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The information above is accurate as of 14 Feb 2011 when Gabon announced the abolition of capital punishment.[1]
LegendAbolished for all crimesAbolished for crimes not committed in exceptional circumstances (such as crimes committed in time of war)Abolished in practiceLegal form of punishment
2010 - The following 23 countries carried out executions in 2010: Bahrain (1), Bangladesh (9+), Belarus (2), Botswana (1), China (2000+), Egypt (4), Equatorial Guinea (4), Iran (252+), Iraq (1+), Japan (2), Libya (18+), Malaysia (1+), North Korea (60+), Palestinian Authority (5), Saudi Arabia (27+), Singapore (1+), Somalia (8+), Sudan (6+), Syria (17+), Taiwan (4), USA (46+), Vietnam (1+), Yemen (53+).[2] 2011 - As of 5 May 2011 executions have been reported in the following 9 countries during 2011: Bangladesh, China, Iran, North Korea, the Palestinian Authority, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, UAE, USA. Child Execution - Since 2009 Iran and Saudi Arabia have executed offenders who were under the age of 18 at the time the crime was committed,[3] Public Execution - Since 2009 public executions have reportedly been carried out by the governments of Iran, North Korea, the Palestinian Authority, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen. Extrajudicial Execution- In some countries the practice of extrajudicial execution sporadically or systematically outside their own formal legal frameworks occurs. Information on this is not covered in this article.
Use of capital punishment by country The continental tables below contain the ten unrecognized states with de facto control over their territory which are not included in the above numbers. Of these 3 maintain the death penalty in law and practice (Palestinian Authority, Somaliland, & Taiwan), 2 have abolished the death penalty (Kosovo, & Sahrawi Rep.), and the remaining 5 have never used capital punishment since declaring independence and are considered de facto abolitionist (Abkhazia, Northern Cyprus, Nagorno-Karabakh, South Ossetia, & Transnistria).[4]
Africa
Of the 54 independent states in Africa that are UN members: 14 (26%) maintain the death penalty in both law and practice. 16 (30%) have abolished it. 0 (0%) retain it for crimes committed in exceptional circumstances (such as in time of war). 24 (44%) permit its use for ordinary crimes, but have not used it for at least 10 years and are believed to have a policy or established practice of not carrying out executions, or it is under a moratorium.
Of the two African limited recognition states not included in the above numbers - Somaliland maintains the death penalty in law and practice and Sahrawi Rep has abolished it. The information above is accurate as of 14 Feb 2011 when Gabon announced the abolition of capital punishment.[5] Libya is Africa`s leading executioner. There have been recent moves toward abolitionism with 4 states prohibiting the death penalty in the last few years Rwanda (2007), Burundi (2009), Togo (2009), and Gabon (2010). Following the Jasmine Revolution of 2011 Tunisia is moving towards abolition. Executions in 2010: Botswana (1), Egypt (4), Equatorial Guinea (4), Libya (18+), Somalia (8+), Sudan (6+).[2] Note: The tables can be sorted alphabetically or chronologically using the
Key Country Year of Last Execution Year Executions Abolished 2010 n/a
icon.
Notes
Algeria
1993
Death penalty for Treason; espionage; attempts to change the regime or actions aimed at incitement; destruction of territory; sabotage to public and economic utilities; massacres and slaughters; participation in armed bands or in insurrectionary movements; counterfeiting; Terrorism; acts of torture or cruelty; kidnapping; aggravated theft, currently under a moratorium. A project of abolition is being tabled in Parliament in Algeria by Louisa Hanoune and Ahmed Ouyahia since the summer of 2008.
Angola
1992
Benin
n/a
[6] [7] Death penalty for Armed robbery; Murder; traffickers involved [8] in "labor exploitation" Current steps are being taken for [9] abolition. Death penalty for murder; treason; attempt on the life of the head of state; mutiny; desertion in the face of the enemy Death penalty for treason [11]
Botswana
2010
[10]
n/a
n/a 1981
[15]
Last execution when a colony of Portugal was 1835. Abolished in 1981 by Constitution.
3
n/a
Central African Republic Chad Comoros Democratic Republic of the Congo Congo Cte d'Ivoire
1981
Death penalty for Treason; espionage; charlatanism; witchcraft; [16] assassination; murder Death penalty for murder
1982 None since [20] independence None since independence 2010 [21] 4
n/a 2000
Djibouti
1995
Egypt
n/a
Death penalty for Rape, if accompanied by kidnapping of the victim; murder; treason; organized drug trafficking
2010
[22]
n/a
n/a
Ethiopia
n/a
Death penalty for murder, Treason, armed conspiracy, genocide, outrages against the constitution Abolition was made in Feb 2010, according to Hands Off Cain press release of 15 Feb 2011 Death penalty for treason. Abolished 1993 but was reinstated by [26] Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council in August 1995 Death penalty for murder; treason; armed robbery Abolished 1993 by constitution. Death penalty for murder [28] Death penalty for murder, armed robbery, treason. On August 3, 2009, the death sentences of all 4,000 death row inmates were commuted to life imprisonment, and government studies were ordered to determine if the death penalty has any impact on crime. [26]
Gabon
1981
[24]
2010
[25]
Gambia
1981
n/a
1987
Lesotho Liberia
n/a n/a Death penalty for armed robbery, terrorism, hijacking. On 16 September 2005, Liberia acceded to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, abolishing [29] the death penalty, but re-introduced elements of it in July, 2008. Libya executed more people (18) in 2010 than any other African state. Current laws allow capital punishment for high treason; attempt to [31] forcibly change the form of government; premeditated murder Last execution when a colony of France was in 1958.
