International News

TOKYO, (APP/AFP): Japan on Friday executed two death row
prisoners, local media reported, as the government — backed by public opinion — continued to ignore calls by international rights groups to end capital punishment.
There was no immediate confirmation of the reports by Jiji Press and
other media, but a Justice Ministry spokesman said a press conference on the issue was being prepared.
Japan and the United States are the only major advanced industrial
nations with capital punishment.
Surveys have shown that the death penalty has overwhelming public
support in Japan, despite repeated protests from European governments and human rights groups.
International advocacy groups say Japan’s system is cruel because
inmates can wait for their executions for many years in solitary confinement and are only told of their impending death a few hours ahead of time.