The death penalty for drug offences
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International law restricts the death penalty, where it still exists, to the most serious crimes, and United Nations bodies have made clear more than once that drug offences do not belong to that category. Despite this, some states go on sentencing people to death and executing them for trafficking or possession of narcotics: in certain years these executions are a substantial share of the world total.
This page collects the news on death sentences and executions for drug offences.
Latest news
- JANUARY 19, 2011United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH IN ABU DHABI
an Abu Dhabi appeal court sentenced an Afghan national to death for smuggling
JANUARY 18, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: EXECUTED FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
Iran has hanged a drug smuggler in the southern city of Zarand in Kerman province
JANUARY 12, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SEVEN MEN EXECUTED IN TEHRAN
seven men were hanged in Tehran’s Evin prison early this morning. According to the Iranian news agency Aftab, the seven men were convicted of drug trafficking.
JANUARY 5, 2011MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: INDIAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TRAFFICKING DRUGS
A 27-year-old Indian was sentenced to death by a Malaysian court on charges
- JANUARY 2, 2011YemenDEATH PENALTY
YEMEN HANDS DOWN DEATH SENTENCE TO SOMALI DRUG DEALER
the Primary Specialized Penal Court in Yemen's Hadramout province
- JANUARY 2, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: DUTCH IRANIAN WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH IN IRAN
Dutch-Iranian woman Zahra Bahrami was found guilty of drug smuggling and sentenced to death by a court in Tehran, Iran, her daughter confirmed. She is reported to have been arrested after taking part in anti-government demonstrations.
- JANUARY 1, 2011MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
In Malaysia capital crimes include murder...
In Malaysia capital crimes include murder...
- JANUARY 1, 2011Palestinian TerritoriesDEATH PENALTY
In Palestinian areas three types of legislation are applied.
In Palestinian areas three types of legislation are applied.
- JANUARY 1, 2011LaosDEATH 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, 2011VietnamDEATH PENALTY
Vietnam applies the death penalty for 29 different crimes.
Vietnam applies the death penalty for 29 different crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2011PakistanDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is imposed for several crimes...
The death penalty is imposed for several crimes...
- JANUARY 1, 2011SingaporeDEATH 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, 2011BruneiDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is mandatory for murder, unlawful possession of firearms and explosives
The death penalty is mandatory for murder, unlawful possession of firearms and explosives
- DECEMBER 29, 2010MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: COUPLE SENT TO GALLOWS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Fisherman Shahrizal Said, 33 and his wife Zarimah Yusoff, 30, both from Alor Setar, Kedah, were sentenced to death by Justice Nurmala Salim of the Malaysian High Court for trafficking in heroin weighing 91.86gm, monoacetylmorphines weighing 73.76gm and me
- DECEMBER 25, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: SEVEN PEOPLE HANGED
According to the news from Iran, seven prisoners were hanged in three different Iranian towns early on the Christmas day.
DECEMBER 24, 2010IndonesiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: INDONESIAN WOMAN TO HANG FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Malaysian High Court Judge Dr Badariah Sahamid sentenced indonesian woman
DECEMBER 23, 2010ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: 9 EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
China executed at least nine people for drug-related crimes in the
- DECEMBER 9, 2010MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: DEATH SENTENCE TO INDIAN FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
a Malaysian court sentenced a 41-year-old Indian national to death for drug trafficking.
NOVEMBER 23, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN HANGED IN THE CENTRAL TOWN OF KASHAN
One man was hanged in the central Iranian town of Kashan, reported the Iranian
NOVEMBER 9, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE PEOPLE HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
According to the reports from Iran five prisoners were hanged in the prison of Gonbad
OCTOBER 27, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE PEOPLE HANGED IN TEHRAN IN THE PAST FEW DAYS
Five people have been hanged in Tehran during the past few days.
- OCTOBER 11, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN DEFENDS EXECUTION OF DRUG TRAFFICKERS
Iran defended its executions of people for drug trafficking, ISNA news agency reported.
- OCTOBER 11, 2010IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
INDONESIA: FILIPINA GETS DEATH SENTENCE IN INDONESIA FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
a Filipino woman found in possession of 2.6 kilograms of heroin was sentenced to death by a lower court in Yogyakarta court, Indonesia, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) belatedly reported. She was arrested at Yogyakarta Airport on April 25.
- OCTOBER 10, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: ONE WOMAN, THREE MEN HANGED ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY
One woman and three men were hanged in the prison of Zanjan, west of Iran, early this morning
- OCTOBER 5, 2010GambiaDEATH PENALTY
GAMBIA INTRODUCES DEATH PENALTY FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
a new law approved in Gambia sets anyone convicted of possessing more than 250 g of cocaine
- OCTOBER 4, 2010MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: DUO SENTENCED TO HANG FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Judge Normala Salim of the Penang High Court in Malaysia sentenced friends welder
- OCTOBER 3, 2010DEATH PENALTY
IRAN: THREE MEN, WOMAN HANGED
three men and a woman were hanged recently in Iran, iranian media reported.
- SEPTEMBER 22, 2010IranDEATH PENALTY
a person was hanged in Aran-Bigdel (province of Isfahan, Central Iran) for drug trafficking
a person was hanged in Aran-Bigdel (province of Isfahan, Central Iran) for drug trafficking
SEPTEMBER 22, 2010DEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PEOPLE HANGED IN KERMAN AND ISFAHAN
Two people were hanged in Kerman (southeast of Iran) and Aran-Bigdel (province
SEPTEMBER 20, 2010IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE PEOPLE HANGED IN YAZD
Three people were hanged in the morning in the prison of Yazd, central Iran, reported the state run Iranian news agency ISNA.