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66
NIGERIA
‘WAITING FOR THE HANGMAN’
DEATH SENTENCES AND EXECUTIONS IN 2007
During 2007, at least 1,252 people were executed in 24 countries. At least 3,347 people were
sentenced to death in 51 countries. These were only minimum figures; the true figures were
certainly higher.
Executions were carried out in the following countries in 2007: Afghanistan, Bangladesh,
Belarus, Botswana, China, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan,
Korea (North), Kuwait, Libya, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, USA,
Viet Nam, Yemen.
Amnesty International believes that executions may have taken place in Mongolia and
Malaysia. However, due to the secretive nature of the use of the death penalty, the
organization was unable to obtain reliable information.
The Chinese authorities continued to refuse to publish statistics on the government’s use
of the death penalty. In 2007, 470 executions were recorded by Amnesty International, but
this number is based on public reports available and serves as an absolute minimum. The
US-based organization ”Dui Hua Foundation” estimates that 6,000 people were executed,
based on figures obtained from local officials.
Death sentences were imposed in the following countries and territories in 2007: Algeria,
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Burundi, Chad, China, Congo (Democratic
Republic), Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Japan,
Jordan, Kenya, Korea (North), Korea (South), Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Madagascar,
Mongolia, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri
Lanka, St Kitts and Nevis, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago,
Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, USA, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
The worldwide figure for those currently condemned to death and awaiting execution is
difficult to assess. The estimated number at the end of 2007 was between 18,311 and
27,562, based on information from human rights groups, media reports and the limited official
figures available.
Amnesty International October 2008 Index: AFR 44/020/2008