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
JUNE 22, 2016NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING IN KANO
Justice Kabiru Auta of a Kano High Court sentenced the killer of a Kano business tycoon, philanthropist, and Yoruba leader, Ganiyu Akanbi Bello, to death by hanging.
JUNE 20, 2016IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: 12 TERROR CONVICTS EXECUTED
During a press conference in Baghdad, Justice Minister Haidar al-Zamili announced that another 12 people,
JUNE 16, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: AT LEAST 3 PRISONERS HANGED AT BANDAR ABBAS CENTRAL PRISON ON DRUG CHARGES
At least three prisoners with drug related charges were reportedly hanged at Bandar Abbas Central Prison
JUNE 15, 2016South AfricaDEATH PENALTYSOUTH AFRICA: GOVERNMENT TO DEPORT BOTSWANA MURDERERS TO FACE DEATH SENTENCE
The government of South Africa decided to amend the Treaty on Extradition Act facilitating extradition
JUNE 14, 2016ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: MAN WHO KILLED 6 PEOPLE DURING A SHOOTING SPREE IN SHANGHAI EXECUTED
A man who killed six people and injured four others with guns and an iron pipe in Shanghai three years ago
JUNE 10, 2016SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: AL SHABAAB EXECUTES 7 FOR SPYING AND HELPING US DRONE STRIKES
Al shabaab militants publicly executed seven men whom they accused of spying for Unites States Intelligence CIA and helping U.S. drones kill their leaders.
JUNE 10, 2016IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: FOUR SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
The sessions court in Shajapur awarded capital punishment to four persons, including three brothers, for
JUNE 9, 2016Burkina FasoDEATH PENALTYBURKINA FASO: CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS PUSH FOR ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY
About ten civil society groups in Burkina Faso launched a campaign aimed at pushing for the abolition of
JUNE 6, 2016PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: KILLER OF THREE EXECUTED IN MULTAN
A death row prisoner involved in killing three persons over a property dispute was executed in
JUNE 6, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE PRISONERS HANGED IN MASHHAD
three men, aged 30, 35 and 40, who had been sentenced by the Revolutionary Court in Mashhad, north-east Iran, were hanged in the central prison of Mashhad, the state-run Rokna website wrote.
- JUNE 5, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
A man identified only as Mojtaba G., who had been convicted of raping and murdering a woman, was
A man identified only as Mojtaba G., who had been convicted of raping and murdering a woman, was
- JUNE 5, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran hanged a 21-year-old man after convicting him of the rape of dozens of women in the historic southern
Iran hanged a 21-year-old man after convicting him of the rape of dozens of women in the historic southern
JUNE 5, 2016DEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS PUBLICLY HANGED IN SHIRAZ
Two Iranian men were publicly hanged in Iran's southern city of Shiraz in the morning.
JUNE 5, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO AFGHANS HANGED - LAWYER CONDUCTED THE EXECUTIONS
According to the state run Iranian news agency Fars, two Afghan prisoners were hanged in a prison in
JUNE 2, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN AND WOMAN HANGED IN PRISON
Iran’s fundamentalist regime has hanged a man and a woman in a prison in Qazvin, north-west of Tehran.
JUNE 1, 2016PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: DEATH ROW CONVICT EXECUTED IN SAHIWAL
A death convict Hamed Akhtar was hanged to death in Sahiwal while security was tightened in and out
MAY 31, 2016PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: CONVICTED FOR RELATIVE MURDER HANGED IN ATTOCK
A condemned prisoner was hanged in district jail Attock early in the morning.
MAY 31, 2016Palestinian TerritoriesDEATH PENALTYGAZA: HAMAS EXECUTES THREE CONVICTED PALESTINIANS
Security forces from the Islamist group Hamas executed three convicted Palestinians at dawn, a move
- MAY 30, 2016DEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO PUBLIC EXECUTIONS CARRIED OUT
Iran’s regime has publicly hanged two men in Fars Province, southern Iran, and Mazandaran Province,
- MAY 30, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
An unnamed 40-year-old prisoner, was hanged in public in the town of Noor in Mazandaran, according to
An unnamed 40-year-old prisoner, was hanged in public in the town of Noor in Mazandaran, according to
- MAY 29, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
A man identified only by his surname Zohrabi, was hanged in public in the town of Kovar, 40 kilometers south of Shiraz, the provincial capital in Fars.
A man identified only by his surname Zohrabi, was hanged in public in the town of Kovar, 40 kilometers south of Shiraz, the provincial capital in Fars.
MAY 29, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: NIGERIAN MAN PUT TO DEATH IN 95TH EXECUTION OF THE YEAR
Saudi authorities executed a Nigerian man after convicting him of murdering a police officer.
MAY 26, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN HANGED IN PUBLIC IN SHIRAZ
Iran publicly hanged a man in the southern city of Shiraz.
MAY 26, 2016PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: CONVICTED MURDERER HANGED IN TIMERGARA
A death row inmate was executed at the District Jail Timergara early the morning, official sources said.
MAY 26, 2016South SudanDEATH PENALTYSOUTH SUDAN: MAN SENTENCED TO HANG IN YEI FOR KILLING BODA-BODA RIDER
A court in Yei River County sentenced a 26 year old man to death by hanging, for killing a Boda-boda rider
- MAY 25, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran’s regime executed 11 prisoners in their twenties, including at least one who is believed to have been a minor at the time of his alleged offence.
Iran’s regime executed 11 prisoners in their twenties, including at least one who is believed to have been a minor at the time of his alleged offence.
MAY 25, 2016DEATH PENALTYIRAN: 14 PRISONERS EXECUTED IN TWO DAYS
14 prisoners have been executed in Iran in two days.
MAY 25, 2016BotswanaDEATH PENALTYBOTSWANA: PATRICK GABAAKANYE HANGED AT GABORONE CENTRAL PRISON
death row inmate Patrick Gabaakanye was hanged at Gaborone Central Prison, according to a statement
- MAY 24, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
Three prisoners were executed in Karaj’s Qezelhesar Prison. One of them was identified as Ruhollah
Three prisoners were executed in Karaj’s Qezelhesar Prison. One of them was identified as Ruhollah
MAY 24, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: SAUDI MAN EXECUTED FOR MURDER
Saudi Arabia put to death a citizen in Riyadh, bringing to 94 the number of executions in the kingdom in
