Throughout history, several heads of state and government have faced execution following accusations of tyranny, corruption, or betrayal of their nations. England’s King Charles I was executed in 1649 after being convicted of treason for defying Parliament. In Turkey, Prime Minister Adnan Menderes was hanged in 1961 following a military coup and charges of constitutional violations and corruption. Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was executed in 1979 after a controversial trial under General Zia-ul-Haq’s regime. Iran’s former Prime Minister Amir-Abbas Hoveyda was shot dead in 1979 following the Islamic Revolution, in a trial criticized for its lack of due process. Other notable leaders who met similar fates include France’s King Louis XVI, Hungary’s Imre Nagy, Romania’s Nicolae Ceaușescu, and Japan’s Hideki Tojo. These cases highlight how political downfall and authoritarian rule have often led to the ultimate punishment — death.