Libya
2010
[30]
18+
n/a
Madagascar
n/a
Malawi Mali
n/a n/a
1980
4
n/a
Mauritania
1987
apostasy
(no recorded
Mauritius Morocco
1987 1993
1995 n/a [28] Death penalty for Terrorism. An abolition law project is being presented to the Parliament of Morocco in spring 2007. (see Human rights in Morocco#Capital punishment) Abolished Nov 1990 by Constitution. Last execution when occupied by South Africa was in 1988. Abolished Mar 1990 by Constitution.
Mozambique Namibia
1990 1990
Niger Nigeria
n/a n/a [36] Death penalty for sodomy, kidnapping. Each of the 36 states has its own laws. In the north of the country, Sharia (Islamic law) is used. In Imo State, a bill that provided capital punishment for kidnapping was signed into law. Since some of the perpetrators of the Rwandan genocide fled to countries that refuse to extradite suspects to countries that use capital punishment, the Rwandan parliament voted to abolish capital punishment in 2007. The Constitution of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic outlaws the death penalty: Article 13 from the 1991 revision reads "The death [38] penalty is banned" (translated into English from the Arabic.) Abolished Sep 1990 by Constitution.
Rwanda
1998
2007
[37]
1991
1990
Sierra Leone
n/a
[39] Death penalty for treason; Murder; aggravated robbery. Under the Special Court for Sierra Leone the death penalty is not a punishment for war crimes Somalia is the only African state that continues to carry out public executions. The Transitional Federal Government laws allow for execution (in the limited area of the country it controls) for murder and adultery.
Somalia
2011
[40]
8+
n/a
2006 1989
n/a 1995 [41] The last execution by the South African government was on 14 November 1989. An execution occurred in the internationally [14] unrecognised "homeland" of Venda in 1991. Capital punishment was declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court on 6 June 1995 in the case of S v Makwanyane and Another. In 1997 the Criminal Law Amendment Act formally removed the invalidated provisions from the statute-book, and made provision for the [42] resentencing of prisoners previously sentenced to death. On 25 May 2005 the Constitutional Court ordered that all remaining death sentences in the country be set aside and the prisoners resentenced as [43] soon as possible.
5
n/a
South Sudan
Sudan
2010
[46]
6+
n/a
1983
[49]
1991
n/a
Death penalty for murder; violence and aggression; attacks against the internal security of the state; attacks against the external security of the state. Following the Jasmine Revolution the new interim government announced on 01 Feb 2011 that it would ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including the Second Optional Protocol regarding the abolition of the death [53] penalty. On June 14, 2005 the Constitutional court ruled that although the death penalty was constitutional, its use as a mandatory punishment [55] for certain crimes was not. Death penalty for murder; aggravated robbery; high treason. President Levy Mwanawasa stated in 2004 that "For as long as I remain [32] President, I will not execute a death warrant." Current capital crimes are drug trafficking; treason; murder; [57] mutiny.
Uganda
2005
[54]
n/a
Zambia
1997
n/a
Zimbabwe
2003
[56]
n/a
The Americas
Of the 35 independent states in the Americas that are UN members: 3 (9%) maintain the death penalty in both law and practice. 15 (43%) have abolished it. 4 (11%) retain it for crimes committed in exceptional circumstances (such as in time of war). 13 (37%) permit its use for ordinary crimes, but have not used it for at least 10 years and are believed to have a policy or established practice of not carrying out executions, or it is under a moratorium.
The information above is accurate as of 2010 when both Guatemala and the Bahamas became de facto abolitionist states by not having carried out executions for ten years. The United States carries out more executions than any other liberal democracy (as defined by Freedom House) in the world. The only other countries in the Americas which practice capital punishment are Cuba and St. Kitts and Nevis. Executions in 2010: United States (46).[2] Note: The tables can be sorted alphabetically or chronologically using the icon.
Key
Country
Notes
1991
1916
2009
Constitution states "The penalty of death for political offences, all kinds of [58] torture, and flogging, are forever abolished." The Military Code of Justice (including the death penalty) was abolished on 6 August 2008 and into law six [59] months later. Death penalty for treason; Piracy; Murder Death penalty for murder; Treason. Presently under review before the IACHR [60] [61] despite strong national support. Death penalty for murder, except where extenuating circumstances can be [62] proved Abolished for civil crimes 1997. Constitution states "All persons have the right to life. The death penalty does not exist" (Article 15). The last execution happened in 1885 in Maca, Rio de Janeiro, when Manuel da Mota Coqueiro was convicted of an allegedly committed murder and [63] hanged. Brazil has always maintained the death penalty as part of its military code but capital punishment for civil offenses was abolished after Brazil became a republic in 1889, then reinstated and abolished again twice (193853 and [64] [65] [66] [67] 196978). Only one person was ever sentenced to death during the Republican period, in 1969, and the execution was not carried [68] out. The current Constitution of Brazil (1988) expressly forbids the use of [69] capital punishment by the civil penal justice system. For more information see Capital punishment in Brazil. Abolished in 1976 For more information see Capital punishment in Canada Abolished from civil justice in 2001. Abolished in 1910 (by Constitutional reform) Prohibited by the Colombian Constitution of 1991: "The right to life is inviolable. There will be no death penalty." Abolished 1877 by Constitution. In 2008 all but three of the existing death sentences were commuted to prison [72] sentences.
Bahamas Barbados
n/a n/a
Belize
1985
[14]
n/a
Bolivia
1974
2009
Brazil
1876
n/a
1859 2003
[70] [71]
1877 n/a
1986 1966
1884
1906
Abolished 1906 (by Constitution) For more information see Capital punishment in Ecuador. May be imposed only in cases provided by military laws during a state of [73] international war. Abolished for other crimes 1983.
