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 24, 2012IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR MURDERING FIVE
Describing the act of a 40-year-old man, who murdered five persons under the influence
JANUARY 24, 2012IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: UN HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF CONDEMNS EXECUTIONS AS 'SHOCKING'
The United Nations human rights chief said today she was shocked at reports that 34 people were executed in Iraq in a single day last week and called on the country to institute an immediate moratorium on the use of the death penalty.
- JANUARY 24, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Professor Victor Streib has published the latest edition of his periodic reports, Death Penalty for Female Offenders.
USA - Professor Victor Streib has published the latest edition of his periodic reports, Death Penalty for Female Offenders.
JANUARY 24, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: DEATH PENALTY FOR FEMALE OFFENDERS
Professor Victor Streib of the Ohio Northern University Law School has published the
JANUARY 23, 2012SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: POLICE EXECUTE KILLER IN MOGADISHU
A soldier was executed in Mogadishu after he was found guilty of killing a fellow soldier
JANUARY 22, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYHUMAN RIGHTS WATCH: SHARP INCREASE IN DEATH PENALTY IN IRAN
There was a sharp increase in the use of the death penalty in Iran in 2011, and many more were
- JANUARY 20, 2012South SudanDEATH PENALTY
South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011
South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011
- JANUARY 19, 2012IraqDEATH PENALTY
34 individuals, including two women, were executed in Iraq following their conviction for
34 individuals, including two women, were executed in Iraq following their conviction for
JANUARY 19, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN HANGED PUBLICLY IN KERMAN
One man was hanged publicly in the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman early in the morning.
- JANUARY 18, 2012YemenDEATH PENALTY
Yemeni authorities executed Fuad Ahmed Ali Abdullah Alsayed (Alshahari) by shooting
Yemeni authorities executed Fuad Ahmed Ali Abdullah Alsayed (Alshahari) by shooting
- JANUARY 18, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - 14 activists arrested yesterday at U.S. Supreme Court
USA - 14 activists arrested yesterday at U.S. Supreme Court
JANUARY 18, 2012DEATH PENALTYWASHINGTON, DC (USA): 14 MEMBERS OF THE ABOLITIONIST ACTION COMMITTEE ARRESTED
14 activists arrested yesterday at U.S. Supreme Court to commemorate 35th anniversary
- JANUARY 15, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the state run Iranian news agency Fars, five prisoners were hanged
According to the state run Iranian news agency Fars, five prisoners were hanged
- JANUARY 15, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
seven prisoners were hanged in the Adelabad prison of Shiraz, Iran, according to the
seven prisoners were hanged in the Adelabad prison of Shiraz, Iran, according to the
JANUARY 15, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 12 HANGINGS IN SHIRAZ
According to the reports from Iran 12 prisoners were executed in the city of Shiraz (southern Iran).
- JANUARY 13, 2012OhioDEATH PENALTY
USA - Ohio. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals backed the ruling that delayed the execution of Charles Lorraine
USA - Ohio. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals backed the ruling that delayed the execution of Charles Lorraine
JANUARY 11, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: MURDER TRIO TO HANG
Three men's five years of freedom came to an end today when their acquittal on a charge of murdering
- JANUARY 11, 2012OhioDEATH PENALTY
USA - Ohio. U.S. District Court Judge Gregory Frost delayed next week’s execution of Charles Lorraine, saying the state had once again failed to follow its own rules for executions
USA - Ohio. U.S. District Court Judge Gregory Frost delayed next week’s execution of Charles Lorraine, saying the state had once again failed to follow its own rules for executions
JANUARY 11, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO MEN HANGED FOR RAPE
Two prisoners were executed in Tehran’s Evin prison, reported the Iranian state media. According
JANUARY 10, 2012SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: KENYAN STONED TO DEATH BY AL-SHABAAB
Kenyan fighting for the Al-Shabaab was executed by the Somali militant group for alleged espionage.
JANUARY 8, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: MAN BEHEADED FOR MURDER
Saudi Arabia beheaded a man convicted of murder, the interior minister said in a statement
JANUARY 8, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: AT LEAST 41 EXECUTIONS IN THE FIRST WEEK OF 2012
The new year also began with a series of mass executions in Iran.
- JANUARY 6, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Doctors from around the world call on Hospira to impose restrictions on sale of muscle relaxant for use in lethal injections.
USA - Doctors from around the world call on Hospira to impose restrictions on sale of muscle relaxant for use in lethal injections.
JANUARY 6, 2012DEATH PENALTYUS PHARMACEUTICAL FIRM HOSPIRA UNDER FIRE OVER USE OF ITS DRUGS IN EXECUTIONS
Doctors from around the world call on Hospira to impose restrictions on sale of muscle relaxant
- JANUARY 5, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
three prisoners were hanged publicly in the Azadi (Liberty) Square of Kermanshah
three prisoners were hanged publicly in the Azadi (Liberty) Square of Kermanshah
- JANUARY 5, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
one man was hanged in the prison of Varamin
one man was hanged in the prison of Varamin
- JANUARY 5, 2012OklahomaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Oklahoma. Gary Roland Welch, 49, white, was put to death
USA - Oklahoma. Gary Roland Welch, 49, white, was put to death
- JANUARY 4, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
one prisoner was hanged in the central prison of Semnan
one prisoner was hanged in the central prison of Semnan
- JANUARY 4, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
five narcotics traffickers were hanged in the Kerman and Bam prisons
five narcotics traffickers were hanged in the Kerman and Bam prisons
JANUARY 4, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: MAN BEHEADED FOR KILLING
A man convicted in Saudi Arabia of raping and killing a young female relative was beheaded