Year
How to use the database
HANDS OFF CAIN’S 2015 REPORT
The worldwide situation (as of 30 June 2016)
EXECUTIONS IN 2014
EXECUTIONS IN 2015 (as of 30 June)
The most important facts of 2015 (and the first six months of 2016)
ADDRESS of Pope Francis
THE SMILING FACE OF THE MULLAHS
Reportage by Sergio D'Elia
ANALYSIS OF THE 2015 REPORT DATA AND OBJECTIVES OF HANDS OFF CAIN
Reportage by Marco Perduca
"THE ABOLITIONIST OF THE YEAR 2015” AWARD
Protocol of understanding between NTC and CNF
Dossier on death penalty and homosexuality
Final declaration of the Cairo workshop
Goals
Achievements
GENERAL MOTION OF THE FIFTH CONGRESS OF HOC
RESOLUTION OF THE KIGALI CONFERENCE
U.N. RESOLUTION 2014

U.N. RESOLUTION 2012
U.N. RESOLUTION 2010

REPORT ON THE 2ND ANNUAL EU FORUM ON THE DEATH PENALTY IN ZAMBIA

Videos

DECLARATION OF LIBREVILLE

Publications
Hands Off Cain Headquarters
U.N. RESOLUTION 2008

U.N. RESOLUTION 2007

Appeal To The United Nations
Board of Directors

LETHAL TRADE DOSSIER
2014 FREETOWN CONFERENCE Final Declaration
THE COTONOU DECLARATION 2014
DOSSIER IRAQ 2003

DOSSIER ON MORATORIUM
DOSSIER IRAQ 2012

DOSSIER USA 2011

NOBEL LAUREATES APPEAL
Bulletin Board
Sign up
Join appeal
Newsletter
Our Publications

Canada
Canada
CANADA - Poll: 57 per cent of Canadians support reinstating the death penalty

April 2, 2024:

April 2, 2024 - Canada. Poll: 57 per cent of Canadians support reinstating the death penalty
But, at the same time, 55 per cent of Canadians prefer LWOP
In the first few months of 2024, Canadians were exposed to stories—particularly on social media—that reignited the debate on capital punishment. In British Columbia, the case of Robert Pickton was back in the spotlight after his impending eligibility for day parole was criticized by federal Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre.
Pickton, originally detained in 2002, was convicted for the murders of six women, but was charged in connection with 20 other disappearances. Pickton’s life sentence does contemplate the possibility of parole in 2027, although it is highly improbable that any board will approve it.
The Conservatives, who successfully connected with Canadian voters on the concept of mandatory minimum sentences when Stephen Harper was their leader, also hammered the current federal government on the decision to transfer Luka Magnotta—who was convicted of first-degree murder in 2014—to a medium-security facility in Quebec. Type the names “Pickton” or “Magnotta” on X, and you will be immediately exposed to tweets calling for the return of capital punishment.
Starting in 2020, Research Co. and Glacier Media have asked Canadians annually about their views on the death penalty for murder. Although our country eliminated this possibility in July 1976, we have consistently seen about half of Canadians voicing support for reinstating capital punishment.
We also asked Canadians to choose between two distinct approaches as possible punishments for convicted murderers. With this question, more than half of respondents express a preference for life imprisonment without parole, and not execution.
In this year’s survey, just over half of Canadians (53 per cent, down five points since 2023) think the death penalty is “sometimes” appropriate. About one in four (26 per cent, up one point) say it is “never” appropriate, while 14 per cent (up five points) say it is “always” appropriate.
The intriguing fluctuations on this question are related to ethnic origin. While 31 per cent of Canadians of European descent believe the death penalty is “never” appropriate, the proportions are lower among respondents whose origins are Indigenous (20 per cent), South Asian (15 per cent) and East Asian (10 per cent).
Across the country, 57 per cent of Canadians support reinstating the death penalty for murder in Canada. This is the highest number we have recorded in five yearly measurements, up three points since 2023 and up six points since 2022.
Majorities in every region side with the return of capital punishment, starting at 52 per cent in Quebec, and rising to 57 per cent in Ontario, 58 per cent in British Columbia, 60 per cent in both Atlantic Canada and Alberta, and 62 per cent in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Conservative voters in 2021 are more likely to endorse this course of action (69 per cent) than counterparts who voted for the Liberal Party (56 per cent) or the New Democratic Party (49 per cent).
Canadians who support the return of the death penalty primarily cite four reasons: Deterrence (50 per cent), a punishment that fits the crime (also 50 per cent), saving taxpayers money and the costs associated with having murderers in prison (48 per cent) and closure for the families of murder victims (47 per cent). Fewer than three in 10 (28 per cent) think murderers simply cannot be rehabilitated.
For opponents of the death penalty, the main stumbling block is the possibility of wrongful convictions that lead to executions (67 per cent). Fewer think it is wrong to take a murderer’s life (45 per cent). Forty per cent prefer to abide by the decisions of judges when it comes to prison time, and more than a third (38 per cent) say capital punishment will not serve as a deterrent. Fewer than one in five (18 per cent) believe murderers can be rehabilitated.
The final question shifts the debate dramatically.
More than half of Canadians (55 per cent, up two points since 2023) prefer life imprisonment without the possibility of parole to deal with convicted murderers, while just over a third (35 per cent, down two points) choose the death penalty.
We had majorities of Canadians in every province arguing for the return of the death penalty. When the issue is analyzed within the context of the justice system, outright support for the death penalty stands at 37 per cent in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta, 36 per cent in Ontario, 35 per cent in B.C., 34 per cent in Atlantic Canada and 33 per cent in Quebec. Almost half of Conservatives (48 per cent) still choose capital punishment, compared to 34 per cent of Liberals and 23 per cent of New Democrats.
This year’s survey is consistent with what we have reported in the past. There is a noticeable climb in the proportion of Canadians who support bringing back the death penalty, but it is not accompanied by a rejection of a system that would guarantee that convicted murderers would be behind bars for life.
Results are based on an online study conducted by Research Co. from March 8-10, 2024, among 1,002 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

