Post by MXB on Nov 6, 2006 11:05:21 GMT -5
INTERNATIONAL: China Moves to Sharply Restrict Use of Death Penalty
China has adopted new rules that will require all death sentences to be reviewed by the Supreme People's Court, the country's highest court. In the past, China has been consistently listed as the leading country in the world in carrying out executions.
The current reforms are a response to domestic and international criticism that cited China's widespread and arbitrary use of the death penalty. In addition, Chinese courts have been embarrassed in recent years when a number of people who had been executed were later shown to be innocent.
The New China News Agency said the changes are "believed to be the most important reform of capital punishment in more than two decades."
Death sentences may drop by 30%, according to the state news media
.
(N.Y. Times, Nov. 1, 2006). See International.
China has adopted new rules that will require all death sentences to be reviewed by the Supreme People's Court, the country's highest court. In the past, China has been consistently listed as the leading country in the world in carrying out executions.
The current reforms are a response to domestic and international criticism that cited China's widespread and arbitrary use of the death penalty. In addition, Chinese courts have been embarrassed in recent years when a number of people who had been executed were later shown to be innocent.
The New China News Agency said the changes are "believed to be the most important reform of capital punishment in more than two decades."
Death sentences may drop by 30%, according to the state news media
.
(N.Y. Times, Nov. 1, 2006). See International.