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Four prisoners executed in Japan

by Sanjay Jha | January 28, 2009 at 08:04 pm

235 views | 12 Recommendations | 3 comments

Japan has executed four death-row inmates. Japan still continues with capital punishment. Most of the countries have done away with this practice.

Japan has carried out the execution of four prisoners on death row, according to media reports quoting justice ministry sources.

The four were hanged in Tokyo, Nagoya and Fukuoka, Kyodo news agency said.

Japan is one of the few countries in Asia which has stepped up its use of the death penalty, despite international condemnation.

Last year it carried out 15 executions, and in 2007 nine condemned prisoners were put to death.

Executions are not announced beforehand and are carried out in secret, usually with strong local support.

Amnesty International has called on Japan to impose an immediate moratorium on the use of the death penalty.

It is thought that about 100 convicted murderers and other criminals are on death row awaiting execution.

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Uwe Paschen

at 21:23 on January 28th, 2009

Yes, it is distressing that Japan is holding on to the death penalty so strongly. http://my.nowpublic.com/culture/driving-japan-cell-phone-laws-and-my-two-cents-worth

Uwe Paschen

at 21:25 on January 28th, 2009

Japanese overwhelming hold on to the death penalty. Japanese, According to Government numbers ¾ are in favouring the death penalty, regardless of judicial mistakes and wrong full convictions being a certain possibility. Especially with a Police force as forceful as it is here and recent cases of wrongful conviction being broth to become public news! Never the less Japan does hold on firmly to the death penalty and does practice it as well! Rehabilitation or even forgiveness do not seem to be an option in certain cases.

Citj (not verified)

at 21:44 on January 28th, 2009

Makoto Miyazaki, chairman of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, urged the government to suspend the death penalty to allow for a public debate, Kyodo reported.