Execution

Afghanistan

Afghanistan's Taliban carry out public execution in sports stadium

The man had been convicted of killing 13 members of a family, including children, and was executed by one of their relatives, according to police.

02/12/2025

Iran

Iran executes alleged Israeli spy amid surge in death penalties

The execution came after Iran vowed to confront its enemies after the United Nations reimposed sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear programme this weekend.

29/09/2025

North Korea

North Korea executes more for watching foreign films, UN report says

North Korean escapees interviewed by the UN Human Rights Office expressed "a clear and strong desire for change".

12/09/2025

Iran

Iran executes man accused of Israel espionage and another for IS links

Rouzbeh Vadi shared classified information about an Iranian nuclear scientist to Israel’s intelligence service, the Mossad, state media reported.

06/08/2025

World News

Global execution figures hit highest level in almost a decade

Amnesty International says that 1,518 executions were carried out worldwide in 2024, marking a 32% increase on the previous year.

08/04/2025

USA

First firing squad execution in 15 years to be carried out in US

Unless either the governor of South Carolina or the Supreme Court intervenes, Brad Sigmon will be killed at 6pm on Friday.

07/03/2025

China

China executes two men found guilty of killing sprees

Fan Weiqu rammed his car into a crowd, killing 35 people, while 21-year-old Xu Jiajin killed eight people and injured 17 in a stabbing attack last year.

20/01/2025

Culture news

Pop star Tataloo sentenced to death, Iranian media report

Several Iranian media outlets have reported that Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, better known as Tataloo, has been sentenced to death. Contradictory accounts, however, have left uncertainty about the outcome of the pop star’s trial.

20/01/2025

USA

Biden commutes most US federal death sentences before Trump's return

Outgoing US President Joe Biden commuted 37 out of 40 sentences to life imprisonment amid concerns about Donald Trump's stance on executions.

23/12/2024

Iran

Iran ramps up executions as Western countries’ attention falters

Iran continues to execute ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ protesters as Western countries fail to exercise the same pressure on the country’s government they did in late 2022 and early 2023.

05/03/2024

Iran

Fears grow for Iran protesters amid record executions

The Islamic Republic was shaken by the largest - and most significant - wave of anti-government dissent in decades last year.

21/12/2023

Vietnam

Man executed in Vietnam despite appeals from Europe and Canada

Le Van Manh was put to death for the theft and the rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl - but maintained his confession was coerced via torture by police.

23/09/2023

Poland

Polish family beatified for sheltering Jews during World War II

The Ulma family were executed by the Nazis in 1944 for hiding Jews at their home. They were allegedly betrayed.

11/09/2023

Singapore

Singapore executes first woman in 19 years for drug trafficking

Human rights groups, international activists and the United Nations have urged Singapore to halt executions for drug offences and say there is increasing evidence it is ineffective as a deterrent.

28/07/2023

Iran

Iran executes Swedish-Iranian dissident convicted of acts of terrorism

Iran has executed a Swedish-Iranian dissident convicted of leading an Arab separatist group that was accused of attacks, state television reported on Saturday.

06/05/2023

Russia

'I shot a 5-year-old': Ex-Wagner soldiers admit to killing children

During the hourlong confessions, ex-Wagner commanders recounted details of killings around Bakhmut and Soledar.

19/04/2023

Iran

'Killing machine': Iran ramps up executions to 'instil fear'

The number of people handed the death penalty in Iran increased by 75% last year, according to NGOs.

13/04/2023

World News

UN: 40 prisoners of war executions on both sides of Ukraine conflict

The UN is investigating 40 extrajudicial executions on both sides of Ukraine conflict after video footage of a Ukrainian soldier in March.

24/03/2023

Iran

Iran hangs former defense ministry official over spy claim

The hanging of Ali Reza Akbari has caused anger in London.

14/01/2023

World News

Two men hanged in Iran over death of paramilitary volunteer

International rights groups had campaigned for the lives of the two men to be spared.

07/01/2023