Amnesty International Australia

The casualties of Iran’s ‘war on drugs’

Iran is leading the global 'war on drugs' - but at what cost to human rights?

Thousands across Asia executed after unfair trials

A hard-line group of Asian countries are putting to death thousands of people after unfair trials every year.

Death sentences and executions in 2010

At the end of 2010, nearly 18 000 were on death row, facing the death sentence. Our latest report provides a global snapshot of the use of the death penalty in 2010.

The global movement to kill the death penalty

In 1977, when Amnesty International began its global campaign against the death penalty, it had been abolished by only 16 countries. Now, as the organization’s annual report, Death Sentences and Executions 2010, shows, nearly a hundred countries have stopped using it for all crimes, with 139 ending it in law or practice.

The death penalty - A year of progress?

In 2009 more than 700 people were executed and a further 2001 sentenced to death across the globe, but there was also good news on the road to eradicating the death penalty.

Death sentences and executions in 2009

While the world moved closer towards global abolition of the death penalty, 18 countries carried out executions in 2009. China once again refused to divulge exact figures on its use of the death penalty.

Children should never be executed

Child executions are one of the most shocking manifestations of the death penalty.

The secret hanging of Delara Darabi

On 1 May 2009, Delara Darabi was executed in Iran, despite having been given a two-month stay of execution on 19 April.

Stop Action: Aisha Ghalib al-Hamzi executed

'Aisha Ghalib al-Hamzi, Yemeni mother of seven, was executed on 19 April 2009 for the murder of her husband. All seven of her children refused to pardon her.

Death sentences and executions in 2008

While the world as a whole moved closer towards complete abolition of the death penalty in 2008, at least 2,390 people were executed around the globe in the same year. Read Amnesty's report on death sentences and executions in 2008.

Executions by stoning commuted in three cases

Three Iranian women have had their death sentences of stoning commuted to lashes and imprisonment.

Stop Action: Tan Chor Jin executed

Tan Chor Jin was hanged in the morning of 9 January 2009 in Singapore. The president rejected his appeal for clemency, which was his last resort.

Stay of execution for Darold Stenson

Darold Stenson has received a stay of execution. He was due to be executed in Washington State on 3 December.

Stop Action: Yang Jia executed

Yang Jia was executed on 26 November 2008 after the Supreme People's Court approved his sentence on 21 November.

Stop Action: Wo Weihan executed

Wo Weihan, a Chinese medical scientist, was executed by shooting on the morning of 28 November 2008.

Indonesia must end death penalty

In the wake of the execution of the Bali Bombers, Amnesty International calls on the Indonesian Government to permanently abolish the death penalty in its country.

Execution stopped: Sayed Perwiz Kambaksh

The Appeal Court of Kabul overturned student journalist Sayed Perwiz Kambaksh's death sentence on 21 October.

Stop Action: Gregory Wright executed

Gregory Wright was executed in Texas on 30 October. He had been sentenced to death in December 1997 for the murder of Donna Vick, who was stabbed to death in her home near Dallas nine months earlier.

Death penalty takes the lives of two children

Girl, 13, stoned to death in Somalia. Her crime? Reporting that she had been raped.

An Iranian woman spared death penalty after a pardon was given.

Stop action: Yemeni cousins executed

Ismail Lutef Huraish and his cousin Ali Mussara’a Muhammad Huraish were executed on the morning of 29 October. They had exhausted all their appeals and their death sentences had been ratified by the President.

Good news: Juvenile offender’s death sentence has been quashed

Hossein Haghi’s death sentence has been quashed by the head of Iran's judiciary in September 2008.

Good news: Iranian sisters have their sentence of death by stoning overturned

Zohreh Kabiri-niat and her sister Azar have had their sentence of death by stoning overturned by the Head of the Judiciary in Iran.

Troy Davis granted another execution stay

Death row inmate Troy Davis has been given a last-minute reprieve, his second in less than a month.

Father of bombing victim opposes death penalty

To introduce myself, I am the father of Joshua Kevin Deegan, a beautiful young man, my eldest child, who was a victim of the [Bali bombings]...

Death penalty an affront to our humanity

On World Day Against the Death Penalty, we call for the Australian Government to clarify our country's unconditional opposition to the death penalty, and other countries in our region to do the same. Read a compelling opinion piece by Katie Wood, Amnesty International Australia Campaign Coordinator, published in The Age.

Waiting to be put to death

All around the world men, women and sometimes even children, sit locked in jail cells awaiting their execution. Some of them have been tortured, and some have never even talked to a lawyer.

Last minute execution reprieve for Troy Davis

On Monday 29 September, the US Supreme Court was to begin deliberations on the fate of death row inmate Troy Davis – it's the 39-year-old's last chance of appeal for his life.

Cruel executions in Japan

Japan has just executed three men in their 60s – that means it has now put 13 people to death so far this year. It must stop.

Good News: Death sentence commuted for Kevin Young

Govenor Brad Henry in Oklahoma USA, commuted the death sentence of Kevin Young to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

No resumption of executions in Guatemala

Legislation before the Guatemalan Congress, which would have allowed the resumption of executions, will not not become law. This means there is no longer any immediate danger of executions being resumed.