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After acquittal of ex-death row inmate, debate needed on Japan's death penalty

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Japan should be ensuring the safety of its citizens, but instead it is taking people's lives. Is it acceptable to maintain the ultimate penalty under such circumstances? This is a serious question for society. The acquittal of 88-year-old Iwao Hakamada, who had been handed the death penalty, has been finalized after prosecutors decided not to appeal the verdict issued by the Shizuoka District Court during his retrial.

Six Prisoners Hanged in Iran

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Three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Mashhad (Northeastern Iran) in the past few days. Three other prisoners were hanged early this morning in the prison of Bandar Abbas (Southern Iran).

Iran Human Rights, May 1, 2014: Three prisoners were hanged in the Vakilabad prison of Mashhad (Northeastern Iran) reported the Iranian daily newspaper Khorasan. According to this report one of the prisoners was hanged on Monday April 28, while the execution of the two other prisoners were carried out on Tuesday April 29. All the prisoners were charged with murder and sentenced to “qisas” (qesas; retribution in kind). One of the prisoners was a 30 year old man while the two others were described as “young men” by the report. None of the prisoners were identified by name.

Three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Bandar Abbas early this morning, May 1., reported the Human Rights Organization of Kurdistan (HRO). The prisoners were identified as Amir Roozdar, Mostafa Nazi Chalavi and Babak Vavani, all convicted of drug-related charges, said the report. Official Iranian sources have not announced the news of Bandar Abbas executions yet.

Source: Iran Human Rights, May 1, 2014
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