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
- APRIL 5, 2012DEATH PENALTY
CONNECTICUT (USA): SENATE VOTES TO DO AWAY WITH DEATH PENALTY
The Connecticut Senate voted 20-16 on a bill that would do away with the death penalty and replace it with life imprisonment.
- APRIL 5, 2012SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
the Al-Qaeda-allied group Al-Shabaab executed US-born jihadist Omar Hammami
the Al-Qaeda-allied group Al-Shabaab executed US-born jihadist Omar Hammami
- APRIL 5, 2012ConnecticutDEATH PENALTY
USA - Connecticut. The Senate voted to abolish the death penalty
USA - Connecticut. The Senate voted to abolish the death penalty
APRIL 5, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN ARAN-BIGDEL
One prisoner was hanged in the town of Aran-Bigdel, reported the Iranian state broadcasting. The
- APRIL 4, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia beheaded a man found guilty of shooting dead a fellow Saudi
Saudi Arabia beheaded a man found guilty of shooting dead a fellow Saudi
- APRIL 4, 2012SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
"The application of punishment is a matter for the legitimate state
"The application of punishment is a matter for the legitimate state
APRIL 4, 2012IraqDEATH PENALTYUN: BAN KI-MOON URGES HALT TO EXECUTIONS IN IRAQ
Iraq should impose a moratorium on executions in the country, which has seen a sharp rise in
APRIL 4, 2012PakistanDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: PAKISTANI EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A Pakistani man has been executed in Saudi Arabia after being found guilty of drug trafficking.
APRIL 3, 2012IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: THREE PEOPLE GET DEATH FOR BURNING ALIVE WOMAN
A man was awarded the death penalty in India for burning alive his daughter-in-law
- MARCH 31, 2012IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: MAN GETS CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR KIDNAPPING, MURDER
In India, District and sessions court of Surat city awarded capital punishment to a man
MARCH 31, 2012AfghanistanDEATH PENALTYAFGHANISTAN: WOMAN EXTRA-JUDICIALLY EXECUTED OVER ILLICIT RELATIONS
an Afghan woman was extra-judicially executed, after being sentenced to death for
- MARCH 30, 2012ChinaDEATH PENALTY
a Hong Kong man, Robert Shan Shiao-may and a Taiwanese man...
a Hong Kong man, Robert Shan Shiao-may and a Taiwanese man...
- MARCH 29, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: TWO MYANMAR WOMEN AND TWO LOCALS TO HANG FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
In Malaysia, two Myanmar women and two Malaysian men were sentenced to death
MARCH 29, 2012JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: 3 INMATES HANGED; 1ST EXECUTIONS SINCE JULY 2010
Japan hanged three death-row inmates in its first executions since 2010, reigniting the debate over capital punishment in one of the world’s richest countries.
MARCH 29, 2012ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: THREE EXECUTED OVER FATAL FIRE
Three people responsible for a fire, in which 11 people were killed and two others
- MARCH 28, 2012DEATH PENALTY
TEXAS (USA): JESSE JOE HERNANDEZ EXECUTED
Jesse Joe Hernandez, 47, Hispanic, was executed in Texas.
- MARCH 28, 2012ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
ZIMBABWE PLANS TO CUT BACK ON HANGINGS, DEATH PENALTY ONLY FOR 'EXTREME VIOLENCE'
Zimbabwe is considering cutting back on hangings according to a proposed new constitution
- MARCH 28, 2012TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. Texas accuses anti-death penalty charity Reprieve of fomenting violence
USA - Texas. Texas accuses anti-death penalty charity Reprieve of fomenting violence
- MARCH 28, 2012TexasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Texas. Jesse Joe Hernandez, 47, Hispanic, was executed
USA - Texas. Jesse Joe Hernandez, 47, Hispanic, was executed
- MARCH 27, 2012United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY 2011: ALARMING LEVELS OF EXECUTIONS IN THE FEW COUNTRIES THAT KILL
Countries that carried out executions in 2011 did so at an alarming rate but those employing
- MARCH 26, 2012IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: STAYED EXECUTION
the hanging of Beant Singh assassin Balwant Singh Rajoana would not take place on March
MARCH 24, 2012BangladeshDEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH: SAGAR TO HANG FOR KILLING SHUBHO
In Bangladesh, a speedy trial tribunal sentenced to death Tajul Islam Sagar for
- MARCH 23, 2012ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
ZIMBABWE: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR RITUAL MURDER
in Zimbabwe, Justice Martin Makonese sentenced Colgate Buffen Mudenda to death by
- MARCH 22, 2012DEATH PENALTY
MISSISSIPPI (USA): WILLIAM MITCHELL EXECUTED
William Mitchell, 61, black, was executed in Mississippi.
- MARCH 22, 2012MississippiDEATH PENALTY
USA - Mississippi. William Mitchell, 61, black, was executed.
USA - Mississippi. William Mitchell, 61, black, was executed.
MARCH 22, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: FORMER POSTMAN GETS DEATH SENTENCE FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A former postman was sentenced to death by hanging by the High Court in Malaysia after being
MARCH 21, 2012LiberiaDEATH PENALTYLIBERIA: WIFE KILLER GETS HACKING DEATH SENTENCE
In Liberia, Murder suspect William G. Dweh, was sentenced to a maximum death penalty
- MARCH 21, 2012ConnecticutDEATH PENALTY
USA - Connecticut. The General Assembly's Judiciary Committee voted in favor of a bill that would abolish the state's death penalty
USA - Connecticut. The General Assembly's Judiciary Committee voted in favor of a bill that would abolish the state's death penalty
- MARCH 20, 2012MississippiDEATH PENALTY
USA - Mississippi. Larry Matthew Puckett, 35, white, was executed
USA - Mississippi. Larry Matthew Puckett, 35, white, was executed
MARCH 20, 2012SudanDEATH PENALTYSUDAN: DEATH SENTENCE AGAINST DARFUR REBELS
A Sudanese court sentenced six members of a key Darfur rebel group to hang