International Death Penalty News 2025, Issue 12: China, India, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, United States of America, Vietnam

China

On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, a former Chinese engineer, surnamed Liu, was sentenced to death for leaking state secrets to a foreign power. Liu previously worked as an assistant engineer at a research institute but resigned, claiming he was treated unjustly. Before resigning, he secretly copied a large amount of classified documents. After resigning, Liu went into heavy debt and decided to sell the classified documents. He allegedly sold the classified documents to several unspecified nations. No details have been given about his pending execution. In China, executions are not always announced, as they are considered state secrets. It is believed China executes thousands of people each year, with only a small number being publicly reported.

Authorities in China confirmed that earlier this year, four Canadian nationals were executed on drug-related charges. All four were dual citizens of China and Canada. Their names have not been revealed. The Canadian government has spoken out against the executions.

India

Four men have had their death sentences reduced to life in prison by the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. The four men were convicted of murdering three scheduled caste men in 2014. Scheduled caste is considered the lowest caste in Indian society. The three murdered men, identified as Kaliraj, Venugopal, and Murugan had previous unfavorable interactions with the intermediate caste. Their deaths occurred during a gang attack. A total of 25 people were arrested in connection with the attack. Five of the accused died before the conclusion of their trials. Eleven people were convicted and sentenced to death, while seven were sentenced to life in prison. The remaining individuals were acquitted. In overturning their death sentences, the court noted that needed requirements of a death sentence were not met. In addition, four other men who had been convicted in the case were acquitted.

In 1981, 24 members of the Dalit community were murdered by a gang of bandits who opened fire on the unarmed group. The shooting lasted for four hours and the suspects fled before police arrived. Dalits, formerly known as untouchables, are the lowest members of the caste hierarchy. Now, three men have been convicted and sentenced to death for the murders. The men insist that they are innocent. In the 44 years since the shooting, 13 of the 17 men accused in the case have died. Three have now been sentenced to death, while the final man is on the run.

Twenty-three-year-old Jaane Alam Ahmad has been sentenced to death for the rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl. The courts found that the crime ranked among the rarest of the rare, a requirement for a death sentence in India. The girl went missing on October 18, 2024, and was found later that night. The girl approached Ahmad and asked for help. Instead, he led her to a secluded area where he raped her and then killed her by hitting her in the face with a brick. Security cameras caught him with the girl and Ahmad shot at police when they came to arrest him.

Iran

On Tuesday, February 25, 2025, Abdolbari Jahani was executed by hanging in Bandarabbas Central Prison. He was an Afghan national convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges. His execution has not yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, two Afghan nationals, Ezatollah Arab and Moein Arab, were executed in Bandarabbas Central Prison. They were arrested together about three years ago at a checkpoint. They were convicted on drug-related charges in a joint case. State officials and the media have not yet reported their executions.

On Sunday, March 9, 2025, 30-year-old Saber Fathollahi and 27-year-old Zaki Zakeri were executed by hanging in Shiraz Central Prison. The men were convicted on separate drug-related charges after being arrested three and two years ago, respectively. Zaki’s family, who lives nearby, was not permitted a final visit before his execution, indicating that they were not informed of the pending execution. State officials and the media have not yet reported either execution.

On Wednesday, March 12, 2025, 26-year-old Majid Vahidi was executed by hanging in Sari Central Prison. Before his arrest in July 2021, he worked as a motorcycle and bicycle mechanic. Vahidi was arrested and convicted of murdering his friend during an argument that turned physical. He was sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder, and mitigating evidence is rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the deceased chooses between granting forgiveness, demanding qisas, or demanding diya (blood money). There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded, however, if is not paid, the condemned is often executed. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Thursday, March 13, 2025, 30-year-old Morteza Kazemzadeh and 27-year-old Mohammadreza Basiri were executed by hanging in Semnan Central Prison. Both men were convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges. Morteza was arrested about three years ago. He worked as a laborer and had two children. Mohammadreza was arrested about four years ago. Neither execution has yet been reported by state officials or the media.