1973
n/a
1972
7
n/a
Guyana
1997
1961
Death penalty abolished by Constitution in 1917 except for military crimes, 2005 all crimes. Since the kidnap and murder of 14-year-old Fernando Mart in July 2008 at the hands of an organized group of criminals that included police officers, there had been social pressure to reinstate capital punishment (including from the Green Party) and the issue was brought up in Congress, but Congress refused to reinstate it. In 2009 the Green Party used its pro-death penalty position in an ineffective attempt to garner-up votes on the cheap. Additionally, as Mexico is a member of the Organization of American States (OAS), it is [78] prohibited from reinstating the death penalty after it had been abolished. [79] See Capital punishment in Mexico. Abolished 1979 by Constitution Abolished 1903 by Constitution.
Nicaragua Panama
1979 1903
Paraguay
1992
Abolished 1992 (by Constitution) Death penalty for treason,Terrorism,Espionage,Genocide,Mutiny,Desertion in [73] times of war. Abolished for other crimes 1979. Death penalty for murder
Peru
1979
n/a
Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Suriname
2008
[80]
n/a
1995 1995
n/a n/a
Death penalty for murder; Treason Death penalty for murder; Treason
1982
n/a
The last execution in 1982, was arbitrary, by military firing squad and without due process. The perpetrators are presently being tried. The death penalty is de facto, but not de jure abolished by signing the treaty of San Jose in 1987. [81] Aggravated or premeditated murder; treason For more information see Capital punishment in Suriname Death penalty for murder; Treason [82]
1999
n/a
2011
[83]
46
n/a
Capital punishment was suspended in the United States from 1972 through 1976. Currently Federal law provides the death penalty for many homicide-related [84] crimes; espionage; treason; As of 2011, 34 of the 50 US states still exercise the death penalty. The 16 states who have abolished capital punishment are (with abolition date): Michigan (1846), Wisconsin (1853), Maine (1887), Minnesota (1911), Hawaii (1948), Alaska (1957), Vermont (1964), Iowa (1965), West Virginia (1965), North Dakota (1973), Rhode Island (1979), Massachusetts (1984 - de facto judicial abolition, retains statute), New York (2004 - de facto judicial abolition, retains statute), New Jersey (2007), New Mexico (2009), and [85] Illinois (2011). As of 17 Apr 2011 bills proposing death penalty abolition are being considered by the legislatures of Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas - bills proposing the reinstatement of the death penalty are being considered by the [86] legislatures of Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts,and New Jersey.
Oregon re-introduced the death penalty which occurred in 1978 after abolition in 1964. Delaware re-introduced the death penalty on December 18, 1961 after having abolished it on April 2, 1958. Of the US non-state entities US Samoa still [87] has capital punishment as a local statute. The remaining non-state entities have abolished the death penalty, Puerto Rico (1929), Washington DC (1981), Mariana Is (never a local statute), Guam, US Virgin Is. In practice the death penalty is used only for murder; conspiracy to commit murder. Sentences of death may be handed down by a jury or a judge (upon a bench trial or a guilty plea). For more information see Capital punishment in the United States. Uruguay 1905 1907 Abolished 1907 (by Constitution) Abolished in 1863 by Constitution
Venezuela
1863
Asia-Pacific
Of the 55 independent states in the Asia-Pacific region that are UN members: 24 (44%) maintain the death penalty in both law and practice. 18 (33%) have abolished it. 2 (4%) retain it for crimes committed in exceptional circumstances (such as in time of war). 11 (20%) permit its use for ordinary crimes, but have not used it for at least 10 years and are believed to have a policy or established practice of not carrying out executions, or it is under a moratorium.
Of the 2 Asian limited recognition states not included in the above numbers - both the Taiwan and the Palestinian Authority maintain the death penalty in law and practice. The information above is accurate as of 14 Jan 2010 when Mongolia announced a moratorium on capital punishment. Asia has the worlds four leading practitioners of capital punishment - China, Iran, North Korea and Yemen. Executions in 2010: Bahrain (1), Bangladesh (9+), China (2000+), Iran (252+), Iraq (1+), Japan (2), Saudi Arabia (27+), Singapore (1+), Palestinian Authority (5), Syria (17+), Taiwan (ROC) (4), Malaysia (1+), North Korea (60+), Yemen (53+), Vietnam (1+).[2] Note: The tables can be sorted alphabetically or chronologically using the
Key Country Year of Last Execution Year Executions Abolished 2010 n/a
icon.
