Category: Death penalty

Alabama execution carried out


Execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith carried out yesterday despite widespread protests

January 2024

Kenneth Smith was executed yesterday (25 January) in Alabama after serving over 30 years on death row. What brought the execution to world-wide attention was the use of nitrogen hypoxia as the chosen method. Reports seem to show that the execution was prolonged and took over 20 minutes to complete. One report said he ‘thrashed violently’ while dying. This is the first time the gas has been used to execute someone and is as a result of pharmaceutical companies, in America and elsewhere, being reluctant to supply the drugs needed for lethal injection. 

The jury in his trial voted for a life sentence but the judge in the case overruled them. 

This was not the first attempt at executing Smith: there was an attempt in November 2022 by lethal injection but which failed after several unsuccessful efforts to find a vein. Smith suffered considerably during and after that attempt. 

Executions are declining in the USA, the only country in the Americas which still executes its citizens.

Amnesty is opposed to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances.

Sources: BBC; Death Penalty Information Center; Montgomery Advertiser; Birmingham Real-Time News

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Death penalty report


January 2024

We attach the latest monthly death penalty report around the world for the period mid December 2023 to mid January 2024 thanks to group member Lesley for its preparation. We note as usual that there is no information from China – believed to execute more of its citizens than the rest of the world combined – because the information is a state secret. It is noted that in 2023, the USA was the only G7 country to execute people with Texas the state carrying out most executions.

Report (Word)Download
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Death penalty report


Death penalty report for mid November to mid December 2023

December 2023

We are pleased to attach the latest monthly death penalty report thanks to group member Lesley for the work in preparing it. As well as news from America, we report Iran has used the conflict in Gaza to mount a series of executions hoping the world will not notice. For the first time we include a small item about China which is believed to execute more of its citizens than the rest of the world combined but where details are a state secret.

Death penalty report (Word)Download
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Obituary: Benedict Birnberg


Pioneering lawyer who campaigned for the abolition of the death penalty in the UK

November 2023

This post based on an obituary in the Guardian, 14 November 2023

Younger and foreign readers may not have heard of Derek Bentley who became a cause celebre in the UK and was one of the last people to be executed. He and an accomplice Christopher Craig were engaged in robbing a warehouse in Croydon, south London when they were spotted by a policeman who was shot by Craig. Bentley shouted ‘let him have it, Chris’ and these words were sufficient to see him hang. Of course these words are open to considerable interpretation since they can mean both shoot him or they can mean give him the gun. They were sufficient to see him hang.

Birnberg pursued the case relentlessly until in 1993 a royal pardon was issued revoking the death sentence because Bentley had been denied a fair trial and because of a partisan summing up by the judge Lord Goddard. His 30 year campaigning led, 30 years later in 1969, to the death penalty being abolished for nearly all crimes.

The case illustrated that where the penalty is used mistakes can never be rectified. It is one of the reasons Amnesty campaigns for the death penalty to be abolished around the world. Each month, we publish a report on the use of penalty around the world.

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Death penalty report


Report for mid October to mid November

November 2023

We are pleased to attach the death penalty report for the period mid October to mid November thanks to group member Lesley for the work in compiling it. An interesting item is the shift in opinion in the USA away from the use of the penalty. Once again, we note that China – believed to be the world’s largest user of the penalty – does not feature as all details are a state secret.

October – November report (Word)Download
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Urgent Action – Texas


Urgent Action concerning unsafe conviction in Texas

November 2023

UPDATE: 10 November. Brent was executed on 9th.

Brent Brewer is scheduled to be executed in Texas on 9 November 2023. His 1991 death sentence was
overturned in 2007, but he was resentenced to death in 2009. In 1991 and again in 2009, the prosecution relied on unscientific and unreliable, but influential, testimony of a psychiatrist who asserted that Brent Brewer would likely commit future acts of violence, a prerequisite for a death sentence in Texas. Nineteen years old at the time of the crime, Brent Brewer is now 53. He has been an exemplary prisoner, with no record of violence during his three decades on death row.

Full details and the action to take can be found on this link https://www.amnesty.org.uk/files/2023-10/UA09323.pdf?VersionId=aoSL1YL8VaIBdDlzj2fhUXdafmJZky1_

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Death penalty report


October 2023

We are pleased to attach the death penalty report for mid-September to mid-October 2023 thanks to group member Lesley for the work in compiling the information. The report mentions the World Day Against the Death Penalty in which several group members took part sending an email and/or an email to Singapore concerning its use of the penalty for drugs offences. Note as ever that China does not feature as the details are a state secret. The country is believed to execute more of its citizens than the rest of the world combined.

Report: September – October (Word)Download
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Reminder! Today!


Today is World Day Against the Death Penalty

October 2023

Past event

A reminder that today, 10th October, is the World Day Against the Death Penalty and there is an action for you to take please, details on a previous post. If you can write or email that would be appreciated.

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Action: Japanese Embassy


Action at the Japanese Embassy in relation to the World Day Against the Death Penalty

October 2023

A planned action will be taking place outside the Japanese Embassy, London on Tuesday 10th October 2023 to mark World Anti-Death Penalty Day. Japan has long been criticised for retaining the death penalty and concerns have been expressed by human rights defenders about death-row inmates only being notified of their execution on the day it takes place. 

In November, Japan’s Minister of Justice Yasuhiro Hanashi resigned after making a joke about the death penalty, in which he stated that the justice minister can only make the news headlines by signing off execution warrants.  

Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception, regardless of the nature or circumstances of the crime, guilt, innocence or other characteristics of the individual, or the method used by the state to carry out the execution. We want to demonstrate that we are serious about ending the Death Penalty in Japan. 

If you are interested in finding out more about this planned action and understand how to get involved please email Rebecca.patterson@amnesty.org.uk 

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World Day Against the Death Penalty


Details of an action on 10 October 2023

October 2023

The 10th October is World Day Against the Death Penalty and we are asking you to write or email to Singapore which is active in using the penalty against drug dealers. The action contains some suggested points to make in your communication.

DP Action (pdf)Download

[Other Amnesty groups are free to use this material if they wish]

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