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
- APRIL 14, 2026United NationsDEATH PENALTY
GLOBAL - The Death Penalty for Drug Offences: Global Overview 2025
Report from Harm Reduction International
APRIL 13, 2026Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: SEVEN PEOPLE EXECUTED IN A DAY
Saudi authorities executed seven people who had been convicted of drug trafficking in a single day, state media said on April 12, 2026.
APRIL 13, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Foreword to the 2025 Annual Report on the Death Penalty in Iran
By Nasrin Sotoudeh
APRIL 13, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 2025 Annual Report on the Death Penalty in Iran
At least 1,639 people executed
- APRIL 10, 2026IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - The Bodies of Six Executed Political Prisoners Have Still Not Been Returned to Their Families
Akbar Daneshvar Kar, Seyed Mohammad Taghavi Sang-Dehi, Babak Alipour, Pouya Ghobadi Bistouni, Seyed Abolhassan Montazer, and Vahid Bani-Amerian
APRIL 8, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Political prisoner Maryam Akbari Monfared released after 16 years
Accused of being a member of the People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI)
APRIL 8, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hrana Report on 40th day of war
Announcement of a Two-Week Ceasefire
APRIL 8, 2026TexasDEATH PENALTYUSA - Texas. James Broadnax's appeal rejected
APRIL 8, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Naser Taheri and Yahya Masoumi executed in Zanjan on April 8
- APRIL 7, 2026IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 115th Week of “No to Execution Tuesdays” Continues Despite Blackout
APRIL 7, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Race of Victim Effect and the Death Penalty
Killing a white person is a more serious offence than killing a black person
- APRIL 6, 2026ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA EXECUTES FRENCH NATIONAL CONVICTED IN 2010 FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A Frenchman sentenced to death in China in 2010 for drug trafficking has been executed, France's foreign ministry announced on April 4, 2026.
APRIL 6, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Protester Ali Fahim Hanged on April 6
10 Political Prisoners Executed in 8 Days
APRIL 6, 2026OhioDEATH PENALTYUSA - Ohio. Ohio Ohioans to Stop Executions Report: every 5 executions, 1 exoneration
Death penalty ‘profoundly unreliable’
APRIL 6, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Yaghoub Karimpour faces imminent execution
- APRIL 5, 2026IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mohammadamin Biglari and Shahin Vahedparast Executed
January 2026 Protesters
- APRIL 4, 2026IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN Vahid Baniamerian and Abolhassan Montazer executed on April 4
APRIL 2, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Teenage Protester Amirhossein Hatami Hanged on April 2
84 Days After Arrest
APRIL 1, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Why Executions are Becoming “Crueler”
APRIL 1, 2026KentuckyDEATH PENALTYUSA - Kentucky. Bill to resume executions passed the Senate
SB 251 now goes to the Governor for signature
MARCH 31, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Political Prisoners Pouya Ghobadi and Babak Alipour Hanged
For “rebellion through membership in the Mujahedin-e Khalq.”
MARCH 30, 2026NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: KANO COURT SENTENCES TWO MEN TO DEATH FOR MURDER DURING ROBBERY
A High Court in Kano on March 3, 2026 sentenced two men to death by hanging for killing a newly married man during a robbery.
MARCH 30, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Executions of Political Prisoners Ali Akbar Daneshvarkar and Mohammad Taghavi Sangdehi
Accused of involvement in the January Protests and being members of the People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran
- MARCH 24, 2026IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 113th Week of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” Campaign
- MARCH 23, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Mentally Ill Prisoners and the Death Penalty
DPIC Report
MARCH 21, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Melika Azizi could be executed shortly
18-year-old girl arrested in January during protests
- MARCH 19, 2026IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 3 Protesters Hanged in Qom on March 19
Saleh Mohammadi, Mehdi Ghasemi, and Saeed Davoudi
MARCH 19, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hrana Report on human rights violations in Hijri year 1404
MARCH 18, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Kourosh Keyvani Hanged for Israel Espionage on March 18
Dual National Iranian-Swedish
MARCH 17, 2026FloridaDEATH PENALTYUSA - Florida. Michael Lee King, 54, was executed on March 17
7th execution of the year in the U.S.