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 8, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Political prisoner Maryam Akbari Monfared released after 16 years
Accused of being a member of the People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI)
APRIL 7, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Race of Victim Effect and the Death Penalty
Killing a white person is a more serious offence than killing a black person
APRIL 7, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 115th Week of “No to Execution Tuesdays” Continues Despite Blackout
APRIL 6, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Protester Ali Fahim Hanged on April 6
10 Political Prisoners Executed in 8 Days
APRIL 6, 2026OhioDEATH PENALTYUSA - Ohio. Ohio Ohioans to Stop Executions Report: every 5 executions, 1 exoneration
Death penalty ‘profoundly unreliable’
APRIL 6, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Yaghoub Karimpour faces imminent execution
APRIL 6, 2026ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA EXECUTES FRENCH NATIONAL CONVICTED IN 2010 FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A Frenchman sentenced to death in China in 2010 for drug trafficking has been executed, France's foreign ministry announced on April 4, 2026.
APRIL 5, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mohammadamin Biglari and Shahin Vahedparast Executed
January 2026 Protesters
APRIL 4, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN Vahid Baniamerian and Abolhassan Montazer executed on April 4
APRIL 2, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Teenage Protester Amirhossein Hatami Hanged on April 2
84 Days After Arrest
APRIL 1, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Why Executions are Becoming “Crueler”
APRIL 1, 2026KentuckyDEATH PENALTYUSA - Kentucky. Bill to resume executions passed the Senate
SB 251 now goes to the Governor for signature
MARCH 31, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Political Prisoners Pouya Ghobadi and Babak Alipour Hanged
For “rebellion through membership in the Mujahedin-e Khalq.”
MARCH 30, 2026NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: KANO COURT SENTENCES TWO MEN TO DEATH FOR MURDER DURING ROBBERY
A High Court in Kano on March 3, 2026 sentenced two men to death by hanging for killing a newly married man during a robbery.
MARCH 30, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Executions of Political Prisoners Ali Akbar Daneshvarkar and Mohammad Taghavi Sangdehi
Accused of involvement in the January Protests and being members of the People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran
MARCH 24, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 113th Week of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” Campaign
MARCH 23, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Mentally Ill Prisoners and the Death Penalty
DPIC Report
MARCH 21, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Melika Azizi could be executed shortly
18-year-old girl arrested in January during protests
MARCH 19, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hrana Report on human rights violations in Hijri year 1404
MARCH 19, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 3 Protesters Hanged in Qom on March 19
Saleh Mohammadi, Mehdi Ghasemi, and Saeed Davoudi
MARCH 18, 2026SwedenDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Kourosh Keyvani Hanged for Israel Espionage on March 18
Dual National Iranian-Swedish
MARCH 17, 2026FloridaDEATH PENALTYUSA - Florida. Michael Lee King, 54, was executed on March 17
7th execution of the year in the U.S.
MARCH 13, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - NYT: the Death Penalty Is Even More Horrifying Than You Think
MARCH 11, 2026TexasDEATH PENALTYUSA - Texas. Cedric Ricks, 51, Black, was executed on March 11
MARCH 10, 2026NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: TWO MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KIDNAPPING, ARMED ROBBERY IN KWARA
Justice Ahmed Aliyu Gegele of the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin on March 5, 2026 sentenced two men to death by hanging for kidnapping and armed robbery, among other offences.
- MARCH 9, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Costs and the Death Penalty
A DPIC study
MARCH 8, 2026IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hengaw report on violations of women’s rights
At least 250 women killed during the January protests
MARCH 8, 2026United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Dale Baich: A defender on death row
Dale Baich has watched 16 men die
MARCH 4, 2026NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: PASTOR TO DIE BY HANGING FOR KILLING A’IBOM LANDLORD
The Resident Pastor of Living Faith Church Chapel, Ifa Ikot Ubo –Ifa Ikot Okpon Branch, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel Umoh, has been sentenced to death by hanging, Punch reported on February 21, 2026.
MARCH 3, 2026FloridaDEATH PENALTYUSA - Florida. Billy Leon Kearse, 53, Black, was executed on March 3