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 9, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI 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 9, 2014GeorgiaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Georgia. Robert Wayne Holsey, 49, black, was executed
USA - Georgia. Robert Wayne Holsey, 49, black, was executed
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 4, 2014ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA TO STOP HARVESTING EXECUTED PRISONERS' ORGANS
China has promised to stop harvesting organs from executed prisoners by 1 January, state media report.
DECEMBER 3, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI 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, 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 2, 2014North KoreaDEATH PENALTYNORTH 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 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.
DECEMBER 1, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR MORE HANGINGS
Four prisoners have been executed in Iran in the last days.
- 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, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
Two prisoners were hanged in Iran for murder. According to the official website of the Iranian Judiciary in
Two prisoners were hanged in Iran for murder. According to the official website of the Iranian Judiciary in
- NOVEMBER 26, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the official website of the Iranian Judiciary in Qazvin, a prisoner identified as “M. Sh
According to the official website of the Iranian Judiciary in Qazvin, a prisoner identified as “M. Sh
- NOVEMBER 26, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
A group of five inmates were hanged in Gohardasht prison in the city of Karaj. They were part of a group of
A group of five inmates were hanged in Gohardasht prison in the city of Karaj. They were part of a group of
- NOVEMBER 26, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
two men named as Ali M and Ali Q were hanged in public for 'mischief' in north-eastern city of Mashhad.
two men named as Ali M and Ali Q were hanged in public for 'mischief' in north-eastern city of Mashhad.
NOVEMBER 26, 2014IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: ISIS EXECUTES TWO FEMALE PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATES FOLLOWING SHARIA DEATH SENTENCE
“ISIS gunmen executed two former female candidates in Mosul after the Sharia Court issued death sentence
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
NOVEMBER 26, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SEVEN PRISONERS HANGED AS EXECUTIONS SOAR UNDER HASSAN ROUHANI
Seven prisoners were hanged in Iran as executions continue to soar under Hassan Rouhani's rule.
NOVEMBER 26, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE PRISONERS HANGED
Three prisoners were hanged in two different prisons in Iran.
NOVEMBER 25, 2014SyriaDEATH PENALTYSYRIA: ISIS STONES 2 ‘GAY MEN’ TO DEATH
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group stoned two men to death in Syria after claiming they were
NOVEMBER 25, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI BEHEADS 8TH PAKISTANI SINCE MID-OCTOBER
A Pakistani became the eighth person from the country to be beheaded in Saudi Arabia for drug trafficking
- NOVEMBER 24, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
a 38-year-old father of two children, Reza Karimdadzehi son of Eisa, was executed in the Central Prison of
a 38-year-old father of two children, Reza Karimdadzehi son of Eisa, was executed in the Central Prison of
NOVEMBER 24, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: THREE MEN BEHEADED IN RIYADH
Three men have been executed in the Saudi capital Riyadh in the last days.
NOVEMBER 22, 2014SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: JUBALAND MILITARY COURT EXECUTES SOLDIER FOR MURDER
Jubaland military court executed a soldier convicted of killing a 9-year-old boy in the southern port city of
- NOVEMBER 21, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi authorities beheaded two local men convicted of raping two girls, stealing cars and taking drugs, the
Saudi authorities beheaded two local men convicted of raping two girls, stealing cars and taking drugs, the
NOVEMBER 20, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN HANGED IN PUBLIC
A man was hanged in public in a northern city, a day after the United Nations