News
Japan Executes Prisoners
March 29, 2012 Nicola  |
On Thursday (UTC) Japan executed three prisoners. This is the first time the country has executed prisoners in 18 months.
It has been reported that the three men in question were hanged at prisons in Tokyo, Hiroshima and Fukuoka.
Anti-death penalty campaigners, who were led to believe that the country was putting an end to the practise, have been angered by Japan’s actions. They happened during the same week that the country gained praise from Amnesty International for apparent moratorium.
It has been speculated that Toshi Ogawa, the Japanese justice minister, has come under pressure to sign off executions while the government tries to implement a controversial consumption tax rise to the public.
“Public support for [Yoshihiko] Noda’s cabinet is declining, so my personal feeling is that this was one of many steps aimed at boosting its approval ratings,” said Hideki Wakabayashi, executive director of Amnesty International Japan
By Louisa Guise
[Image courtesy of babbagecabbage]
