FEATURED POST

Communist Vietnam's secret death penalty conveyor belt: How country trails only China and Iran for 'astonishing' number of executions

Image
Prisoners are dragged from their cells at 4am without warning to be given a lethal injection Vietnam's use of the death penalty has been thrust into the spotlight after a real estate tycoon was on Thursday sentenced to be executed in one of the biggest corruption cases in the country's history. Truong My Lan, a businesswoman who chaired a sprawling company that developed luxury apartments, hotels, offices and shopping malls, was arrested in 2022.

Hungary could be thrown out of EU if it brings back death penalty, says Jean-Claude Juncker

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban
European Commission president's remarks follow controversial greeting of Hungary PM as "dictator" at Riga summit last month

Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission president, has warned that Hungary could be thrown out of the EU if it goes ahead with proposals to reintroduce the death penalty.

Mr Juncker's comments come just over a week after he sparked controversy at an EU summit in Riga by greeting Viktor Orban, Hungary's prime minister, with the words "Hello dictator".

In an interview with Germany's Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper, Mr Juncker on Monday warned that "if Hungary wanted to introduce the death penalty, that would be a ground for divorce."

"A reason for divorce! One of my political beliefs is that there shall be no death penalty. Anyone who introduces the death penalty has no place in the European Union."

Mr Orban's relations with other EU leaders have been strained for some time over his close ties with Russia and authoritian policies.

His government has stressed it has no plans to reintroduce the death penalty, and says it only broached the subject because of increased public debate surrounding it.

Mr Orban said late last week he is ready to talk with Brussels but "is against anyone driving the country out of the EU and Nato".

"For us Hungarians they are our family," he said.

Source: The Telegraph, June 1, 2015

Report an error, an omission: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com

Most Viewed (Last 7 Days)

Communist Vietnam's secret death penalty conveyor belt: How country trails only China and Iran for 'astonishing' number of executions

Could Moscow attack suspects face execution in Belarus?

Bill Moves Forward to Prevent Use of Nitrogen Gas Asphyxiation in Louisiana Executions

Iran | 9 prisoners executed in a single day

Iran | Probable Child Offender and Child Bride, Husband Executed for Drug Charges

U.S. Supreme Court to hear Arizona death penalty case that could redefine historic precedent