Talk:Summary execution

Restrict scope of article?
I think the article is too focused on international laws and humanitarian rights. It could have something about situations in which summary executions are common (capture of enemy snipers and enemy bomber pilots, for example), and the psychology involved in such act (revenge, hatred...), for example.

189.15.208.71 (talk) 23:02, 1 September 2009 (UTC)

al-Awlaki summary execution?
Can anyone explain the (currently un-cited) assertion that Anwar al-Awlaki died by summary execution? As I understand it, summary execution requires that the executed person be under the control of the executioner, and al-Awlaki was at large and under no immediate possibility of arrest when the missile strike was carried out. The killing was certainly extrajudicial, but it strikes me more as a warlike action than a summary execution. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 205.208.8.103 (talk) 04:56, 2 December 2011 (UTC)


 * I do not agree that Anwar al-Awlaki died by summary execution. His wikipedia page describes the death as a "targeted killing" which differs from summary execution, where an individual is captured and then executed without trial. Netrogeractor (talk) 18:06, 29 December 2012 (UTC)


 * I don't typically engage in this kind of discussion on the talk pages of Wikipedia, as it's not the place for it. However, the difference between "targeted killing" and "summary execution" is semantic at best. Although it is "generally understood" that capture is involved in a summary execution, that's not much difference. He was accused of a crime (whether or not he committed is irrelevant) and then was executed via Predator drone. This is not the same as killing an enemy combatant; this is an American citizen who was accused of committing criminal acts, and was tried, convicted and sentenced to death by the Executive branch of the US government. The only difference here is that they made up a new term for it. Atypicaloracle (talk) 19:30, 8 February 2013 (UTC)


 * Summary execution involves capture. While it may seem a fine point it is a requirement. Neither state-sponsored assassination nor targeted killing are the same as summary execution. These are three distinct concepts. Joja  lozzo  21:41, 8 February 2013 (UTC).


 * Agree with Jojalozzo. Also, citizenship is irrelevant in determining if a case is a summary execution. Government agents, including police, often kill wanted criminals, usually those evading capture, regardless of citizenship. But unless captured, those cases do not belong here. Netrogeractor (talk) 00:22, 9 February 2013 (UTC)

anti partisan measure
I guess the measures against partisans by the German fall under that. Yet they'll be placed under "massacres" or "war crimes". I find nothing of that in the article.--41.151.62.48 (talk) 16:47, 25 December 2011 (UTC)

Muammar Gaddafi
Should the Death of Muammar Gaddafi be included on this page? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.187.242.167 (talk) 01:11, 29 December 2011 (UTC)

The article on Gaddafi's death says it is unclear who killed him. Reports seem to differ on if it was a mob, a group of soldiers, or a foreign agent. I would recommend not including this example until this is cleared up, because summary execution does not usually include someone killed in custody without governmental authority (such as Lee Harvey Oswald). Netrogeractor (talk) 18:06, 29 December 2012 (UTC)

Cuba section needs better citations and may lack NPOV
While I am no expert on Cuba or it's justice system past or present, this section seems to be A. Not Cited well and B. Too strongly worded. Two of the three citations used are US articles from more than 20 years ago, problematic because it may have been hard for U.S. newspapers to have NPOV's themselves at the time. The other article is from a site called executedtoday which itself cites mostly sources dated to the late 1950s. The last fact is not cited at all. Perhaps it would be prudent to check out these citations. GeekX (talk) 00:06, 27 October 2013 (UTC)


 * Good concerns. I removed the last sentence, which was added by an anonymous user, as unsourced, biased and off-topic.  It referred to general human rights abuses in Castro's Cuba as opposed to summary executions.  This should fix your second concern.  As to the first, I would welcome additional sources but purposely chose the Reading newspaper report because the journalist claimed to have been an eyewitness.  Finally, note that Cuba's justice system is not at issue, as by definition Summary Executions do not involve the State's justice system; they are performed by soldiers on prisoners without a trial.  Netrogeractor (talk) 09:31, 27 October 2013 (UTC)

No mention of the French revolution
In Reign of Terror: "25,000 in summary executions across France." and ref. Anyone think they shouldn't link here? If not, should it be added here? comp.arch (talk) 15:54, 14 February 2014 (UTC)