Notes
Afghanistan
2008
[88]
[89]
homosexuality,
Australia
1967
[90]
1985
Capital punishment was abolished in Queensland in 1922, Tasmania in 1968, The Northern Territory; Australian Capital Territory and the Commonwealth in 1973, Victoria in 1975, South Australia in 1976, Western Australia in 1984 and New South Wales in 1985. For more information see Capital punishment in Australia. Death penalty for premeditated murder; plotting to topple the regime; collaborating with a foreign hostile country; threatening the life of the Emir; defiance of military orders in time of war or martial law [93] [94] Death penalty for murder; drug offences; Trafficking in children for immoral or illegal purposes; trafficking in women for [95] purposes of prostitution
Bahrain
2010
[91]
1+
n/a
Bangladesh
2011
[92]
9+
n/a
9
2004 n/a Last execution when a protectorate of Britain was in 1957. Death penalty for murder; unlawful possession of firearms and explosives; possession of heroin or morphine of more than 15grams, cocaine of more than 30grams, cannabis of more than 500grams, syabu or methamphetamine of more than 50grams, or opium of more than [96] 1.2kg Abolished in 1989 by Constitution. China carries out far more executions than all of the rest of the world combined, and is notable as the only country in the world that regularly [98] executes thousands of people every year. On 25 Feb 2011 China's newly revised Criminal Law reduced the number of crimes punishable [99] by death by 13 to 55. Among these are embezzlement; rape of children; fraud; bombing; people trafficking; piracy; rape; corruption; arson; murder; poaching; endangerment of national security; [100] terrorism (see Capital punishment in the People's Republic of China) Hong Kong and Macau, have separate legal systems and have abolished the death penalty. In Hong Kong it was abolished in 1993 by the then British colonial government, and last used in 1966 (see Capital punishment in Hong Kong). In Macau it was last used in 19th Century and abolished in 1976 when Portugal abolished the death penalty on all its territories (see Capital punishment in Macau). Last execution when a colony of Britain was in 1964. Death penalty for only for crimes under the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Act. Abolished for other crimes 1979. Death penalty for Murder; instigating a child's suicide; treason; acts of terrorism; a second conviction for drug trafficking. For more information see Capital punishment in India [103] [104] Death penalty for murder; Drug trafficking; Terrorism; Capital punishment is regulated by state Law No. 2/1964, which stipulates that death sentences should be carried out by firing [105] squad. Iran is second only to China in the number of executions it carries out [98] regularly killing hundreds every year (many in public) Currently the death penalty can be given for murder; armed robbery; drug trafficking; kidnapping; rape; paedophilia; homosexuality; espionage; terrorism; apostasy (no recorded excecutions) Death penalty for murder; endangering national security; distributing drugs; rape; attacks on transport convoys; financing and execution of [108] terrorism. Suspended in June 2003 after 2003 invasion; reinstated [109] August 2004. [110] Death penalty for crimes against humanity, high treason, genocide, crimes against the Jewish people, terrorism. Only two executions: accused traitor Meir Tobiansky (posthumously acquitted) and high-ranking Nazi Adolf Eichmann. Abolished for other crimes 1954.
Bhutan Brunei
1974
Cambodia China
1989 n/a
Fiji
n/a
India
2004
[101]
n/a
Indonesia
2008
[102]
n/a
Iran
2011
[106]
252+
n/a
Iraq
2010
[107]
1+
n/a
Israel
1962
n/a
10
2 n/a
Japan
2010
Prosecutors push for the death penalty only in the case of multiple [112] murders, or single murder with aggravating circumstances. Judges usually impose death penalty in case of multiple homicides. Between 1946 and 2003 766 people were sentenced to death, 608 of whom were executed. For 40 months from 1989 to 1993 successive ministers of justice refused to authorise executions, which amounted to an informal moratorium. (See Capital punishment in Japan) Death penalty for murder [114]
2006 2011
n/a n/a
North Korea performs public executions. Current laws allow the death [116] penalty for prostitution; drug transactions; plots against national sovereignty; terrorism; treason against the Motherland by citizens; [117] treason against the people; murder [119] Death penalty for murder. There has been an unofficial moratorium on executions since President Kim Dae-jung took office in [120] February 1998. However, a man was recently sentenced to death, [121] a sentence which had not been carried out as of April 2009
South Korea
1997
[118]
n/a
Kiribati
1979
Kuwait Kyrgyzstan
n/a 2007
Death penalty for drug trafficking; rape; murder Kyrgyz authorities had extended a moratorium on executions each year [123] [124] since 1998. Abolished by constitution in 2007 Death penalty for drugs trafficking Death penalty for murder [127] [125]
Death penalty mandatory for trafficking in dangerous drugs; discharging a firearm in the commission of a scheduled offence; accomplices in case of discharge of firearm; offences against the Yang di-Pertuan Agongs person; murder. Discretionary for kidnapping; consorting with a person carrying or having possession of arms or explosives; waging or attempting to wage war or abetting the waging of war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, a Ruler or Yang di-Pertua [129] Negeri Last execution when a colony of Britain was in 1952. Death penalty for [130] murder Abolished in 1986 by Constitution
Maldives
n/a
Marshall Islands
1986
11
n/a
Mongolia
2008
Death penalty for terrorist acts committed for political purposes; terrorist acts against representatives of a foreign State for political purposes; sabotage; premeditated murder committed with aggravating circumstances; rape with aggravating circumstances; armed [131] robbery. According to Amnesty International, executions were [132] carried out in secret and there are no official statistics On January 14, 2010, President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj announced that he would, henceforth, systematically use his prerogative to pardon all persons sentenced to death. He stated that most countries in the world had abolished the death penalty, and that Mongolia should follow their example; he suggested that it be replaced with a thirty year prison [133] sentence. As of Jan 2011 a bill to ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, is awaiting a [134] final vote in the State Great Khural (parliament). (See: Capital punishment in Mongolia) Abolished in 1986 by Constitution
