Capital punishment

Executions: China, Iran, Pakistan,Saudi Arabia, US top Amnesty report

Amnesty International has expressed “alarm” at the surge in recorded executions in Pakistan, claiming that most of those recently executed were not convicted of terrorism related offences.  The charge by Amnesty International UK's Director Kate Allen comes as the human rights organisation released figures showing that at least 1,634 people were executed in 2015 worldwide, a rise of 54% on the year before.

The figures -- contained in the report Death Sentences and Executions in 2015 -- show that the top five executioners in the world in 2015 were China, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the USA. In a statement to The News, Champa Patel, the Director for South Asia, said:  “Over the past year Pakistan has vaulted to the number three spot for recorded state executions in the world – a shameful position no one should aspire to. Only to be beaten by Iran and Saudi Arabia, Pakistan executed 326 people last year. Most of those executed were not convicted of terror-related offences and there is evidence that at least two and possibly more of them were juveniles when they committed their alleged crimes.