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
AUGUST 3, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: FIVE PRISONERS BEHEADED FOR MURDER, DRUG TRAFFICKING
Saudi Arabia beheaded five prisoners between July 29 and August 3, bringing to 110 the total number of
AUGUST 1, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 7 EXECUTED OVER DRUG, MURDER CHARGES
According to official and unofficial reports, a total of seven prisoners were hanged in Iran on July 29 and August 1st.
JULY 31, 2015PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: FIVE MORE DEATH ROW PRISONERS EXECUTED IN LAHORE AND RAWALPINDI
Five murder convicts were executed in two jails across Punjab.
- JULY 31, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: PAKISTANI HEROIN SMUGGLER EXECUTED
Saudi Arabia beheaded a convicted Pakistani heroin trafficker.
JULY 31, 2015DEATH BY PUNISHMENTANALYSIS OF THE 2015 REPORT DATA AND OBJECTIVES OF HANDS OFF CAIN
The slight increase in executions in 2014 as compared to 2013 is explained by increases recorded in Iran
JULY 30, 2015PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: FOUR MORE DEATH ROW CONVICTS HANGED
At least four death row prisoners were executed in different cities of Punjab early in the morning.
JULY 30, 2015IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: YAKUB MEMON EXECUTED FOR 1993 MUMBAI BOMBINGS
A little over 22 years after the Mumbai bombings that killed 257 people in 1993, the lone convict on death row in the case – Yakub Abdul Razak Memon – was hanged at the Central Prison in the city of Nagpur.
JULY 29, 2015PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: EIGHT MORE MURDER CONVICTS HANGED
Eight more death row convicts were hanged in different jails of Punjab, including father and son.
- JULY 28, 2015SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
the Army of the Interim Jubaland Administration executed two members of Al-Shabaab after they were
the Army of the Interim Jubaland Administration executed two members of Al-Shabaab after they were
JULY 28, 2015PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: THREE MURDER CONVICTS HANGED
Three murder convicts were hanged in Pakistan between July 27 and 28 as executions resumed following a one-month break during the holy month of Ramazan that ended last week.
- JULY 28, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: SECOND EXECUTION AFTER RAMADAN PAUSE
Saudi Arabia beheaded one of its citizens for drug trafficking, in the second execution after a pause for
JULY 27, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE PRISONERS HANGED
Five men were hanged in Iran between July 25 and 26.
JULY 23, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: FIRST EXECUTION AFTER RAMADAN PAUSE
Saudi Arabia carried out its first execution in five weeks after a pause for Ramadan, beheading one of its citizens convicted of a double murder.
- JULY 22, 2015IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: YAKUB MEMON FILES FRESH MERCY PLEA BEFORE PRESIDENT
The execution of 1993 Mumbai serial blasts convict Yakub Memon might be delayed as he reportedly handed over a fresh plea for mercy to Nagpur central jail authorities, to be forwarded to the President
- JULY 22, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: UP TO 12 PRISONERS EXECUTED
According to official reports, 12 prisoners were hanged to death in Iran.
JULY 18, 2015Trinidad & TobagoDEATH PENALTYTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: COURT SENTENCES LAVENTILLE MAN TO HANG OVER A 2006 MURDER
the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) has stated that Sheldon Lloyd Carter, of Upper St. Barbs
JULY 16, 2015ZambiaDEATH PENALTYZAMBIA: KILLER FATHER TO HANG
The Lusaka High Court sentenced a man of Chibombo district to death for killing his two children using a pesticide on grounds that he was disturbed by the dissolution of his marriage.
JULY 15, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN PUBLIC DURING RAMADAN
Official sources in Iran have reported on the public execution of a prisoner in Mahvelat County. The
- JULY 14, 2015MissouriDEATH PENALTY
USA - Missouri. David Zink, 55, White, was executed.
USA - Missouri. David Zink, 55, White, was executed.
JULY 14, 2015BelizeDEATH PENALTYBELIZE: LAST MAN ON DEATH ROW HAS SENTENCE QUASHED
Glenford Baptist, 44, has a new lease on life after being told this morning that his sentence of death by hanging will be commuted.
JULY 14, 2015DEATH PENALTYMISSOURI (USA): DAVID ZINK EXECUTED
David Zink, 55, White, has been executed.
JULY 13, 2015United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTYUAE: WOMAN EXECUTED FOR KILLING AMERICAN TEACHER
The United Arab Emirates executed by firing squad a UAE woman convicted of terrorism early today after
JULY 12, 2015North KoreaDEATH PENALTYNORTH KOREA: MEDIA CONFIRMS DEFENCE MINISTER EXECUTION
South Korea says North Korea has officially confirmed the purging of its defence chief two months after
JULY 7, 2015North KoreaDEATH PENALTYNORTH KOREA: FARM MANAGER EXECUTED FOR DEATHS OF DOZEN BABY TURTLES
Daily NK, an online newspaper focusing on issues relating to North Korea, said the manager of a terrapin farm had been executed after Kim Jong-un made his field guidance tour in May to the farm near Taedong River in Pyongyang.
JULY 7, 2015KenyaDEATH PENALTYKENYA: MUSLIM CONVERT TO HANG FOR MASS MURDER
A former Mungiki member who converted to Islam and trained with Al Shabaab has been sentenced to
JULY 7, 2015GhanaDEATH PENALTYGHANA: MAN, 59, SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR KILLING GIRLFRIEND
A 59-year-old man who, out of jealousy, murdered his girlfriend at Atwima Techiman was sentenced to
- JULY 2, 2015ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA: MUMBWA POLYGAMIST SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING SECOND WIFE
In Zambia, the Kabwe High Court sentenced to death a 34-year-old polygamist of Mumbwa who strangled
- JULY 2, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
EUROPEAN STATES CONTINUE TO FUND DRUG HANGINGS AS IRAN EXECUTIONS SPIKE
New analysis released today by NGO Iran Human Rights shows that over two thirds of the 570 people so far executed in Iran this year were sentenced to death on drugs charges.
- JUNE 30, 2015IraqDEATH PENALTY
SYRIA: ISLAMIC STATE BEHEADS FOUR FOR SORCERY, INCLUDING TWO WOMEN
Islamic State (IS) has beheaded two women in eastern Syria, the first time the jihadist group has
JUNE 25, 2015JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: MURDERER CONVICT EXECUTED, GOVERNMENT ABE’S TWELFTH EXECUTION
Japan executed a man who robbed and killed a woman after plotting the crime with accomplices he met online.