Amnesty condemns secret execution of death row prisoner in Japan

Tokyo Detention House Execution Chamber

The Japanese authorities' determination to continue with secret executions despite growing concerns on the use of the death penalty in the country is a scar on the justice system, says Amnesty International.

Masanori Kawasaki, who was convicted in 2008 of the murder of three relatives, was hanged early this morning (26 June) at Osaka detention centre.

The execution is the 1st since a court ordered the immediate release in March of Hakamada Iwao, who spent more than 4 decades on death row after an unfair trial. Prosecutors have appealed the decision to grant Hakamada a retrial, despite the court stating police were likely to have fabricated evidence.

The execution - the 1st in 2014 - is the 9th since Prime Minister Abe's government took office in December 2012. In February, a group of former lay judges urged the Minister of Justice to halt executions until there is greater transparency in the use of capital punishment. In Japan, the Justice Minister must authorise executions before they can be carried out. A total of 128 people remain on death row in the country.

Amnesty International East Asia Research Director Roseann Rife said: "It is deplorable that not long after fundamental flaws in Japan's criminal justice system were so blatantly exposed, Justice Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki has chosen to sign another death warrant.

"Death row inmates live under the constant fear of execution, never knowing from one day or the next if they are going to be put to death. This adds psychological torture to an already cruel and inhumane punishment.

"Instead of sending more people to the gallows, there needs to be urgent reform of a justice system that at present is not worthy of the name."

Executions are shrouded in secrecy in Japan with prisoners typically given only a few hours' notice, but some may be given no warning at all. Their families are usually notified about the execution only after it has taken place.

Japan is the only country other than the USA in the G8 group of countries to still use capital punishment. During 2013, only 22 countries worldwide carried out executions.

Amnesty opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception, regardless of the nature or circumstances of the crime, the guilt, innocence or other characteristics of the offender or the method used by the state to carry out the execution. It says "The death penalty violates the right to life and is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment."

Source: Ekklesia, June 27, 2014

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