10 Countries with the Highest Death Penalty Executions, China Tops the List

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The death penalty is one of the policies legalized by various countries to punish criminals. Amnesty International reported that there were 1,153 executions in 2023, excluding thousands of executions believed to have been carried out in China. The number increased by 30 percent compared to the previous year, which was 883 cases. 

The data was collected and compiled from various sources, including official figures from court rulings, information from convicted individuals and their families and representatives, media reports, and reports from other mass organizations.

In many countries, the death penalty is classified as a state secret, such as in China and Vietnam. Therefore, the number owned by Amnesty International is only a minimum ceiling. The actual total number is often higher. 

The following is the list of 10 countries that imposed the most death penalty in 2023, based on the report published by Amnesty International on May 29, 2024.

List of countries with the highest number of executions under the death penalty

1. Cina

It is estimated that more than 1,000 executions were carried out in China last year. The methods of execution used in the country are lethal injection and firing squad. Perpetrators of economic crimes, such as corruption, are among the targets of the death penalty in China.

2. Iran

Executions in Iran increased by 48 percent from 2022 to 853 last year. Most of this was due to an increase in drug abuse violations in the country.

"The sharp increase in the number of recorded executions was mainly caused by Iran. Local authorities showed a callous disregard for human life and increased executions for drug-related offenses, further highlighting the discriminatory impact on Iran's most marginalized and impoverished communities," Amnesty International Secretary General Agnes Callamard said in an official release on Wednesday, May 29, 2024.

3. Saudi Arabia

The number of death sentences in Saudi Arabia is estimated at 172. As a country that applies Islamic law, the method of execution used in this country is beheading.

Some of the serious crimes punishable by death in Saudi Arabia are drug abuse, kidnapping and rape.

4. Somalia

The Somali government is estimated to have taken the lives of 38 people using the shoot-to-kill method. Allegations of murder, terrorism, treason, and rape are the types of crimes punishable by death in the country.

Somalia is also politically fragmented and each region has its courts, which can increase the number of executions.

5. The United States

The United States was on the list of countries with the highest number of death sentences in 2023, with about 24 cases.

Lethal injection is the method of execution used in this country. Kidnapping, murder, treason, and genocide are types of capital crimes punishable by death in the U.S..

6. Iraq

Iraq carried out 16 executions last year. Perpetrators of drug-related crimes in the country can be sentenced to death by hanging.

Other crimes include kidnapping, rape, terrorism, war crimes, treason, and espionage.

7. Yemen

The accepted method of execution for those accused of serious crimes in Yemen is by firing squad.

Amnesty International noted that as many as 15 executions were carried out in the country in 2023. The crimes include murder, adultery, same-sex sexual activity, and activities that undermine state security.

8. Egypt

The number of deaths due to executions in Egypt was 8 people. Meanwhile, 590 death sentences have been issued in 2023. The method of execution used in Egypt is hanging.

9. Bangladesh

Bangladeshi courts handed down 248 death sentences last year, while 5 defendants were executed. All executions were carried out for murder.

10. Kuwait

Kuwait is included in the list of countries with the most executions in 2023 with 5 cases.

Meanwhile, the number of death sentences handed down in the same year was 9 times. Drug smuggling, violent offenses, kidnapping, murder, and rape are some of the crimes considered serious in Kuwait.

MELYNDA DWI PUSPITA 

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