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death penalty

March 18, 2016

David Cameron writes to Ethiopia amid fears for death-row Briton

David Cameron has intervened twice to secure UK access to a Briton who was kidnapped by Ethiopian forces in 2014, it has emerged, amid Foreign Office concerns that there has been “no substantive progress” on the case.
March 7, 2016

UN expert condemns executions as ‘tantamount to torture'

The United Nations’ expert on torture has condemned the use of the death penalty in countries including Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iran, saying executions are “tantamount to torture”, and barred by international law.
February 22, 2016

Pakistan hangs 351 since 2014: only 1 in 10 ‘terrorists’

Despite claims by the Pakistan Government that it is targeting terrorists with the death penalty, new research has shown that just one in ten of those executed since 2014 could either be linked to a proscribed terrorist organisation or were executed for offences which fit the definition of ‘terrorism’.
January 22, 2016

UK urged to use Ethiopia summit to free death row Briton

The government must use the African Union summit which runs from 21-26 Juanuary in Addis Ababa to urge the release of a British man kidnapped to Ethiopia nearly two years ago, says the human rights organisation Reprieve.
December 21, 2015

UN doubles Iran drug funding despite execution surge

The UN has announced a new $20 million funding deal for anti-drug operations in Iran, despite drug related executions reaching a 16 year high.
December 11, 2015

UN expert warns UN drug agency over executions

A UN human rights expert has warned the UN’s drugs agency that it is not doing enough to prevent a global surge in the death penalty for drugs offences.
October 27, 2015

New fears for British father kidnapped to Ethiopia

A British father of three who has been held for 16 months in incommunicado detention in Ethiopia has suggested he may die in prison.
August 12, 2015

Branson leads call for inquiry into Home Office ‘aid for executions’

High profile figures have called for an urgent inquiry into the UK’s role in anti-narcotics operations that could help fund executions in countries such as Pakistan.
August 5, 2015

Execution of Shafqat Hussain 'a deeply sad day' for Pakistan, says Amnesty

Amnesty International has called for Pakistan to impose a moratorium on the death penalty after the execution of a man who was a juvenile at the time of his crime.
July 20, 2015

Zambian president commutes death sentences

The decision of Zambia's President Lungu to commute the death sentences of 332 prisoners to life imprisonment has been welcomed by Amnesty International.