Death Penalty

Hasty executions in China highlight unfair Xinjiang trials - 10 November 2009

Following the execution of eight Uighurs and one Han Chinese individual, charged with offences committed during the July riots, the authorities have prosecuted a further 20 suspects.

Background: Foreign nationals on death row in Saudi Arabia - 6 November 2009

Amnesty International is aware of at least 137 people currently on death row in Saudi Arabia, of which 106 are foreign nationals. The true figures are believed to be much higher.

Saudi Arabia executes three more foreign nationals - 5 November 2009

Amnesty International has strongly condemned the beheading of two Sri Lankan nationals and one Indian national in the city of Jeddah this week.

South Korea must establish an official moratorium on executions - 30 October 2009

Since the beginning of 2009, Amnesty International has been concerned that the South Korean government is taking steps towards resuming executions. Sixty prisoners currently remain under sentence of death.

Endorsement from regional bodies and civil society to the call for a moratorium on executions

The adoption of the ground-breaking United Nations General Assembly resolution 62/149 in December 2007 generated a momentum among civil society and other international governmental organizations.

United Nations General Assembly resolutions calling for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty

The United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 62/149 on 18 December 2007, calling for a worldwide moratorium on executions.

Belarus man loses death sentence appeal - 29 October 2009

Andrei Zhuk becomes the second person to have his death sentence upheld in Belarus within the last month.

Death row prisoner in Sudan bore marks of torture - 28 October 2009

Amnesty International said that the Sudanese government was responsible for the death and ill-treatment of Ahmed Suleiman Sulman, who died from tuberculosis in police custody last week.

UN calls on Belarus to halt execution - 20 October 2009

The United Nations has echoed Amnesty International’s call to halt the imminent execution of a man accused of murdering of six elderly women in Belarus.

Sister Helen Prejean: Educating against the death penalty - 16 October 2009

Sister Helen Prejean gives Amnesty International her personal account on how educating people on the issue of the death penalty can make a difference.