Missing the United States On Execution
Since the United States is Known for it's Private Executions.--Steven Aric Ramos 02:03, 21 July 2014 (UTC)
 * I believe that your comment misses the distinction between executions following a trial and summary executions, and would refer you to the article Capital punishment in the United States. Netrogeractor (talk) 03:14, 21 July 2014 (UTC)
 * Black people in the USA are summarily executed by police all the time. See Michael Brown and Ezell Ford for examples from just the past two weeks. 80.112.158.96 (talk) 12:19, 19 August 2014 (UTC)
 * While the Brown and Ford shootings were horrible, they do not meet the definition of summary execution, as they were not in custody when shot. They are examples of excessive use of force under color of authority.  Netrogeractor (talk) 03:25, 22 August 2014 (UTC)
 * Fair enough. Any of a number of ‘suicides while handcuffed’ case would meet that definition though. 80.112.158.96 (talk) 14:00, 3 September 2014 (UTC)
 * There is an article,Death in custody, that is more specific to that situation. It could also use some additional specific examples.  I would encourage you to contribute! Netrogeractor (talk) 18:28, 14 September 2014 (UTC)

No mention of WWI
In Europe during the war, soldiers on both sides report frequent summary executions. English and French are particularly easy for English speakers to find. 98.228.210.48 (talk) 22:29, 24 September 2014 (UTC)

Photos show only German perpetrators
How come all the photos show German soldiers committing summary executions? By just looking at the page you may get the idea that summary executions occured only under nazi rule. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 180.104.198.176 (talk) 04:51, 10 October 2015 (UTC)


 * Yes, I noticed the German bias as well. 4-of-4 images at present. Comes off a bit slanderous of Germans. i.e. Kinda' racist. Probably not intentionally so, but still needs to be addressed. --Kevjonesin (talk) 15:00, 23 December 2015 (UTC)


 * I swapped out two of the images.#1#2
 * I also came across File:Austrians executing Serbs 1917.JPG which may be of use at some point as well. --Kevjonesin (talk) 15:56, 23 December 2015 (UTC)

Section removal
This list in the Notable cases of summary executions is a random selection of events that may or may not qualify as notable (i.e. the single person shot on MV Gustloff). I propose the section be removed in its entirety. Are there any concerns about this? K.e.coffman (talk) 22:55, 15 December 2015 (UTC)


 * It appears that there are no objections; I will remove shortly. --K.e.coffman (talk) 04:00, 18 December 2015 (UTC)


 * I went ahead and removed due to too many problems: some were not cases of summary execution; some were not notable; mostly non WP:RS sources. K.e.coffman (talk) 16:38, 18 December 2015 (UTC)

Flamethrowers
I'm going to remove Other cases section is only tangentially relevant and poorly sourced; the link provided has nothing on summary executions. K.e.coffman (talk) 18:49, 23 December 2015 (UTC)

External links modified
Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just modified one external link on Summary execution. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20070618025102/http://www.ess.uwe.ac.uk/genocide/commando1.htm to http://www.ess.uwe.ac.uk/genocide/commando1.htm

When you have finished reviewing my changes, you may follow the instructions on the template below to fix any issues with the URLs.

Cheers.— InternetArchiveBot  (Report bug) 15:14, 25 December 2017 (UTC)

"Terminate with extreme prejudice"
This term links here, but the article does not discuss the origin of the term. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 118.211.148.204 (talk) 11:48, 27 December 2019 (UTC)


 * The phrase had its own page but it was closed in 2018. The talk page is this available. Vincent (talk) 19:43, 10 February 2020 (UTC)

Extrajudicial killings
Is there a material difference between summary executions and extrajudicial killings/executions? If not, the articles should be merged. ImTheIP (talk) 17:29, 14 July 2020 (UTC)

"Extreme prejudice" listed at Redirects for discussion
An editor has identified a potential problem with the redirect Extreme prejudice and has thus listed it for discussion. This discussion will occur at Redirects for discussion/Log/2022 July 15 until a consensus is reached, and readers of this page are welcome to contribute to the discussion. Shhhnotsoloud (talk) 07:13, 15 July 2022 (UTC)