Executions
Archive theme
An execution is the act by which a state puts a condemned person to death. Hands Off Cain records the cases documented by public sources: press agencies, local newspapers, human rights organisations, official statements. The figure that results is a confirmed minimum, not an estimate of the real total: several states publish no data on executions, and in some countries they are not announced even to the families.
This page collects the news on the executions recorded by the association. The totals by country and by year are in the database.
Latest news
FEBRUARY 22, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Sarkawt Ahmadi executed in Kermashan on February 22
Political prisoner
FEBRUARY 22, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 2 women executed in Karaj
Fariba Hosseini and Nazifeh …
FEBRUARY 21, 2023SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: FOUR SOLDIERS EXECUTED BY FIRING SQUAD
Four Somali officials, including from the military, police and the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) were executed on 2 February 2023 by firing squad in the nation’s capital of Mogadishu.
FEBRUARY 21, 2023AlabamaDEATH PENALTYUSA - Alabama. "Almost ready to use nitrogen hypoxia"
Recapitulating the Failed Promise of Humane Execution
FEBRUARY 21, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Davood Rakjan executed in Birjand on February 21
(aka Haj Nabi Kharkoohi)
FEBRUARY 21, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 3 men executed in Urmia on February 21
FEBRUARY 20, 2023SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: MILITARY COURT EXECUTES TWO SOLDIERS FOR CIVILIAN KILLING
Two Somali officials were executed on 18 February 2023 by firing squad in the nation’s capital of Mogadishu.
FEBRUARY 20, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hassan Abyat executed in Ahvaz on February 20
FEBRUARY 20, 2023GermanyDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Jamshid Sharmahd sentenced to death
Iranian-German dissident kidnapped from the UAE
FEBRUARY 20, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Alireza and Safar Mohammadpour executed in Torbat Jam on on February 20
Two Baluch brothers
- FEBRUARY 16, 2023IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Nijomi Moradi executed in Urmia on February 16
FEBRUARY 15, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 2 men (unidentified) executed in Gohardasht on February 15
FEBRUARY 15, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Parviz Frotani executed in Neyshabur on February 15
- FEBRUARY 14, 2023IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Milad Jajuyi Khanik and Mohammad Ali Akhtari Kahlan executed in Urmia on February 14
- FEBRUARY 14, 2023IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 3 prisoners were executed in Karaj on February 14
FEBRUARY 14, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 3 men executed in Arak on February 14
Mostafa Majnouni + 2 unidentified
- FEBRUARY 14, 2023IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Hassan Teyran executed in Urmia on February 14
FEBRUARY 13, 2023BangladeshDEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH: MAN HANGED FOR KILLING DR. NAZNIN, HOUSEHELP
A 42-year-old man has been executed at Kashimpur Central jail for killing Dr. Naznin Akhtar and her housemaid 17 years ago, authorities said on 10 February 2023.
FEBRUARY 12, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Sirous Gholami executed in Gorgan on February 12
FEBRUARY 8, 2023TexasDEATH PENALTYUSA - Texas. John Balentine, 54, Black, was executed on February 8
FEBRUARY 7, 2023MissouriDEATH PENALTYUSA - Missouri. Leonard “Raheem” Taylor, 58, Black, was executed on February 7
Fifth execution of the year in US
- FEBRUARY 6, 2023GuyanaDEATH PENALTY
GUYANA COURT SENTENCES TWO PIRATES TO DEATH FOR 2018 ATTACK
A Guyanese court on 31 January 2023 handed down death sentences for two men found guilty of high seas piracy attacks that killed seven fishermen off the nation’s coast in 2018.
FEBRUARY 6, 2023NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: TWO OFFICERS OF DISBANDED POLICE UNIT SENTENCED TO DEATH IN RIVERS STATE
Two former officers of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) on 3 February 2023 were sentenced to death by hanging in Rivers state for the killing of Michael Akor and Michael Igwe, while in their custody.
FEBRUARY 5, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ebrahim Hojjat Qoli executed in Zanjan on February 5
- FEBRUARY 2, 2023TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. Wesley Ruiz, 43, Hispanic, was executed on February 1
FEBRUARY 2, 2023Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: DEATH PENALTY USE HAS ALMOST DOUBLED UNDER RULE OF MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN
The use of the death penalty under the rule of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and his father, King Salman, has almost doubled annually since they rose to power, according to a new report seen by ABC News.
- FEBRUARY 1, 2023IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Ahmad Zali Tabar and Omid Ali Kohi executed in Karaj last week
- FEBRUARY 1, 2023IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Unnamed man executed on February 1 in Gohardasht
- FEBRUARY 1, 2023IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mehdi Rasi Azar executed in Gohardasht on February 1
- JANUARY 31, 2023IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 2 men executed in Tabriz on January 31