1986
n/a n/a
[135]
1997 2007
Abolished 1997 by Constitution. Abolished in New Zealand in 1989. In 2007 the Cook Islands became the last of New Zealand`s overseas territories to abolish capital punishment. For more information see Capital punishment in New Zealand Death penalty for murder; Drug trafficking [137]
Oman Pakistan
2001 2008
[136] [138]
n/a n/a
Death penalty for murder,drug smuggling,terrorism,rape,unlawful asslembly and blasphemy;. (See Capital punishment in Pakistan)
Palau
1994
n/a
The Palestinian Authority performs public executions. Current laws allow the death penalty for murder, rape, collaborating with Israeli [140] [141] forces. There are a total of 17 offenses in the West Bank and 15 in the Gaza Strip for which the death penalty can be imposed under the Palestinian Penal Code.[142] There had been an unofficial moratorium since 2002 after President Yasser Arafat stopped authorising executions. The Hamas Islamic court has sentenced people to death for murder.[143] Last execution when a colony of Britain was in Nov 1954. Treason; Piracy; Attempted piracy; willful murder. For more information, see Capital punishment in Papua New Guinea. Abolished in 1987 under the present constitution, re-introduced in 1993, re-abolished on 24 June 2006 under Republic Act No. 9346. [146] [147] Death penalty for espionage; Threat to national security; [34] Apostasy (no recorded executions)
n/a
2006
Qatar
2003
[145]
n/a
Samoa
2004
[148]
12
27+ n/a
Saudi Arabia
2011
Saudi Arabia performs public executions. Current laws allow the death penalty for many violent and nonviolent offenses, including murder; apostasy (no recorded excecutions); drug trafficking; rape and armed [150] [151] robbery drug offenses; witchcraft; sexual misconduct. Method most often used is beheading by a sword Death penalty for murder; kidnapping; treason; certain firearm offenses; trafficking in more than 15grams of heroin or morphine, [152] 30grams of cocaine or 500grams of cannabis (see capital punishment in Singapore)
Singapore
2010
[128]
1+
n/a
1978
n/a
Death penalty for murder; perjury causing an innocent person to be executed; rape; drug trafficking. Moratorium since 1976. Syria performs public executions. Current laws allow the death penalty for treason; murder; political acts such as bearing arms against Syria in the ranks of the enemy, desertion of the armed forces to the enemy and acts of incitement under martial law or in wartime; violent robbery; rape; verbal opposition to the government; membership of the Muslim Brotherhood Between 2004-2010 death sentences were not carried out Capital punishment in the Republic of China. Executions resumed in 2010. On March 4, 2011, five people executed. On 3 May 2011 Taiwan removed [154] the death penalty clauses from its Military Law statutes Death penalty for murder with aggravating circumstances; rape with [155] aggravating circumstances; terrorism; biocide; genocide. Moratorium introduced 30 April 2004 by President Emomalii Rahmon Death penalty for regicide; sedition or rebellion; offences committed against the external security of Thailand; murder or attempted murder of a foreign head of state; bribery; arson; rape; murder with intent; kidnapping; robbery resulting in death. For a full list see here (PDF) [157] Death penalty suspended following UN administration in 1999 when still a province of Indonesia. Capital Punishment abolished by [158] constitution 2002. Death penalty for treason, Murder; For more information see Capital punishment in Tonga Abolished 1999 by Constitution.
Syria
2010
[128]
17+
n/a
Taiwan
2011
[153]
n/a
Tajikistan
2004
n/a
Thailand
2009
[156]
n/a
Timor-Leste
2002.
[158]
Tonga
1982
[159]
n/a
Turkmenistan Tuvalu
1999 1978
n/a
[161]
Rape; treason;
2005
[162]
2008
President Islam Karimov signed a decree on 1 August 2005 that replaced the death penalty with life imprisonment on 1 January [163] [164] 2008
Vanuatu
1980
13
1+ n/a
Vietnam
2010
Death penalty for treason; taking action to overthrow the government; espionage; rebellion; banditry; terrorism; sabotage; hijacking; destruction of national security projects; undermining peace; war crimes; crimes against humanity; manufacturing, concealing and trafficking in narcotic substances; murder; rape; robbery; [166] embezzlement; fraud Yemen performs public executions. Current laws allow the death [168] [169] [170] [171] penalty for murder; Adultery; homosexuality; [34] Apostasy (no recorded executions)
Yemen
2010
[167]
53+
n/a
Europe
Of the 50 independent states in Europe that are UN members or have UN Observer status: 1 (2%) maintains the death penalty in both law and practice. 46 (92%) have abolished it. 2 (4%) retain it for crimes committed in exceptional circumstances (such as in time of war). 1 (2%) permit its use for ordinary crimes, but have not used it for at least 10 years and are believed to have a policy or established practice of not carrying out executions, or it is under a moratorium.
Of the 6 European limited recognition states not included in the above numbers - Kossovo has abolished capital punishment and the remaining 5 are considered de facto abolitionist -Abkhazia, Northern Cyprus, Nagorno-Karabakh, South Ossetia, & Transnistria. The information above is accurate as of 2010 when the last Netherlands overseas territory announced the abolition of capital punishment.[172] Belarus is the only country in Europe to still carry out executions. 2009 is the only year in recorded history when Europe was completely free of executions. Executions in 2010: Belarus (2).[2] Note: The tables can be sorted alphabetically or chronologically using the
Key Country Year Last Execution Year Executions Abolished 2010 n/a
icon.
