Taraba governor signs death penalty for Kidnappers

October 9th, 2021 was the 40th anniversary of France’s abolition of the death penalty. To mark the occasion, President Emmanuel Macron announced the organisation of a “high-level meeting” at the United Nations starting in early 2022. The meeting’s goal? To “convince” leaders of countries that still use the death penalty of the “urgency of abolishing it”. Robert Badinter, who served as France’s justice minister 40 years ago when the death penalty was abolished, continues to fight for the universal abolition of capital punishment. He speaks to FRANCE 24.

In Singapore, the fate of two Malaysian men on death row has sparked local mobilisation and attracted international attention. On April 25th, Nagaenthran Dharmalingam was hanged. With an IQ of 69, which is recognized as a disability, his execution could amount to a breach of international law. The next day, 36-year-old Datchinamurthy Kataiah won a last minute reprieve from Singapore's top court, thereby suspending his execution. We talk to journalist and anti-death penalty activist Kirsten Han.

Rights groups are sounding the alarm over a 25 percent surge in executions in Iran. Despite growing public opposition, the Islamic Republic has long been a leading executioner. We talked to Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the director of the NGO Iran Human Right.

Some Russian lawmakers have urged the death penalty for Ukraine's captured Azov steel plant fighters. But what consequences could Russia face?

Death penalty 'main instrument for creating fear,' says head of Iran Human Rights NGO

US photographer Scott Langley began documenting the death penalty more than 20 years ago, after he was moved by an experience he had standing outside a prison "death house" in his native Texas. His photos are currently on display at the 8th World Congress Against the Death Penalty, which is taking place this week in Berlin.

The alleged Libyan agent was charged with international terrorism over the Pan Am blast in 1988. But US prosecutors said that they are not seeking a death penalty for him.

Despite criticism at home and abroad, the Iranian government continues to hold firm on Revolutionary Courts and death sentences.

Tehran is weaponizing the death penalty to punish individuals taking part in protests in order to strike fear into the Iranian population and stamp out dissent, the UN human rights chief said on January 10.

After carrying out two executions on Saturday and two in December, Iran plans to execute two more young men for participating in the ongoing nationwide protests. But resistance is coming from within Iran and abroad.

At a meeting of foreign ministers, Germany's Annalena Baerbock urged Israel to abandon a plan to start executing terrorists. Her Israeli counterpart, meanwhile, warned that Iran now poses a threat to Europe.

Many believe capital punishment is needed to deter people from committing serious crimes though critics say there is no evidence for this. India refuses to abolish capital punishment but the number of executions is low.