Capital Punishment

Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, is a government sanctioned practice whereby a person is put to death by the state as a punishment for a crime. The sentence that someone be punished in such a manner is referred to as a death sentence, whereas the act of carrying out the sentence is known as an execution.

Capital Punishment by country
Most countries including almost all First World nations have abolished capital punishment either in law or in practice. 58 countries retain the death penalty in active use, 102 countries have abolished capital punishment altogether, six have done so for all offenses except under special circumstances and 32 more have abolished it.

Notable countries retaining the death penalty are the United States, China, North Korea, Vietnam, Malayasia, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iraq, Somalia, Egypt, Indonesia, Chad, Yemen, Taiwan, Sudan, Singapore, Jordan, Bangladesh, Japan, United Arab Emirates, India, Afghanistan and Oman.

Methods

 * Hanging
 * Shooting
 * Lethal Injection
 * Electrocution
 * Beheading

Crimes against humanity
Crimes against humanity such as genocide are usually punished by the death penalty in countries retaining it. The maximum penalty available to the International Criminal Court is life imprisonment.

Murder
International homicide is punishable by death in most countries retaining capital punishment, but generally provided it involves an aggravating factor required by statute or judicial precedents.

Drug Trafficking
Some countries provide the death penalty for drug trafficking, mostly in Asia. Among countries who execute drug offenders are China, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Singapore.

Other Offenses
Other crimes punishable by death include treason, crimes against the state, rape, economic crimes, adultery, sodomy, religious offences such as apostasy, blasphemy and forms of aggravated robbery.