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The execution of an inmate on Thursday by Taiwan, marking the primary dying penalty carried out by the island’s authorities in 5 years, has sparked condemnation from rights teams.
Loss of life row inmate Huang Linkai, who was convicted of raping and murdering his ex-girlfriend and killing her mom in 2013, was executed on the Taipei detention centre, in line with the Ministry of Justice.
This marks the primary execution order signed by minister of justice Cheng Ming-chien since assuming workplace in Might final 12 months.
In 2017, the Supreme Courtroom upheld Linkai’s dying sentence for the homicide of his ex-girlfriend and affirmed a life imprisonment sentence with out parole for the killing of her mom.
Prosecutors, on the time, attributed the double murder to anger over the breakup and a monetary dispute.
On 16 January, the Taiwanese minister of justice authorised the execution of Linkai, regardless of unresolved issues about constitutional requirements for the dying penalty within the nation. The constitutional court docket had earlier acknowledged flaws in its utility, mandating reforms by 2026, together with unanimous judgments and stringent evaluation processes.
Linkai’s lawyer filed an enchantment citing these points, however the execution proceeded.
His execution has upset the European Union and a number of other rights teams internationally who known as it “illegal”.
E-Ling Chiu, Amnesty Worldwide Taiwan’s director, mentioned the execution was a “enormous setback for human rights in Taiwan”.
“This execution is a stunning and merciless improvement. Taiwan’s Minister of Justice, with a strike of his pen, has undone a number of years of hard-fought progress in direction of the abolition of the dying penalty.
“The execution of Huang Linkai was carried out in violation of constitutional and worldwide safeguards on the usage of the dying penalty, and whereas an enchantment filed by his lawyer to cease the execution was nonetheless pending earlier than the courts. This renders his execution illegal and arbitrary, in violation of the proper to life,” Ms Chiu mentioned.
“It’s horrifying that the execution was carried out at just a few hours’ discover, with out the potential for any final household visits. The dying penalty is a merciless and irreversible punishment and the Taiwanese authorities have applied it in a means that exhibits an utter disregard for the rights of these affected.
“We urge Taiwan’s authorities to instantly halt any plans to hold out additional executions. As an alternative, the authorities should instantly change course and set up an official moratorium on executions as the primary crucial step in direction of abolition of the dying penalty,” she mentioned.
Taiwan’s most up-to-date execution befell on 1 April 2020.
By 31 December 2023, 37 of the 45 people on dying row can have their sentences finalised and face the potential for execution.
Globally, 113 international locations have abolished the dying penalty for all crimes, whereas 144 are abolitionist in legislation or observe.
The EU additionally condemned the execution and expressed condolences to Linkai’s household. “The European Union condemns this crime within the strongest phrases and expresses its honest sympathy to the household of the victims. On the similar time, the EU remembers its opposition to capital punishment in all circumstances and all circumstances,” it mentioned in an announcement.
“The EU believes that the dying penalty is an inhumane and degrading punishment, which represents the final word denial of human dignity. Proof exhibits clearly that the dying penalty has little or no impact in deterring or lowering crime.
“The EU subsequently calls on Taiwan to use and keep a de facto moratorium, and to pursue a constant coverage in direction of the total abolition of the dying penalty in Taiwan.”
