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
FEBRUARY 25, 2024IdahoDEATH PENALTYUSA - Idaho. Idaho is set to execute Thomas Eugene Creech, a serial killer
First execution since 2012
FEBRUARY 22, 2024AfghanistanDEATH PENALTYAFGHANISTAN: THE TALIBAN CARRY OUT A DOUBLE PUBLIC EXECUTION AT A STADIUM
The Taliban carried out a double public execution at a stadium in southeastern Afghanistan on February 22, 2024 as thousands watched the killing of two convicted men as their victims’ relatives fired the gunshot.
FEBRUARY 21, 2024ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: MAN EXECUTED FOR ROBBERY AND DESECRATING VICTIM'S CORPSE
A man convicted of robbing a woman, murdering her, and desecrating her body has been executed, Beijing Youth Daily reported on February 19, 2024.
FEBRUARY 21, 2024IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ahmad Esmaeili (Esmaili) executed in Hamedan on February 21
FEBRUARY 20, 2024PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: SENATE REJECTS BILL FOR PUBLIC EXECUTION OF RAPE CONVICTS
Pakistan’s Senate on February 19, 2024 rejected a bill proposing public execution for rape convicts, with lawmakers deeming it ineffective in deterring sexual crimes.
FEBRUARY 19, 2024IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Iraj Paaki executed in Urmia on February 19
FEBRUARY 18, 2024IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ashraf Akramullah executed in Isfahan on February 18
FEBRUARY 14, 2024NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: COURT SENTENCES KILLER OF ENUGU-BASED MAKEUP ARTIST TO DEATH
An Enugu State High Court on February 7, 2024 sentenced Chiamaka Ifezue to death by hanging for killing an Enugu-based makeup artist, Ijeoma Nweke.
FEBRUARY 12, 2024IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Political prisoner Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani could be executed soon
FEBRUARY 12, 2024TanzaniaDEATH PENALTYTANZANIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER MURDER
The High Court of Kigoma on February 2, 2024 sentenced Kigoma Ujiji municipal resident Peter Mwandelema to be hanged to death after being found guilty of intentionally killing seven people of the same family in 2022.
- FEBRUARY 12, 2024IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Abuzar Taher Arab executed in Qom on February 12
FEBRUARY 11, 2024IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Unidentified man executed "recently" in Tabriz
- FEBRUARY 8, 2024ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: MAN WHO STABBED COLLEAGUE TO DEATH WHILE DRUNK EXECUTED
Zhang Keping, who stabbed a colleague to death while drunk in 2022, was executed on February 4, 2024 after China's top court approved his death sentence.
FEBRUARY 8, 2024IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Highest number of death sentences in 12 months
882 executions and 198 death sentences
FEBRUARY 7, 2024IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ali Feizi and Rahmat Bigham executed in Zanjan on February 7
FEBRUARY 6, 2024NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: FIVE VIGILANTE MEMBERS SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR KILLING TEENAGER
The Kano State High Court on January 25, 2024 sentenced five vigilante members to death by hanging for stabbing one Ahmed Musa,17, to death.
FEBRUARY 4, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: 4 EXPATS EXECUTED FOR KILLING SUDANESE
Saudi Arabia on January 31, 2024 executed four Ethiopian expatriates on charges of murdering a Sudanese national.
FEBRUARY 3, 2024IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hassan Mehraban executed in Qazvin on February 3
FEBRUARY 2, 2024IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Iran HRM: 88 Executions in Iranian Prisons during January 2024
82% of the executions were carried out secretly
FEBRUARY 2, 2024IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hengaw: 74 Executions in Iranian Prisons during January 2024
FEBRUARY 1, 2024Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: CITIZEN EXECUTED FOR TERRORISM
Saudi Arabia on January 30, 2024 carried out its first death penalty this year after executing a citizen convicted of terrorist acts in the country's Eastern Province.
FEBRUARY 1, 2024ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: COUPLE EXECUTED FOR DOUBLE CHILD MURDER THAT SHOCKED NATION
China on January 31, 2024 executed a couple for throwing two young children out of the window of an apartment building, in a case that caused nationwide outrage.
JANUARY 31, 2024IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - A woman, Zahra Nazarian, executed in Sabzevar on January 31
230th woman executed in Iran since 2007
JANUARY 31, 2024IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hossein Habibi executed in Urmia on January 31
JANUARY 31, 2024ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: FORMER PEKING UNIVERSITY STUDENT WHO KILLED MOTHER EXECUTED
Wu Xieyu, a former Peking University student who killed his mother, was executed on January 31, 2024 after China's top court approved his death sentence.
JANUARY 30, 2024IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mehdi Azaryoun executed in Urmia on Jannuary 30
- JANUARY 30, 2024IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 2 men executed in Karaj on January 30
Esmail Chieh and a man only identified as Payam
JANUARY 29, 2024AlabamaDEATH PENALTYUSA - Alabama. Global condemnation for Smith's experimental execution
JANUARY 29, 2024IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ali Rajabian executed in Karaj on January 29
JANUARY 29, 2024IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 4 men executed in Karaj on January 29
Mohammad Hussein Esmaieli, Ali Rajabian, Javad Ajamian, and Mohammad Hassan Jafari