The first nitrogen-based execution in United States history is on schedule for January 25, according to court documents reviewed by multiple outlets. The plan has not been halted by Alabama courts despite ongoing public demonstrations and sustained protest from anti-death-penalty groups.
Kenneth Eugene Smith, convicted in 1988 for killing a woman believed to be connected to her priest husband, remains on death row as one of a very small number of inmates who have survived an execution attempt in the U.S. An earlier attempt to execute him by lethal injection in November 2022 did not go as planned, raising questions about the procedures and timing involved in capital punishment cases.
Under the outlined method, the inmate would be exposed to pure nitrogen with the aim of inducing hypoxia and rapid death. Proponents of nitrogen hypoxia argue that the process could be more humane than other methods, presenting it as painless. Critics, however, view the approach as a form of experiment on living humans and point to a lack of comprehensive scientific consensus on pain, suffering, and long-term effects.
In addition to Alabama, nitrogen hypoxia death penalties are currently authorized only in Oklahoma and Mississippi, creating a small but notable subset of states willing to consider this method. The legal and ethical contours of these plans have sparked discussion among lawmakers, judges, and advocacy organizations about how best to align death penalty practices with evolving standards of treatment and human rights.
International observers and experts have weighed in with concerns about the proposed nitrogen-based execution for Smith. Reports from United Nations human rights bodies emphasize the uncertainty surrounding the experience of inhaling nitrogen and highlight the absence of a robust body of evidence confirming that the process is without suffering. These concerns reflect broader debates about ensuring due process and minimizing potential harm in capital punishment.
Meanwhile, other regional developments have stirred debate over the death penalty in different settings. Some observers noted discussions in Israel about possible changes to capital punishment policy, reflecting a broader global conversation about where and how the death penalty is applicable and under what circumstances it is pursued.
Separately, reports identified a separate incident involving a terrorist attack against the Azerbaijani Embassy in Tehran and indicated that the individual responsible could face execution in a related, though distinct, context. These updates illustrate how capital punishment cases can intersect with international security concerns and diplomatic repercussions, even when the incidents themselves are unrelated to domestic policy decisions.