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Japan | Hakamada found religion, but then felt under attack by ‘the devil’

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Editor's note: This is the last in a four-part series on letters that Iwao Hakamada wrote while on death row. About a decade after cursing God, Iwao Hakamada was baptized Catholic at the Tokyo Detention House on Dec. 24, 1984. “Since I have been given the Christian name Paul, I am keenly feeling that I should be aware of the greatness of Paul.” (June 1985)

Xinjiang sentences 9 to death for terrorism

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URUMQI, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Nine people were sentenced to death for terrorism in northwest China's Xinjiang on Thursday.

Local courts in six cities and prefectures sentenced 81 defendants in 23 terrorism cases to death, life imprisonment and fixed-term imprisonment, according to the regional higher people's court.

In addition to the nine given the death penalty, three others received the death penalty with a two-year reprieve. In the 23 cases, 68 people in 13 cases committed the crimes of organizing, leading or participating in terrorist organizations, intentional homicide, arson or illegal manufacture, storage and transport of explosives.

Another 13 people in 10 cases were sentenced for making and spreading audio or video information on terrorism, inciting ethnic hatred and discrimination, or teaching criminal methods.

The crimes were the focus of a special operation against terrorism, said the regional higher people's court.


Source: Xinhua, June 5, 2014
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