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
JANUARY 28, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN PUBLIC IN QAZWIN
A prisoner was hanged in public in the Iranian city of Qazwin. Chilling photos showing every stage of
- JANUARY 28, 2014MissouriDEATH PENALTY
USA - Missouri. Herbert Smulls was executed
USA - Missouri. Herbert Smulls was executed
JANUARY 28, 2014DEATH PENALTYMISSOURI (USA): HERBERT SMULLS EXECUTED
Missouri late on Wednesday executed Herbert Smulls after the U.S. Supreme Court denied last-minute
JANUARY 28, 2014North KoreaDEATH PENALTYNORTH KOREA: PURGE OF JANG SONG THAEK ASSOCIATES CONTINUES
The purge of Jang Song Thaek associates has reportedly continued with the execution of a senior Central
- JANUARY 26, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
The Iranian regime has hanged three prisoners including a woman in the Lorestan province.
The Iranian regime has hanged three prisoners including a woman in the Lorestan province.
- JANUARY 26, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
seven men were hanged at Ghezel Hesar prison of Karaj for drug related crimes, Azeri-Press Agency
seven men were hanged at Ghezel Hesar prison of Karaj for drug related crimes, Azeri-Press Agency
JANUARY 26, 2014North KoreaDEATH PENALTYNORTH KOREA: KIM JONG-UN EXECUTED HIS UNCLE’S ENTIRE FAMILY
the Seoul-based Yonhap news agency reported that all relatives of the executed uncle of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had also been put to death at the leader's instruction.
JANUARY 26, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR PEOPLE HANGED FOR MURDER, DRUGS
The Iranian regime has hanged three prisoners including a woman in the Lorestan province.
- JANUARY 25, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
BasNews, an independent news agency based in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, reported
BasNews, an independent news agency based in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, reported
- JANUARY 24, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
A prisoner has been executed in the main prison in the northern Iranian city of Sari, regime officials
A prisoner has been executed in the main prison in the northern Iranian city of Sari, regime officials
- JANUARY 24, 2014OhioDEATH PENALTY
USA - Ohio. Family of Dennis McGuire Files Lawsuit Over His Execution
USA - Ohio. Family of Dennis McGuire Files Lawsuit Over His Execution
- JANUARY 23, 2014DEATH PENALTY
OKLAHOMA (USA): KENNETH EUGENE HOGAN EXECUTED
Kenneth Eugene Hogan, 52, White, was executed in Oklahoma.
- JANUARY 23, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
Seven prisoners were secretly hanged in the central prison of Bandar Abbas between 22 and 23 January
Seven prisoners were secretly hanged in the central prison of Bandar Abbas between 22 and 23 January
JANUARY 23, 2014ItalyDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: 11 OTHERS HANGED FOR TERRORISM
Iraq hanged another 11 people convicted of terrorist offences, the Justice Ministry said, pursuing what a U.N. official has criticized as a "conveyor-belt of executions".
- JANUARY 23, 2014OklahomaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Oklahoma. Kenneth Eugene Hogan, 52, White, was executed
USA - Oklahoma. Kenneth Eugene Hogan, 52, White, was executed
JANUARY 23, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SEVEN PRISONERS HANGED IN KERMANSHAH
The Iranian regime executed seven prisoners in the central prison of the city of Kermanshah in western
JANUARY 23, 2014MaldivesDEATH PENALTYMALDIVES: AN ORDER ISSUED TO USE LETHAL INJECTION FOR EXECUTION
Home Minister Umar Naseer issued an order on Correctional Services to make preparations to implement
- JANUARY 22, 2014MexicoDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. Edgar Tamayo, a Mexican national whose case gained international attention, was executed
USA - Texas. Edgar Tamayo, a Mexican national whose case gained international attention, was executed
- JANUARY 22, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
a prisoner, who was identified as Shahsavar Raeesi, was hanged in the central prison of Zahedan, reported
a prisoner, who was identified as Shahsavar Raeesi, was hanged in the central prison of Zahedan, reported
JANUARY 22, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: UN RIGHTS EXPERTS ‘ALARMED’ AT SHARP INCREASE IN HANGINGS, URGES HALT TO EXECUTIONS
Independent United Nations human rights expert today called on the Government of Iran
- JANUARY 22, 2014VirginiaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Virginia. Bill to allow increased use of electric chair passes the House
USA - Virginia. Bill to allow increased use of electric chair passes the House
JANUARY 22, 2014NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: 23-YEAR-OLD SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR KILLING RIVAL
In Nigeria, a Jos High Court sentenced a 23-year-old man, Harisu Abdullahi, to death by hanging for
JANUARY 22, 2014Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYUAE: SRI LANKAN EXECUTED FOR MURDER
A Sri Lankan man has been executed by firing squad in the UAE emirate of Sharjah for murdering an
- JANUARY 21, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
a young man identified as Sajjad Pour-Najaf was hanged in the prison of Tabriz, unofficial sources
a young man identified as Sajjad Pour-Najaf was hanged in the prison of Tabriz, unofficial sources
JANUARY 21, 2014ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: 36-YEAR-OLD MAN EXECUTED FOR KEEPING, MURDERING SEX SLAVES
A Chinese man, who kept six female sex slaves in a dungeon and killed two of them, was executed.
JANUARY 21, 2014IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: SC COMMUTES DEATH PENALTY OF 15 CONVICTS DUE TO DELAY, MENTAL ILLNESS
In a landmark and significant judgement, the Supreme Court commuted death penalty of 15 convicts on the
- JANUARY 21, 2014OregonDEATH PENALTY
USA - Oregon. The U.S. Supreme Court has turned down Gary Haugen’s request to be executed
USA - Oregon. The U.S. Supreme Court has turned down Gary Haugen’s request to be executed
- JANUARY 20, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
Changiz Shahnavazi, a prisoner accused of murder, was hanged in the central prison of Zahedan, reported
Changiz Shahnavazi, a prisoner accused of murder, was hanged in the central prison of Zahedan, reported
JANUARY 20, 2014IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: 38 HANGED DESPITE UN CHIEF CALLS TO STOP EXECUTIONS
Iraq’s Ministry of Justice sent 38 inmates to the gallows. According to a report aired by al-Rafedein TV, these inmates were executed in the so-called high security prison.
JANUARY 19, 2014MexicoDEATH PENALTYMEXICO SAYS TEXAS EXECUTION OF MEXICAN MAN WOULD VIOLATE INTERNATIONAL ACCORD
Mexico today strongly objected to the scheduled execution in Texas on Jan. 22 of a Mexican