Death penalty: Japan gives the bad example!
| Publisher | International Federation for Human Rights |
| Publication Date | 29 July 2009 |
| Cite as | International Federation for Human Rights, Death penalty: Japan gives the bad example!, 29 July 2009, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4a842416c.html [accessed 22 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
In an Open Letter addressed to the Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Taro Aso, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Center for Prisoner's Rights (CPR) strongly condemn the executions of three death row inmates, Messrs. Chen Detong, Yukio Yamaji and Hiroshi Maeue, carried out on July 28th 2009.
FIDH and CPR are seriously worried about the number of executions carried out in Japan, which has definitely increased in recent years, despite the momentum at the international level towards the abolition of the capital punishment.
FIDH and CPR have documented the application of the death penalty in the country and have drawn the attention of the authorities to the serious deficiencies of the judiciary system which violates basic rights of death row prisoners (see FIDH report on the Death Penalty in Japan: the Law of silence). The two organisations urge the Japanese authorities to adopt an immediate moratorium on executions, as requested by two UN General Assembly Resolutions and various UN Treaty Bodies. Japan being a major player in the region of Asia, should ensure human rights respect in all circumstances, mainly the right to life.
