Capital punishment
In 63 BC, the Roman Senate voted to execute Catiline's allies without a formal trial. Cicero argued for their killing while Julius Caesar stood among the minority voices opposing the execution. This moment marked a turning point in how ancient republics handled political treason and rebellion. Earlier systems relied on blood feuds where families settled scores through compensation or violence. The word murder derives from the French mordre meaning bite, referencing the heavy compensation paid for causing an unjust death. Tribal societies often resolved conflicts through blood money rather than state-sanctioned killing. When arbitration failed between clans, communities engaged in vendettas that could last generations. These early justice systems operated without police forces or prison systems to ensure deterrence. The Code of Hammurabi established different punishments based on social class and victim status. Draco wrote down Athenian laws around 621 BC applying the death penalty to many crimes. Solon later repealed most of Draco's code retaining capital punishment only for intentional homicide with family permission. Plato viewed crime as a disease of the soul requiring purification through execution if rehabilitation proved impossible.
Between the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries tens of thousands of women faced prosecution for witchcraft across Europe and North America. Malevolent Satanic witches were claimed to operate as organized threats to Christendom during this period. Jakob Rohrbach led peasants during the German Peasants' War before being executed by burning. In Guernsey on the 18th of July 1556 an infant son less than one day old was ordered burned due to inherited moral stain from his mother Perotine Massey. Bailiff Hellier Gosselin gave advice alongside priests who believed the boy should burn despite his age. Public executions served as spectacles demonstrating state power before criminal enemies and political opponents. The last formal public executions occurred in Britain in 1868 and in France in 1939. Throughout much of history these events allowed citizens to witness what was considered great spectacle. Social historians note that beginning in the twentieth century death became increasingly shielded from public view. Executions moved behind closed doors of hospitals and walls of penitentiaries. Modern retentionist countries still carry out public executions known to have been performed in Iran North Korea Saudi Arabia and Somalia. Hamas-controlled Gaza Syria Iraq Afghanistan and Yemen also host executions classified as public.
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang abolished capital punishment in China in the year 747 replacing it with exile or scourging. This ban lasted only twelve years until restored in response to the An Lushan Rebellion in 759. During Xuanzong's reign capital punishment remained relatively infrequent with twenty-four executions recorded in 730 and fifty-eight in 736. Strangulation and decapitation were prescribed methods for one hundred forty-four and eighty-nine offences respectively. Most Tang Chinese preferred strangulation due to traditional beliefs about returning bodies intact to ancestors. Ling Chi slow slicing death by a thousand cuts emerged around 900 continuing until abolition in 907. Emperor Shōmu banned the death penalty in Japan in 724 though this measure lasted only a few years. Grand Duke Leopold II of Tuscany became first modern ruler to abolish capital punishment throughout his realm on the 30th of November 1786. His reform ordered destruction of all instruments for capital execution within his territory. The event is now commemorated annually by three hundred cities worldwide celebrating Cities for Life Day. Italy completely abolished capital punishment in 2007 after reintroduction occurred in 1790 following Leopold's departure.
Since 1990 ten countries have executed offenders considered juveniles at time of their crimes including China Bangladesh Democratic Republic of Congo Iran Iraq Japan Nigeria Pakistan Saudi Arabia Sudan United States and Yemen. In October 2008 a girl named Aisha Ibrahim Dhuhulow was buried up to her neck then stoned to death before more than one thousand people in Somalia. This occurred under Islamic Courts Union control where child executions reportedly take place. Between 2005 and May 2008 Iran Pakistan Saudi Arabia Sudan and Yemen executed child offenders with largest numbers occurring in Iran. During Hassan Rouhani's presidency from 2013 until 2021 at least 3,602 death sentences were carried out including thirty-four juvenile offenders. Mahmoud Asgari Ayaz Marhoni and Makwan Moloudzadeh became focus of Iran's child capital punishment policy. In 2013 Saudi Arabia executed Rizana Nafeek believed to be seventeen years old when crime committed creating international controversy. Teruhiko Seki became second inmate hanged for crime committed as minor in first such execution in twenty years after Norio Nagayama on the 19th of December 2017. The United Nations Convention on Rights of Child forbids capital punishment for juveniles under article 37a though only the United States has not ratified this agreement.
As of 2021 fifty-six countries retain capital punishment while one hundred eleven have taken position abolishing it de jure for all crimes. Seven nations abolished it for ordinary crimes maintaining it for special circumstances like war crimes. Twenty-four countries remain abolitionist in practice having not used execution for at least ten years. Over half world population lives in countries where death penalty remains retained despite majority abolishing it globally. China North Korea Egypt Iraq and Saudi Arabia top lists of executions with unknown figures from some nations. Pakistan lifted six-year moratorium on executions in December 2014 following Peshawar school massacre killing one hundred thirty-two students and nine staff members. Since then Pakistan executed over four hundred convicts. Kazakhstan enacted abolition law signed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the 29th of December 2021 after twenty-year moratorium. Zimbabwe became most recent country to abolish death penalty on the 31st of December 2024 nearly twenty years after last execution there. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko signed March 2023 law allowing use against officials soldiers convicted high treason making Belarus only retentionist European nation. United States Japan Taiwan Singapore classified as retentionist developed countries though South Korea considered abolitionist in practice.
Amnesty International declares death penalty breaches human rights specifically right to life free from torture cruel inhuman degrading treatment punishment. These rights protected under Universal Declaration Human Rights adopted by United Nations in 1948. Council Europe forty-six member states worked ending death penalty no execution taken place current member states since 1997. Eighteen countries known performed executions in 2022 according to Amnesty International report. Around one thousand prisoners executed globally in 2017 excluding countries classifying data state secrets. Top five executioners for 2020 were China Iran Egypt Iraq Saudi Arabia. Albert Camus wrote Reflections On Guillotine Resistance Rebellion Death arguing capital punishment violates natural rights doctrine expounded Locke Blackstone. John Stuart Mill spoke Parliament 1868 against amendment abolishing capital punishment for murder. New York Law School Professor Robert Blecker argues punishment must painful proportion crime committed. Immanuel Kant defended extreme position every murderer deserves die loss life incomparable any penalty allowing remain alive including life imprisonment. Some abolitionists argue retribution simply revenge cannot condoned while others accept element yet claim life without parole sufficient substitute.
Common questions
When did the Roman Senate vote to execute Catiline's allies without a formal trial?
The Roman Senate voted to execute Catiline's allies in 63 BC. Cicero argued for their killing while Julius Caesar stood among the minority voices opposing the execution.
Who was the first modern ruler to abolish capital punishment throughout his realm and when did this happen?
Grand Duke Leopold II of Tuscany became the first modern ruler to abolish capital punishment on the 30th of November 1786. His reform ordered destruction of all instruments for capital execution within his territory.
Which countries executed child offenders between 2005 and May 2008 with the largest numbers occurring in Iran?
Iran Pakistan Saudi Arabia Sudan and Yemen executed child offenders between 2005 and May 2008. The largest numbers occurred in Iran during this period.
What date did Zimbabwe become the most recent country to abolish the death penalty?
Zimbabwe became the most recent country to abolish the death penalty on the 31st of December 2024. This occurred nearly twenty years after the last execution there.
When were the last formal public executions held in Britain and France respectively?
The last formal public executions occurred in Britain in 1868 and in France in 1939. These events allowed citizens to witness what was considered a great spectacle before moving behind closed doors.