https://www.biv.com/news/commentary/poll-majority-of-canadians-support-death-penalty-for-murder-8536218

(Source: Biv.com, 02/04/2024)

SAUDI ARABIA: FATHER PARDONS SON’S KILLER DAYS BEFORE EXECUTION
SOMALIA: POLICE OFFICERS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
IRAN - Alireza Marzban executed in Shiraz on April 7
IRAN - Hassan Ali Mirzania executed in Khorramabad on April 5
IRAN - Kurdistan Human Rights Network’s Annual Report
USA - California. Jeff Rosen to empty death row
USA - Alabama. Derrick Dearman Asks to Be Executed
TANZANIA: SIX COMMUNITY PATROL GUARDS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
USA - Florida. Tavares Calloway sentenced to LWOP
USA - Oklahoma. Michael Dewayne Smith, 41, Black, was executed
SINGAPORE: EX-PROPERTY AGENT SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR CANNABIS TRAFFICKING
NIGERIA: TARABA CJ SENTENCES TWO TO DEATH FOR KIDNAPPING
BANGLADESH: TWO SIBLINGS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING MAN IN CUMILLA
IRAN - Death Sentence for Police Officer Jafar Javanmardi, who Killed Protester
USA - Ohio. Attorney general report says Ohio's death penalty is "unworkable"
USA - Trump calls for cop killers to get ‘mandatory’ death sentence
RUSSIA WANTS CROCUS CITY HALL TERRORISTS TO STAND TRIAL IN BELARUS SO THEY CAN GET THE DEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Death sentence for political prisoner Shahriar Bayat
INDIA: DNA EVIDENCE FREES MAN AFTER 11 YEARS IN RAPE-MURDER CASE
BANGLADESH: 4, INCLUDING WIFE, SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING SAUDI EXPATRIATE OVER EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIR

[<< Prec] 1 2 3 4
2024
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2023
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2022
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2021
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2020
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
 
2019
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2018
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2017
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2016
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2015
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2014
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
 
2013
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2012
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2011
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2010
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2009
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2008
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
 
2007
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2006
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2005
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
  2004
january
february
march
april
may
june
july
august
september
october
november
december
 
IRAN - Wife of Djalali pleads for EU action
  IRAN - Hands off Cain Year End Report: At least 284 executions in 2020  
  IRAN: HANDS OFF CAIN, THE HANGING OF THE PROTESTER MOSTAFA SALEHI IS A SHAME FOR THE SO-CALLED DEMOCRATIC WORLD   
  USA: ‘BLACK LIVES MATTER’, BUT IS IT ONLY RACISM?  
  IRAN. HANDS OFF CAIN, REDUCTION OF DRUG EXECUTIONS BUT NUMBERS REMAIN WORRISOME  
  HUMAN RIGHTS: DEMONSTRATION OF THE RADICAL PARTY BEFORE IRANIAN EMBASSY 14 FEBRUARY  
news
-
latest actions
-
data base
-
actions
-
who we are
-
registered users
-
credits