On Sunday, March 16, 2025, Yaser Jahanbani was executed by hanging in Hamedan Central Prison. He was convicted and sentenced to death on drug-related charges. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

On Sunday, March 16, 2025, two women and two men were executed by hanging in Urmia Central Prison. The women were identified as Mojgan Azarpisheh and Kosar Bagherzadeh and the men were identified as 28-year-old Arshad Farzadband and Hamed Faraji. Hamed was Mojgen’s husband. The couple was convicted of murdering a pregnant woman six years ago. The other two were convicted on separate murder charges. Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder, and mitigating evidence is rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the deceased chooses between granting forgiveness, demanding qisas, or demanding diya (blood money). There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded, however, if is not paid, the condemned is often executed. None of the three executions have been reported by state officials or the media. With the executions of Morgan and Kosar, seven women have been executed in Iran in 2025.

On Monday, March 17, 2025, 44-year-old Hatam Shahpasandi was executed by hanging in Boroujerd Central Prison. Before his arrest, Hatam worked as a farmer and had one child. Hatam was convicted of murdering a friend after a personal dispute about five years ago. He was sentenced to qisas, that is, retribution in kind. Under Iranian law, all killings are considered intentional murder, and mitigating evidence is rarely considered. After conviction, the family of the deceased chooses between granting forgiveness, demanding qisas, or demanding diya (blood money). There is no limit to the amount of diya that can be demanded, however, if is not paid, the condemned is often executed. State officials and the media have not yet reported his execution.

Japan

After the retrial of Iwao Hakamada took 44 years, and ended in Iwao’s acquittal, removal from death row, and release from prison, the Justice minister announced that the retrial system would be reviewed. The procedure for a retrial is stated in the Code of Criminal Procedure, which has not been revised since it was established in 1948. Additionally, the law does not clearly define all steps of a retrial, which prolongs retrials. Iwao was initially convicted and sentenced to death for murdering his boss.

Malaysia

On Friday, March 14, 2025, a federal court reinstated the death penalty for a truck driver convicted of murdering his wife, 34-year-old D Kamaljit, and seven-month-old daughter, Ishilyn Kaur Sandhu. Satvender Singh, who turned 39 on the day of the ruling, was the last person seen with his wife and child, who both died from asphyxiation. They were killed during the early morning hours of April 14, 2016. Satvender was initially sentenced to death, which was overturned by a Court of Appeal, which sentenced him to 20 years in prison. That court also acquitted him of murdering his daughter. Prosecutors appealed this ruling, and the Federal Court has now reinstated the death sentence.

Earlier this month, five men were charged with trafficking drugs. If convicted the men could be sentenced to death. The five men have been identified as 27-year-old Liong Boon Siong, 30-year-old Chow Zhi Peng, 22-year-old Yeap Jun Le, Peng Wei Sung, and Liu Yu Ting. Pent and Liu are both Taiwanese nationals. Liong faces charges of trafficking methamphetamines while the remaining four were jointly charged with trafficking methamphetamine. Other possible sentences include life in prison and 12 strokes of the cane.

On Thursday, March 20, 2025, 47-year-old S Selva Kumar, a former police officer, was acquitted of murder. He had previously been convicted and sentenced to death for murdering 23-year-old S Shanker Ganesh on February 22, 2014. His sentence was overturned upon appeal. In rendering their decision, the judges noted there were discrepancies with the evidence given by the prosecution’s lead witnesses. There was also a lack of scientific evidence.

Saudi Arabia

On Friday, March 14, 2025, Somali Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Hassan Moalim announced he and the Saudi Ambassador to Somalia discussed the nearly 40 Somali nationals on death row in Saudi Arabia. One of the possible proposals discussed was a prisoner exchange. Discussions were prompted by the execution of Somali national Mohamed Nur Hussein earlier this year. His execution prompted Somali families of death row inmates in Saudi Arabia to protest and encourage the Somali government to intervene. Negotiations are ongoing.

The Specialized Criminal Court of Appeal has resentenced Mohammad Abdullah al-Faraj to death. He is convicted on charges related to counter-terrorism. In 2011 and 2012, Mohammad participated in several demonstrations against the treatment of Shi’a citizens. He was arrested at his workplace on February 28, 2017. His family and lawyer allege he was tortured during his years in prison.

United States of America

On Monday, March 17, 2025, Christopher Sepulvado was scheduled to be executed in Louisiana. Christopher died at the age of 81 shortly before his execution. At the time of his death, he was in the prison infirmary, with his lawyers indicating that he was terminally ill. Christoper was convicted and sentenced to death for murdering his six-year-old stepson Wesley Allen Mercer on March 8, 1992, in Mansfield, Louisiana. 

