Abolish the death penalty

DEATH PENALTY IN 2010

One more country abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 2010 while at least 23 countries carried out executions in 2010. The death penalty was often imposed after unfair trials and for non-lethal crimes. Read more

The death penalty is the ultimate denial of human rights. It is the premeditated and cold-blooded killing of a human being by the state. This cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment is done in the name of justice.

It violates the right to life as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception regardless of the nature of the crime, the characteristics of the offender, or the method used by the state to kill the prisoner.

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News and Updates

Iran must halt execution of web programmer

19 January 2012

Court confirms death penalty for Saeed Malekpour sentenced after his web program was used to post pornographic images without his knowledge.

Iran must halt execution of US national in ‘spying’ case

9 January 2012

Amir Hekmati was accused of spying for the CIA and sentenced to death for “collaboration with a hostile government”.

Mongolia takes ‘vital step forward’ in abolishing the death penalty

5 January 2012

The Mongolian parliament overwhelmingly approves a bill that aims to scrap the death penalty.

Iran: Surge of secret executions for drug offences must end

15 December 2011

At least 488 people have been executed for alleged drug offences so far in 2011, a nearly threefold increase on 2009, a new Amnesty International report says.

Saudi Arabia: Beheading for 'sorcery' shocking

12 December 2011

Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry has said a woman has been beheaded for the crime of "witchcraft and sorcery."

Appeals for action

Stop executions in Saudi Arabia

5 May 2011

Suliamon Olyfemi was sentenced to death after an unfair trial conducted in Arabic, which he does not understand. Siti Zainab Binti Duhri Rupa reportedly confessed to a murder while mentally ill.

Drop death sentences for men convicted of "sorcery" in Saudi Arabia

8 September 2010

Amnesty International is calling on the Saudi Arabian King to take the opportunity of the end of Ramadan to commute the death sentences against two foreign natonals convicted of “sorcery”.