Notes
Abkhazia
Albania
2007
Ratification of Protocol No. 13 of ECHR took place on 6 February [174] 2007, in effect by 1 June 2007. Abolished 1990 by Constitution Abolished in 1998 by Constitution
Andorra Armenia
1990 1998
Austria
1968
Azerbaijan
1993
1998
14
2 n/a
Belarus
2011
Belarus is the last remaining country in Europe to practice the death penalty. Current laws allow capital punishment for acts of aggression; murder of a representative of a foreign state or international organization with the intention to provoke international tension or war; international terrorism; genocide; crimes against the security of humanity; murder with aggravating circumstances; terrorism; terrorist acts; treason that results in loss of life; conspiracy to seize power; sabotage; murder of a police officer; use of weapons of mass [175] destruction; and violations of the laws and customs of war (see Capital punishment in Belarus) Last execution for common law crimes was in 1863. Last execution for war crimes was in 1950. Abolished 1996 by Constitution. Last execution when part of Yugoslavia was in 1975. Abolished 1998 by Constitution
Belgium
1950
1996
1998
1998 2002 1991 Capital punishment for murder abolished in 1983. [173] Last execution when part of Yugoslavia was in 1973. Abolished in 1990 for the Croatian Yugoslav Republic by the Constitution. Upon declaration of independence in 1991 Croatia removed itself from the jurisdiction of the Federal Yugoslav capital punishment statutes effectively achieving complete abolition. Death penalty is prohibited by [176] the article 21 of the Croatian Constitution. Last execution when part of Czechoslovakia was in Jun 1989. For more info see Capital punishment in the Czech Republic.Abolished 1990 by Constitution Last execution for common law crimes 1892. Last execution for war crimes 1950. Capital punishment was retroactively carried out 1945-50 for crimes related to the German occupation in World War II, repealed in 1951 and confirmed in 1993. A similar rule was active 1952-1978 in the civil penalty law for war crimes committed under extreme circumstances. See Capital punishment in Denmark.
Czech Republic
1990
Denmark
1950
1978
Estonia Finland
1991 1944
1998 1972 Last peacetime execution 1825. Last wartime execution 1944. Capital punishment was abolished on civilian crimes 1949 (all existing sentences commuted to life imprisonment) and on all crimes 1972. 1984 death penalty was outlawed in the Finnish Constitution. The death penalty was initially abolished by the Directory in 1795 but re-introduced by Napoleon in 1810. It was re-abolished in law in 1981 and by Constitution in 2007. For more info see Capital punishment in France The death penalty was abolished for most offenses in 1997, but the constitution stated that the Supreme Court had the power to impose the death penalty in exceptionally serious cases of "crimes against life". On 27 December 2006, President Mikheil Saakashvili signed into a law a new constitutional amendment totally abolishing the death penalty in all circumstances Last execution by German staats authorities 1949. US military authorities carried out an execution on FRG territory in 1956. The now defunct GDR`S last execution in East Germany was in 1981. Prohibited by the Basic Law since 1949. In GDR was forbiden since 1988 and (West-)Berlin forbidden since the reunification 1990.
France
1977
1981
Georgia
1995
[173]
2006
Germany
1949
1949
15
2001 Abolished in 1994 (Law 2207/1994) except for high treason in time of war; abolished completely with the Constitutional amendment of 2001 Capital punishment was abolished in 1990 and the last execution was of Vadsz Ern on the 14th of July 1988 for murder. Last execution when a colony of Denmark was in 1830. Abolished in 1928; reintroduction made unconstitutional in 1995 by unanimous vote of parliament 21st Amendment to the Constitution (2001) passed by national referendum made reintroduction unconstitutional without a further constitutional amendment (and referendum). Until 1990 it was still technically lawful to execute the murderer of a police officer; however, in practice this never occurred, likely due to widespread moral objection. On 30 Nov 1786 the Duchy of Tuscany (then independent,now a part of Italy) became the first state in the modern era to completely abolish the death penalty. The short lived Roman Republic of Feb-Jul 1849 abolished the death penalty before being overthrown by French troops. When the Republic of Italy was formed in 1860 all the constituent states except Tuscany allowed capital punishment until it was abolished from the civil code in 1889 - although it was maintained under military and colonial law. In 1926 Mussolini reintroduced the death penalty into civil Italian law. It was re-abolished from the civil code except in time of war in 1948 (by the Constitution). Capital punishment was finally completely abolished by removing it from from the military penal code in 1994. Constitution amended in 2007 to make reintroduction unconstitutional without a further constitutional amendment.See Capital punishment in Italy [178] Currently capital punishment for terrorism and crimes in wartime. Moratorium since 17 December 2003. Abolished on 30 July 2009 for [179] other crimes On 28 Mar 2011 the Presidential Commission for Human Rights in Astana asked the government to abolish capital [180] punishment. Prohibited by 2008 Constitution [181]
Greece
1972
Hungary
1988
1990
Iceland
1928
Ireland
1954
1990
Italy
1947
1994
Kazakhstan
2003
[177]
n/a
Kosovo
2008
Latvia
n/a
Death penalty for murder with aggravating circumstances if committed [182] during wartime. Abolished for other crimes 1999.
1987 1998 1979 1991 Abolished by Constitution 1979 Last execution when a part of Yugoslavia was in 1988. by Constitution 1991. [173] Abolished
Malta
2000
Last execution when a colony of Britain was in 1943. Capital punishment for murder abolished in 1971; part of the military code until 2000. [173] Last execution when a part of the USSR was in 1985 . On 23 September 2005 the Moldovan Constitutional Court approved [183] constitutional amendments that abolished the death penalty. Abolished by Constitution 1962
Moldova
2005
Monaco
1847
1962
16
2006 Last execution when a part of Yugoslavia was in 1992. Capital punishment abolished by Yugoslavia Federal Republic in 1995. When Montenegro declared independence in 2006 it became an abolitionist state. Last execution for peacetime offences 1860. Abolished for peacetime offences in 1870. Abolished in Netherlands by Constitution 1982. Last Netherlands overseas territory to abolish was Netherlands Antilles in [172] 2010.
Montenegro
Netherlands
1952
2010
n/a
1979
Abolished for peacetime offences in 1902, last execution for peacetime offences 1876. Last executions of wartime offenders conducted on 37 men convicted of treason in WWII in 1947-48. A criminal law reform including reintroduction of death penalty was proposed in 2004 by Prawo i Sprawiedliwo, but lost its first reading vote in the Sejm by 198 to 194 with 14 abstentions). It is said that this was only populism, as Poland was in the European Union and so this [32] initiative hardly had a chance. Capital Punishment was abolished for civil crimes in 1867. It was completely abolished for all crimes in 1911, but reinstated in 1916 for treasonous offenses in time of war. It was completely abolished again in [184] 1976.
