The world executed 5,628 people in ’06

In its annual report on the death penalty, the group said the gradual trend of abolishing capital punishment continued, with 51 countries retaining the death penalty, compared with 54 in 2005. But it said 27 countries had used the death penalty in 2006, up from 24 in 2005.

As a result, the number of executions increased, to at least 5,628 last year compared with 5,494 in 2005 and 5,530 in 2004.

Overall, 146 countries and territories have renounced the death penalty to some extent, either through outright abolition or a moratorium, Hands Off Cain said.

The report said China remained the top executioner, with at least 5,000 confirmed executions and unconfirmed reports that as many as 8,000 people are put to death annually. The report cited Chinese officials and academics as saying executions had decreased, however— in part because of a new amendment requiring the Supreme Court to confirm all death sentences and public hearings for appeals.

Iran came in second in the group’s top execution rankings. Hands Off Cain said Tehran doubled the number of people it put to death in 2006, executing at least 215 people compared with 113 in 2005, though it said the real number may be even higher.

Pakistan also nearly doubled the number of executions in 2006, putting at least 82 people to death last year compared with 42 the year earlier.