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
MAY 21, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hedayat Abdollahpour likely executed on June 21 in Oshnavieh prison.
IRAN - Hedayat Abdollahpour likely executed on June 21 in Oshnavieh prison.
- MAY 20, 2020DEATH PENALTY
MISSOURI (USA): WALTER BARTON EXECUTED
Walter Barton, 64, White, was put to death on 19 May 2020 for fatally stabbing Gladys Kuehler, an 81-year-old woman, on 9 October 1991, the first U.S. execution since the coronavirus pandemic took hold.
MAY 19, 2020MissouriDEATH PENALTYUSA - Missouri. Walter Barton, 64, White, was put to death
USA - Missouri. Walter Barton, 64, White, was put to death
MAY 17, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Concerns Over Fate of Hedayat Abdollahpour, a Kurdish Political Prisoner, 9 days After Disappearance.
IRAN - Concerns Over Fate of Hedayat Abdollahpour, a Kurdish Political Prisoner, 9 days After Disappearance.
MAY 14, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Amnesty calls on Iran to ‘reveal fate' of Hossein Silawi, Ali Khasraji, Naser Khafajian, and Hedayat Abdollahpour
IRAN - Amnesty calls on Iran to ‘reveal fate' of Hossein Silawi, Ali Khasraji, Naser Khafajian, and Hedayat Abdollahpour
MAY 12, 2020North KoreaDEATH PENALTYNORTH KOREA: BUSINESSMAN EXECUTED FOR REFUSING TO BUY GOV’T BONDS
The owner of mine shafts in a suburban area of Pyongyang who refused to buy government bonds was recently arrested and quietly executed, Daily NK has learned.
MAY 9, 2020North KoreaDEATH PENALTYNORTH KOREA: CHAGANG PROVINCE FORESTRY OFFICIAL EXECUTED FOR ILLEGAL CORN FARM
The head of a local forest management office in Chagang Province was recently executed for removing saplings from state-owned land and planting corn in their place, Daily NK reported on 16 April 2020.
MAY 7, 2020DEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN HANGED IN GOLESTAN PROVINCE
According to Iranian semi-official Fars News Agency, a man, whose name was not mentioned, was hanged at a prison in Gonbad Kavus city, Golestan province, on 5 May 2020.
- MAY 7, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - More information on Majid Esmaeilzadeh, the juvenile offender executed on April 18, 2020
IRAN - More information on Majid Esmaeilzadeh, the juvenile offender executed on April 18, 2020
- MAY 6, 2020SudanDEATH PENALTY
SUDAN TO RETURN REMAINS OF OFFICERS EXECUTED BY BASHIR REGIME
The Sudanese military says the remains of 28 officers who were executed three decades ago will be returned to their families, VOA reported on 7 April 2020.
- MAY 6, 2020DEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED FOR ‘CORRUPTION ON EARTH’
According to the Iranian Khorasan daily on 28 April 2020 two prisoners were executed at Mashhad central prison (also known as Vakilabad prison).
- MAY 5, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Unidentified man hanged on May 5 at the Gonbad Kavus prison.
IRAN - Unidentified man hanged on May 5 at the Gonbad Kavus prison.
MAY 4, 2020IraqDEATH PENALTYSYRIA: EXTREMISTS KILL TEENAGER OVER ‘BLASPHEMOUS’ TEXTS ON PHONE
The Syrian Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) executed a 19-year-old man deported from Turkey who they say was charged with "blasphemy", however, activists claim the young man was killed over phone messages criticising the group’s leader,
MAY 3, 2020Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: ON ANNIVERSARY OF MASS EXECUTION, FAMILIES PLEAD FOR RETURN OF THEIR LOVED ONES' REMAINS
It has been exactly one year since 37 people were executed on a single day in Saudi Arabia, and none of the bodies are known to have been returned to their families, according to human rights activists, ABC News reported on 23 April 2020.
MAY 3, 2020DEATH PENALTYIRAN: VAHED ROSTAMZADEH EXECUTED IN HAMADAN PRISON ON DRUG CHARGES
According to Iran Human Rights sources, Vahed Rostamzadeh who was sentenced to death on “drug” charges, was executed in Hamadan Central Prison on 30 April 2020.
MAY 3, 2020SyriaDEATH PENALTYSYRIA: HAY’AT TAHRIR AL SHAM EXECUTED A CIVILIAN IN ITS DETENTION CENTER
A boy was executed by firing squad in a detention center by Islamist group Hay'at Tahrir al Sham for belonging to Syrian Democratic Forces, the young man's family said on 29 April 2020.
- APRIL 30, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Soleiman Mirzayi was executed late April in Borujerd.
IRAN - Soleiman Mirzayi was executed late April in Borujerd.
- APRIL 30, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Vahed Rostamzadeh was executed in Hamadan Central Prison on April 30.
IRAN - Vahed Rostamzadeh was executed in Hamadan Central Prison on April 30.
APRIL 30, 2020SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: AL-SHABAAB EXECUTES THREE IN HIRAN REGION
Al-Shabaab on 28 April 2020 publicly executed in Galgadud region three men for alleged espionage activities.
APRIL 29, 2020DEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE PRISONERS EXECUTED FOR MURDER CHARGES
Three prisoners were hanged in Iran on 28 April 2020.
- APRIL 28, 2020DEATH PENALTY
TEXAS (USA): GILMAR GUEVARA SPARED EXECUTION BECAUSE HE IS INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED
Texas prosecutors on 14 April 2020 asked that a Salvadoran man who has been on death row for nearly 19 years be spared lethal injection because he is intellectually disabled.
- APRIL 28, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Zarar Peyghami and Yasser Rasouli hanged on April 28 at Urmia
IRAN - Zarar Peyghami and Yasser Rasouli hanged on April 28 at Urmia
- APRIL 28, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Faegh Sharifi was hanged on April 28, 2020 in Sanandaj prison.
IRAN - Faegh Sharifi was hanged on April 28, 2020 in Sanandaj prison.
- APRIL 28, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Two prisoners, not identified, were hanged at Mashhad prison on April 28.
IRAN - Two prisoners, not identified, were hanged at Mashhad prison on April 28.
- APRIL 27, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Keyvanollah Moradi was executed in Sanandaj Central Prison on April 27, the third day of Ramadan
IRAN - Keyvanollah Moradi was executed in Sanandaj Central Prison on April 27, the third day of Ramadan
APRIL 26, 2020DEATH PENALTYIRAN: 10 PRISONERS QUICKLY HANGED BEFORE RAMADAN
Iran quickly hanged 10 prisoners on 22 April 2020, before Ramadan.
- APRIL 24, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Abdul Wahed Faizi and Ramyar (Payam) Mukhles executed on April 24 in Sanandaj Central Prison.
IRAN - Abdul Wahed Faizi and Ramyar (Payam) Mukhles executed on April 24 in Sanandaj Central Prison.
- APRIL 23, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Sina Mohammadi, a minor at the time of the murder, was hanged at Sanandaj prison on April 23
IRAN - Sina Mohammadi, a minor at the time of the murder, was hanged at Sanandaj prison on April 23
- APRIL 23, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mowla Mowlaei was hanged at Khalkhal prison on April 23.
IRAN - Mowla Mowlaei was hanged at Khalkhal prison on April 23.
- APRIL 23, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A Baluchi political prisoner, Abdolbaset Dahani, was hanged at Zahedan prison on April 23.
IRAN - A Baluchi political prisoner, Abdolbaset Dahani, was hanged at Zahedan prison on April 23.