|
Overview of the death penalty worldwide in 2009. |
The
reported use of the death penalty worldwide diminished somewhat during 2009,
there being at least 542 executions in 14 countries (down from 582 executions
in 22 countries during 2008). These are reported
and verified judicial executions, but there were almost certainly unreported
ones in
Quasi judicial executions, including by stoning to death, have taken place in
parts of
The U.SA
executed 52 men in 11 states during 2009, up from 35 in 2008, due to the
Supreme Court challenge to the constitutionality of lethal injections which
meant that there were no executions until May of 2008. Lethal injection was used in 51 of these and
the electric chair chosen by the inmate in one instance. 106 people were sentenced to death in the
Togo and
New Mexico abolished the death penalty during 2009 and Russia re-affirmed its
moratorium on executions. 45 countries
still retain the death penalty, although many of these do not use it.
The
countries in which verifiable judicial executions took place during 2009 were
(method in brackets) :
|
Country |
Totals |
|
52 |
|
|
Bangladesh (H) |
3 |
|
Botswana (H) |
1 |
|
China (LI + S) |
55 + |
|
Indonesia |
13 |
|
Iran (H) |
239 |
|
Iraq (H) |
77* |
|
Japan (H) |
7 |
|
Saudi Arabia (B) |
67 |
|
Singapore (H) |
1 |
|
Sudan (H) |
9 |
|
Thailand (LI) |
2 |
|
Vietnam (S) |
9 |
|
Yemen (S) |
7 |
|
|
542 |
* It is thought
that 77 executions were carried out in Iraq in 2009 of which 46 were not
previously reported. This figure comes from a statement the released by the
head of the Iraqi court Medhat al-Mahmud in January 2010.
|
Method |
Beheading (B) |
Electric
chair (E) |
Hanging (H) |
Lethal injection (LI) |
Shooting (S) |
|
Totals |
67 |
1 |
337 |
53+
China |
20+
China |
Executions by stoning have been reported from Iran
and Sudan. For the monthly update of the
names, dates and crimes of those executed click here
Methods
used.
Executions
by shooting were carried out in Indonesia, Vietnam and Yemen. Indonesia and Vietnam uses conventional
firing squads whilst Yemen lays the prisoner on the ground and a single
executioner shoots them with an automatic rifle. Some provinces in China
continue to use shooting which is carried out by a single bullet to the back of
the head but more than half of China has moved to lethal injection. Lethal injections are carried out either in
purpose built execution chambers or in execution mini-busses. Generally the
execution method is not reported.
Hanging
accounted for at least 337 executions with 327 men and ten women being hanged
in seven countries. These being Bangladesh, Botswana, Iran, Iraq, Japan,
Singapore and the Sudan.
Public and private hangings took place in Iran, all the rest being in
private. Iran uses either a short drop
or hoists the prisoner into the air with a hydraulic crane jib (used at least
for public hangings). It is not known
what method Sudan uses. The other five
countries listed gave the prisoner a calculated drop.
Japan hanged 7 murderers during 2009, down from 15 in 2008 but the new
Democratic government has in effect placed a moratorium on further executions
pending abolition. Some 100 prisoners remain on death row.
Saudi
Arabia publicly beheaded 65 men and two women for murder and drug offences
during 2009, down from 102 in 2008. Saudi Arabia is the only country that uses
beheading.
Lethal
injection was used for 51 executions in America, from 5th May, following a
decision by the Supreme Court in 2008 that this method was not
unconstitutional.
It used in some Chinese cities and provinces, around half of the 404
Intermediate Peoples’ Courts have now adopted this method, although no figures
are available and where executions are reported, the method used generally is
not. Beijing plans to move to lethal
injection in early 2010.
Guatemala, Taiwan and Thailand are the only other countries that use lethal
injection, of these Thailand carried out 2 executions in 2009.
Larry
Bill Elliott in the US state of Virginia elected execution in the electric
chair. (17th November 2009). Once again
there were no executions by lethal gas in the US in 2009.
Women.
At
least 17 women were reported
executed in five countries during 2009. Ten were hanged in Iran, one shot in
Yemen and two beheaded in Saudi Arabia.
1 unnamed woman was reported to have been shot in North Korea for
distributing the bible. 1 unnamed woman
may have been among a group of prisoners hanged in Iraq in June. China executed three woman, the method not
being disclosed.
Click here for details
of females executed in 2009.
Juveniles.
It
is thought that five juveniles (four male and one female) have been hanged in
Iran during 2009. Two 17 year old men were beheaded in Saudi Arabia in May.