Poland
1988
1997
Portugal
1846
1976
Romania
1989
1990
[185] The last people to be convicted and executed in Romania were the former dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife, Elena, following the Romanian Revolution of 1989. Their accusations ranged from crimes against humanity to high-treason. Abolished in 1990 by Constitution There have been 3 brief periods when Russia has completely abolished the death penalty, 12 Mar 1917 to 12 Jul 1917 following the overthrow of the Tsar, 27 Oct 1917 to 16 Jun 1918 following the seizure of power by the Bolsheviks, and 1947-1950 after the end of the Second World War. Currently the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation envisages the death penalty for five crimes: murder with aggravating circumstances, assassination attempt against a state or public figure, attempt on the life of a person administering justice or preliminary investigations, attempt on the life of a law-enforcement officer, and [186] genocide. On 16 April 1997 Russia signed the Sixth Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights, but has yet to ratify it. There has been a moratorium on executions since 1996; no executions in the Russian Federation since August 1996 (except one in 1999 in the Chechen Republic a former limited recognition state). In November 2009, the Constitutional Court of Russia extended the moratorium pending ratification of the Sixth Protocol. Capital Punishment was abolished for civil crimes in 1848. The Death penalty was completely abolished for all crimes in 1865. Abolished in 1995 on the federal level (Serbia was the part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia). Local (Serbian) legislation was [187] adjusted in 2002 Last execution when a part of Czechoslovakia was in 1989. Abolished 1990 by Constitution when still a constituent part of Czechoslovakia. Upon independence on 01 Jan 1993 Slovakia became a new abolitionist state.
Russia
1996
n/a
San Marino
1468
1865
Serbia
1992
2002
Slovakia
1993
17
n/a
South Ossetia
Slovenia
1991
Last execution when a part of Yugoslavia was in 1959. Abolished in Slovenian Yugoslav Republic 1989 by Constitution. Upon declaration of independence in 1991 Slovenia removed itself from the jurisdiction of the Federal Yugoslav capital punishment statutes effectively achieving complete abolition. Abolished in 1978 by constitution except for military laws during [188] wartime. Abolished from the military penal code in 1995. Peacetime offences 1921, Wartime offences 1973. Constitutionally prohibited since 1975. See also capital punishment in Sweden. Capital Punishment was abolished in 1874, but reinstated in 1879. It was practiced by a few cantons (nine executions up to 1940). Abolished by popular vote in 1938, except for wartime military crimes, for which it was abolished in 1992. Death penalty for murder; attempt to murder a state or public official; armed rebellion; attempt to murder a magistrate or investigator; attempt to murder a law enforcement agent; genocide. Moratorium since 1 January 1999 Abolished in 2004 by Constitution Death penalty for treason during wartime, acts of terrorism and piracy [189] jure gentium (by the law of nations), and for repeated murders Abolished February 2000 after the Constitutional Court ruled the death penalty unconstitutional in December 1999. New criminal code passed in April 2001. Last execution in the UK was in 1964. The last execution on British Overseas Territory occurred in Bermuda in 1977. Abolished for murder in 1969 in Great Britain and 1973 in Northern Ireland. Abolished for all remaining offences (high treason, piracy with violence and offences under military jurisdiction) in UK in 1998. European Convention, Thirteenth Protocol ratified in 2003 confirming total abolition. See Capital punishment in the United Kingdom. The last British Territory or Crown Dependency to completely abolish capital punishment was [191] Jersey on 10 Dec 2006.
Spain
1975
1995
Sweden
1910
1973
Switzerland
1944
1992
Transnistria
n/a
2004 n/a
Ukraine
2000
United Kingdom
1964
1998
Vatican City
1870
[192]
1969
Abolition Chronology
The table below lists in chronological order the 95 independent states, that are either UN members or have UN observer status, that have completely abolished the death penalty. In the hundred years since Venezuela abolished capital punishment in 1863 only 10 more countries were able to maintain abolition - although more tried but failed to prevent re-instatement after an initial abolition. From the 1960`s there has been a growing momentum towards abolition worldwide. In the 1960`s 4 countries abolished (a record up to that time for any decade), in the 1970`s a limited momentum was achieved when 10 countries abolished, the 1980`s saw a further 9 countries abolish, but it was the fall of Communism in 1989 which turned the trickle into a torrent - no fewer than 34 countries abolished in the 1990`s, the individual years 1990 and 1998 are especially notable because 8 and 7 countries respectively abolished in those single years. This momentum is continuing as a further 26 countries abolished in the first decade of this century. Since 1985 there have been only two years when no country has abolished the death penalty, 1988 & 2003.
Use of capital punishment by country Note - Where a country has abolished, re-instated, and abolished again (e.g. Philippines, Switzerland, Portugal) only the later abolition date is included. Countries who have abolished and since reinstated (e.g. Liberia) are not included. The ten limited recognition states are not included in this table, as they are not included in the statistics throughout this article (although they do appear in the continental tables above for information). Non-independent territories are considered to be under the jurisdiction of their parent country - which leads to unexpectedly late abolition dates for the UK, New Zealand and the Netherlands, where Jersey (UK), the Cook Is (NZ), and the Netherlands Antilles, were the last territories of those states to abolish capital punishment, and all were rather later than the more well known abolitions on the respective mainlands. Defunct countries such as the GDR (East Germany), which abolished capital punishment in 1987 but was dissolved in 1990, are also not included. References are in the continental tables above and not repeated here.
