolished the practice adopted by the jail authorities in Punjab to segregate convicts immediately after the pronouncement of death sentence by the trial court and its confirmation by the High Court.
- DECEMBER 17, 2018PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: TWO CHRISTIAN BROTHERS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR BLASPHEMY IN PUNJAB
Two Christian brothers have been sentenced to death in Pakistan on blasphemy charges, the Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) announced on 14 December 2018.
- DECEMBER 14, 2018ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA TO EXECUTE MAN WHO RAMMED SUV INTO CROWD THEN ATTACKED PEOPLE WITH SHOVEL AND HAMMER
A man who killed 15 people and injured dozens more when he ploughed a vehicle into a public square before attacking pedestrians with a hammer and a shovel, is to be executed by Chinese authorities.
- DECEMBER 14, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: SC COMMUTES TO LIFE DEATH SENTENCE OF A MAN WHO KILLED SIX PEOPLE
The Supreme Court on 12 December 2018 commuted to life imprisonment the death penalty awarded to a man for hacking to death six members of a family in Kerala in 2001.
- DECEMBER 13, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN URMIA OVER DRUG CHARGES
According to the IHR sources, Younes Azizi was hanged on 10 December 2018 at Urmia Central Prison. He was sentenced to death for drug offenses.