On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, Jessie Hoffman was executed in Louisiana. He was the first inmate to be executed by nitrogen gas in Louisiana. Previously, only Alabama had used nitrogen gas in executions. Jessie was 46 years of age. He was convicted of 28-year-old Mary “Molly” Elliot, on November 27, 1996, in New Orleans, Louisiana.

On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, Shawn Grate was scheduled to be executed in Ohio. His execution was delayed due to ongoing appeals in the case. Shawn was sentenced to death for the murders of 43-year-old Stacey Stanley and 29-year-old Elizabeth Griffith in Ashland Ohio. He also pled guilty to murdering Candice Cunningham, Rebekah Leicy, and Dana Lowrey, and was convicted of kidnapping and sexually assaulting another woman, who assisted in his capture.

On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, Aaron Gunches was executed by the state of Arizona. He was 53 years of age. Aaron, who had dropped his appeals and requested his execution be carried out, was convicted of murdering Ted Price in December 2002.

On Thursday, March 20, 2025, Oklahoma executed Wendell Grissom. It was the first execution in the state this year. He was 56 years of age. Wendell was convicted of murdering 23-year-old Amber Matthews on November 3, 2005, in Watonga, Oklahoma.

On Thursday, March 20, 2025, Edward James was executed by the state of Florida. He was pronounced dead at 8:15 pm local time at the age of 63. Edward was convicted of murdering eight-year-old Toni Neuner and her grandmother Betty Dick, on September 19, 1993, in Casselberry, Florida. He was renting a room from Betty at the time of the murder.

Nine death row inmates in Tennessee filed a lawsuit challenging the use of pentobarbital in executions. A single injection of pentobarbital replaced a three-drug execution protocol in December 2024. The switch came after a multi-year review of the state’s lethal injection protocol. In the lawsuit, the inmates argue that the drug poses “a high risk of a torturous death.” Among those challenging the execution method are Oscar Smith and Byron Black, who are scheduled to be executed later this year.

After Louisiana’s first execution in 15 years, Governor Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill stated they plan to carry out more executions. Several death row inmates have completed their appeals, while even more have had appeals pending for years, with little to no action taken. AG Murrill is looking to move those appeals along and move forward with each court case, although she cautions that it will take time. There are 55 inmates on death row after the execution of Jessie Hoffman.

Prosecutors in Nevada have deterred that 38-year-old Daniel Roush will not face the death penalty if convicted of the charges against him. Roush is accused of murdering his ex-roommate, Monique Gilbertson in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 22, 2024. The two became roommates after meeting at a grocery store. About one month after living together, Monique kicked Roush out of the house and changed the locks. After murdering Monique, Roush placed her in a freezer, where she remained for some time. An investigation revealed that Monique had a large amount of fentanyl in her system, 200 times the amount that could kill a person.

The US Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the death sentence for Karu Gene White in Kentucky. White, the longest serving death row inmate in Kentucky, was sentenced to death in 1980 for attacking and killing 75-year-old Charlie Gross, his 74-year-old wife Lula Gross, and Lula’s 79-year-old brother Sam Chaney. The trio owned and operated a small general store where they were working at the time of the extremely brutal attack in Breathitt County, Kentucky in 1979. There is currently a moratorium on executions in the state, which Attorney General Coleman is attempting to lift.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the governor of Arkansas, has signed a bill into law that permits execution by nitrogen gas. No executions have been carried out in Arkansas since 2017, due to the state being unable to obtain lethal injection drugs. There are currently 25 individuals on death row in the state. Arkansas joins four other states that have recently approved execution by nitrogen gas. Two of those states – Alabama and Louisana – have successfully carried out executions. The new law will go into effect 90 days after the Arkansas Legislature adjourns, which does not yet have a definitive date.

Vietnam



On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, 37-year-old Danh Son, a doctor, was sentenced to death by the People’s Court in Dong Nai Province. Danh was convicted of murdering and dismembering his mistress. He also robbed her after the murder. Danh killed his mistress by giving her an excessive amount of sleeping pills. Allegedly, the two argued as she was pregnant and threatened Danh’s wife. Danh lured her to the hospital where he secretly injected her with a lethal amount of sleeping pills. He then dismembered her body to dispose of the remains. He also took her phone to delete evidence of the affair.