Year Abolished 1863 1865 1877 1903 1906 1907 1910 1928 1949 1956 1962 1966 1968 1969 1972 1973 1976 1978 1979 1980 1981 1985 1986 1987 1989 1990 Venezuela San Marino Costa Rica Panama Ecuador Uruguay Colombia Iceland Germany Honduras Monaco Dominican Republic Austria Vatican City Finland Sweden Portugal Denmark Kiribati Vanuatu Cape Verde Australia Marshall Islands Haiti Cambodia Andorra Romania Croatia Angola Czech Republic Hungary So Tom and Prncipe Macedonia Paraguay Slovenia Switzerland Ireland Mozambique Namibia Federated States of Micronesia France Solomon Islands Luxembourg Tuvalu Nicaragua Norway Country In-Year Total 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 4 1 2 1 2 2 1 8 Running Total 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 20 24 25 27 28 30 32 33 41
18
Liechtenstein
1991 1992
3 3
44 47
19
3 2 South Africa Spain 4 1 50 52 56 57 59 67
Slovakia
Seychelles
Mauritius
2 Bulgaria Canada 8
Armenia Azerbaijan Bosnia and Herzegovina Estonia Lithuania United Kingdom Turkmenistan Cte d'Ivoire Greece Cyprus Bhutan Mexico Georgia Albania Uzbekistan Argentina Gabon Bolivia Burundi Togo Serbia Samoa Moldova Montenegro Kyrgyzstan Philippines New Zealand Rwanda Timor-Leste Senegal Turkey Malta Ukraine
1999 2000 2001 2002 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
1 3 1 3 4 2 3 4 1 4 2
68 71 72 75 79 81 84 88 89 93 95
Netherlands Antilles
References
[1] ABOLITIONIST AND RETENTIONIST COUNTRIES (http:/ / www. amnesty. org/ en/ death-penalty/ abolitionist-and-retentionist-countries) [2] http:/ / www. amnesty. org. au/ images/ uploads/ adp/ Death%20Sentences%20and%20Executions%202010. pdf [3] Child executions (http:/ / www. amnesty. org/ en/ death-penalty/ executions-of-child-offenders-since-1990) [4] http:/ / www. globalissues. org/ news/ 2010/ 10/ 07/ 7188 [5] http:/ / www. handsoffcain. info/ news/ index. php?iddocumento=15302086 [6] http:/ / www. omct. org/ pdf/ procedures/ 2004/ joint/ s_violence_benin_sum_recom_10_2004. pdf (PDF) [7] United Nations Human Rights Website - Treaty Bodies Database - Document - Summary Record - Benin (http:/ / www. unhchr. ch/ tbs/ doc. nsf/ 0/ 86fccf0fb9823123c1256b13005aadb5?Opendocument) [8] Benin (http:/ / www. state. gov/ g/ drl/ rls/ hrrpt/ 2004/ 41588. htm) [9] http:/ / www. amnesty. org/ en/ news-and-updates/ benin-closer-abolishing-death-penalty-2011-08-19 [10] http:/ / www. handsoffcain. info/ archivio_news/ 201003. php?iddocumento=13303343& mover=0 [11] http:/ / www. politinfo. com/ articles/ article_2004_04_8_2302. html [12] Burundi: Imminent resumption of executions or summary trials and executions | Amnesty International (http:/ / web. amnesty. org/ library/ Index/ ENGAFR160212004?open& of=ENG-BDI) [13] http:/ / www. amnesty. org/ en/ news-and-updates/ news/ burundi-abolishes-death-penalty-but-bans-homosexuality-20090427 [14] British Commonwealth: (http:/ / www. capitalpunishmentuk. org/ common. html) [15] University of Minnesota Template Page (http:/ / www1. umn. edu/ humanrts/ hrcommittee/ cameroon1999. html) [16] Human Rights Committee Considers The Situation In The Central African Republic (http:/ / www2. unog. ch/ news2/ documents/ newsen/ ct04008e. htm) [17] http:/ / www. amnesty. org/ en/ library/ info/ AFR20/ 001/ 2003/ en [18] The death penalty: List of abolitionist and retentionist countries (October 1996) | Amnesty International (http:/ / web. amnesty. org/ library/ Index/ ENGACT500091996?open& of=ENG-392) [19] "Congo death verdict prompts worry" (http:/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ 1/ hi/ 8664155. stm). BBC News. 6 May 2010. . [20] West Africa: Time to abolish the death penalty\n\n | Amnesty International (http:/ / web. amnesty. org/ library/ Index/ ENGAFR050032003?open& of=ENG-CPV) [21] http:/ / www. amnesty. org/ en/ news-and-updates/ egyptian-man-executed-amid-questions-over-murder-conviction-2010-03-12 [22] "Eq Guinea executes four coup convicts: Amnesty" (http:/ / af. reuters. com/ article/ topNews/ idAFJOE67N00T20100824). Reuters. 24 August 2010. .
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21
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23
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External links
Amnesty International (http://www.amnesty.org/en/death-penalty) The Death Penalty Worldwide (http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0777460.html) Countries retaining death penalty fail to give details of executions (http://www.un.org/apps/news/story. asp?NewsID=15025&Cr=death&Cr1=penalty) - United Nations, 14 July 2005 Death Penalty in Asia-Pacific (http://www.nswccl.org.au/issues/death_penalty/asiapac.php) Monthly updates of world-wide executions (http://www.capitalpunishmentuk.org/world.html) Hands Off Cain (http://www.handsoffcain.info/bancadati/index.php?tipotema=arg&idtema=10000532) (results may vary) Abolition UK (http://www.abolitionuk.org)
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License
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