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 18, 2014DEATH PENALTYUSA: EXECUTIONS, NEW DEATH SENTENCES CONTINUE TO FALL
Executions and new death sentences dropped to their lowest numbers in decades in 2014, an anti-death
- DECEMBER 17, 2014South CarolinaDEATH PENALTY
USA - South Carolina. Judge Carmen Tevis Mullen today vacated the conviction of George Stinney Jr., a black teen executed in 1944 for the murder of 2 white girls
USA - South Carolina. Judge Carmen Tevis Mullen today vacated the conviction of George Stinney Jr., a black teen executed in 1944 for the murder of 2 white girls
- DECEMBER 17, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
Two inmates were hanged in Adelabad Prison in the city of Shiraz.
Two inmates were hanged in Adelabad Prison in the city of Shiraz.
DECEMBER 17, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: PAKISTANI HEROIN TRAFFICKER BEHEADED
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Pakistani for heroin smuggling, the interior ministry said, in the kingdom’s latest
- DECEMBER 16, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
A prisoner was hanged in the central prison of Qazvin.
A prisoner was hanged in the central prison of Qazvin.
DECEMBER 16, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: 2 BEHEADED SAUDIS BRING 2014 EXECUTION TALLY TO 82
2 Saudis were beheaded for drug trafficking and murder, official media reported, bringing to 82 the number of executions this year.
DECEMBER 15, 2014SyriaDEATH PENALTYSYRIA: ISLAMIC STATE BEHEADS FOUR MEN FOR BLASPHEMY
Islamic State's self-declared police force in western Syria decapitated 4 men after accusing them of
- DECEMBER 14, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
A group of eight prisoners were hanged secretly in Adelabad Prison in the city of Shiraz.
A group of eight prisoners were hanged secretly in Adelabad Prison in the city of Shiraz.
DECEMBER 12, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: FILIPINO BEHEADED FOR MURDER
A Filipino convicted of murder was beheaded in Riyadh. Carlito Lana shot dead Saudi national Nasser
DECEMBER 11, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: PAKISTANI EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Pakistani for heroin smuggling, bringing to 10 the number of people from his
- DECEMBER 10, 2014DEATH PENALTY
MISSOURI (USA): PAUL GOODWIN EXECUTED
Paul Goodwin, 48, White was executed in Missouri.
- DECEMBER 10, 2014MissouriDEATH PENALTY
USA - Missouri. Paul Goodwin, 48, White was executed.
USA - Missouri. Paul Goodwin, 48, White was executed.
DECEMBER 10, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: A WOMAN AND 3 OTHER PRISONERS HANGED IN KARAJ AND GHAZVIN
Iran regime hanged 4 prisoners including one woman in Karaj and Ghazvin. Three prisoners were hanged in
- DECEMBER 9, 2014DEATH PENALTY
GEORGIA (USA): ROBERT WAYNE HOLSEY EXECUTED
Robert Wayne Holsey, 49, black, was executed.
- DECEMBER 9, 2014DEATH PENALTY
USA - Georgia. Robert Wayne Holsey, 49, black, was executed
USA - Georgia. Robert Wayne Holsey, 49, black, was executed
- DECEMBER 9, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: ETHIOPIAN WOMAN BEHEADED FOR MURDERING A THREE-YEAR-OLD CHILD
An Ethiopian maid, Khadija bint Mohammed Isa, was beheaded in Hafar al-Batin, the interior ministry said.
- DECEMBER 4, 2014ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA TO STOP HARVESTING EXECUTED PRISONERS' ORGANS
China has promised to stop harvesting organs from executed prisoners by 1 January, state media report.
DECEMBER 4, 2014SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: MILITARY COURT EXECUTES THREE MEN IN MOGADISHU
Somali military court executed three men convicted of killing innocent civilians in the country. One among
- DECEMBER 3, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: SYRIAN IS 75TH PERSON EXECUTED THIS YEAR
Saudi Arabia executed a Syrian convicted of drug smuggling, bringing to 75 the number of locals and
- DECEMBER 3, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 7 PRISONERS HANGED AT MASHHAD PRISON
seven prisoners were executed by hanging in the courtyard of Vaki Abad prison in Mashhad for drug-
- DECEMBER 2, 2014North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: DEFECTORS EXECUTED OR SENT TO LABOR CAMP
South Korean newspaper The Dong-A Ilbo reported Park Sun-young, chairman of civic group Dream
DECEMBER 2, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 18 EXECUTIONS FOR DRUG-RELATED CHARGES IN ONE DAY
18 people were executed in three different Iranian prisons, according to unofficial sources. All the prisoners were convicted of drug-related charges and there were two women and one Afghan citizen among them.
DECEMBER 1, 2014DEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR MORE HANGINGS
Four prisoners have been executed in Iran in the last days.
DECEMBER 1, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: JUVENILE OFFENDER HANGED
A youth has been hanged in Iran after being held in prison since his arrest at the age of 14 for accidentally killing a friend, according to information received from Iran.
- NOVEMBER 29, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
two prisoners were hanged in two different Iranian prisons. According to Aftabnews, one man was hanged
two prisoners were hanged in two different Iranian prisons. According to Aftabnews, one man was hanged
- NOVEMBER 29, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONERS HANGED IN KASHAN AND QUM
A prisoner was hanged in the morning in the main prison in the Iranian city of Qum. Another prisoner was
NOVEMBER 28, 2014ZambiaDEATH PENALTYZAMBIA: THREE SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING
The Mansa High court has sentenced three people to death by hanging for murder contrary to Section 200
- NOVEMBER 27, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
according to the FARS, a 20-year-old man was publicly hanged in Joghatai, a town near Mashhad. He was
according to the FARS, a 20-year-old man was publicly hanged in Joghatai, a town near Mashhad. He was
- NOVEMBER 27, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Pakistani for heroin smuggling. Mohammed Rahman Mohammed Asghar was
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Pakistani for heroin smuggling. Mohammed Rahman Mohammed Asghar was
NOVEMBER 26, 2014IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: SC AWARDS DEATH PENALTY TO MAN FOR RAPING 4-YR-OLD GIRL, STONING HER TO DEATH
SC has awarded death sentence to a 47-year-old man from Maharashtra after finding him guilty of raping a