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
DECEMBER 19, 2015PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: TWO DEATH ROW CONVICTS HANGED IN SAHIWAL
Two death row convicts were hanged in the Central Jail Sahiwal early the morning while execution of
DECEMBER 18, 2015JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: TWO CONVICTED MURDERERS HANGED
Japan executed two death row prisoners, including the nation's first of a condemned inmate sentenced by jurors, officials and media said, as campaigners called for the country to abolish capital punishment.
DECEMBER 18, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: 75% OF 2015 EXECUTIONS RAISED SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH OR INNOCENCE
Three quarters of American executions in 2015 involved cases of "crippling disabilities and uncertain guilt,"
DECEMBER 16, 2015PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: THREE DEATH ROW CONVICTS EXECUTED IN PUNJAB JAILS
As many as three death row inmates were hanged in two Punjab cities early this morning as the country
DECEMBER 16, 2015PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: JUVENILE REPORTEDLY EXECUTED
Pakistan this morning reportedly executed Saqi Shah, who was arrested and convicted when he was 16 years old.
- DECEMBER 15, 2015Palestinian TerritoriesDEATH PENALTY
Gaza Permanent Military Court sentenced F. L. A. (50), from the north of the Gaza
Gaza Permanent Military Court sentenced F. L. A. (50), from the north of the Gaza
DECEMBER 15, 2015PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: 8 DEATH ROW CONVICTS HANGED IN VARIOUS CITIES
Eight death row prisoners were hanged on early morning in the jails of Attock, Bahawalpur, Multan,
DECEMBER 15, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: SAUDI PUT TO DEATH IN KINGDOM'S 151ST EXECUTION OF YEAR
A Saudi convicted of murder was executed in the eastern province of Ihsa, in the 151st death sentence
- DECEMBER 15, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - DPIC Releases Year End Report: Death Penalty Use in 2015 Declines Sharply.
USA - DPIC Releases Year End Report: Death Penalty Use in 2015 Declines Sharply.
DECEMBER 15, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: DPIC RELEASES YEAR END REPORT
The use of the death penalty in the U.S. declined by virtually every measure in 2015.
DECEMBER 14, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: YOUNG MAN EXECUTED IN PUBLIC
Iran hanged a 20-year-old man in public in the city of Noshahr, northern Iran.
- DECEMBER 14, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: THREE PRISONERS HANGED
Three prisoners have been hanged in Iran in the last days.
- DECEMBER 12, 2015PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: TWO DEATH ROW CONVICTS HANGED IN SIALKOT
At least two death row prisoners were hanged in District Jail in Sialkot. According to details, suspects Zafar
DECEMBER 11, 2015PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: ANOTHER PERSON HANGED IN FAISALABAD
Another person was executed in Faisalabad’s central jail on the charges of murder, as the country marks first anniversary of APS massacre which was followed by an end to years-long unannounced ban on hangings in Pakistan.
DECEMBER 11, 2015EgyptDEATH PENALTYEGYPT: MAN TO BE HANGED FOR RAPING 80-YEAR-OLD WOMAN TO DEATH
An Egyptian court has given death sentence to a young man for raping an 80-year-old woman to death.
DECEMBER 11, 2015ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: MEDICAL STUDENT EXECUTED FOR POISONING
A Chinese medical student who murdered his roommate at a prestigious Shanghai university by poisoning a drinking water dispenser was executed, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
- DECEMBER 9, 2015PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: 2 DEATH CONVICTS SENT TO GALLOWS
Two death convicts were hanged in Attock Jail for killing two persons.
- DECEMBER 8, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia executed a convicted Pakistani heroin smuggler and a Saudi murderer.
Saudi Arabia executed a convicted Pakistani heroin smuggler and a Saudi murderer.
DECEMBER 8, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: AUTHORITIES EXECUTE THREE AS ANNUAL TOLL HITS 150
Saudi Arabia executed three men in the last two days.
- DECEMBER 7, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia executed a man convicted of killing his wife.
Saudi Arabia executed a man convicted of killing his wife.
- DECEMBER 7, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN BANDAR ABBAS
A prisoner with an alleged murder charge was reportedly hanged at Bandar Abbas Central Prison in the
- DECEMBER 6, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
The Iranian regime’s henchmen hanged a 36-year-old father of three in a prison in the city of Gorgan in
The Iranian regime’s henchmen hanged a 36-year-old father of three in a prison in the city of Gorgan in
DECEMBER 6, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE MEN AND ONE WOMAN HANGED IN ONE DAY
Three men with alleged murder charges were reportedly hanged to death at Zahedan Central Prison and
DECEMBER 6, 2015EgyptDEATH PENALTYEGYPT: JIHADIST SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER POLICEMAN’S KILLING
An Egyptian court sentenced a leading jihadist to death by hanging after convicting him of killing a policeman.
DECEMBER 4, 2015Myanmar (Burma)DEATH PENALTYMYANMAR: DOUBLE COP KILLER SENTENCED TO DEATH IN RANGOON
Rangoon’s Southern District Court handed down the death penalty to a man found guilty of murdering two
- DECEMBER 2, 2015PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: FOUR TERRORISTS SENT TO GALLOWS
Four convicted terrorists were sent to the gallows for their involvement in the Army Public School (APS) massacre in Peshawar last December in which over 150 people, mostly children, lost their lives.
DECEMBER 2, 2015IraqDEATH PENALTYSYRIA: ISIS EXTREMISTS THROW ‘GAY COUPLE’ OFF A ROOF IN PALMYRA
The extremist group of Islamic State (ISIS) threw two Syrian men off the top of a building in Palmyra city in
- NOVEMBER 30, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
two prisoners were reportedly hanged at Zahedan Central Prison on rape charges. According to confirmed
two prisoners were reportedly hanged at Zahedan Central Prison on rape charges. According to confirmed
NOVEMBER 30, 2015BangladeshDEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH: 11 GET DEATH PENALTY FOR KILLING JUBO LEAGUE LEADER
A Gazipur court has sentenced 11 persons to death for killing Jubo League leader Jalal Uddin Sarkar in 2004.
- NOVEMBER 30, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: FOUR PRISONERS HANGED IN RASHT, ZAHEDAN
Four prisoners were hanged in Iran on November 28 and 30.